Borel to ride Jackson Bend in Wood

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Monarchos1

Miner's Reserve is owned by Lapenta, who campaigned The Cliff's Edge. He wants a runner in the renamed The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial, which he is sponsoring on behalf of his stallion. As for Fly Down, there's not snowball's chance in hell that he runs in both the Louisiana and Arkansas Derbies. Unless the owner has some agenda involving New Orleans, I imagine we'll see him at Oaklawn since his last race was a tough one on the colt.

I now wish LaPenta didn't own Miner's Reserve from what I hear of him. I'm glad Fly Down is owned by someone else. I thought Nick said after his allowance win that he could be his Belmont horse (or he hinted at it). If so, may as well take their time with him...

[Monarchos1]

I don't know what you are insinuating with LaPenta. He's probably not the easiest owner for a trainer to deal with, but I don't recall his ever insisting that horses be pushed too hard or placed unrealistically. Or sent to the desert to try an unorthodox path. And he's certainly not a sleezy type like some prior Derby winners.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I now wish LaPenta didn't own Miner's Reserve from what I hear of him. I'm glad Fly Down is owned by someone else. I thought Nick said after his allowance win that he could be his Belmont horse (or he hinted at it). If so, may as well take their time with him...

Seems to me like Lapenta and Zito have been a great team.. I don't know either but it seems to be quite successful. They have been together a while and I would assume respect each other?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I now wish LaPenta didn't own Miner's Reserve from what I hear of him. I'm glad Fly Down is owned by someone else. I thought Nick said after his allowance win that he could be his Belmont horse (or he hinted at it). If so, may as well take their time with him...

From what you hear about him? Please - do tell!

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

From what you hear about him? Please - do tell!

A few people on Thoroughbred Champions were talking about how La Penta always pushes his horses and used DaTara as an example (for instance, well after he'd proved he wasn't up to the task, LaPenta/Zito put him in spots he didn't belong). If they are wrong, then I apologize for making such comments. For all I know, those posters could have been people with a grudge for some unknown reason.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Betsy

A few people on Thoroughbred Champions were talking about how La Penta always pushes his horses and used DaTara as an example (for instance, well after he'd proved he wasn't up to the task, LaPenta/Zito put him in spots he didn't belong). If they are wrong, then I apologize for making such comments. For all I know, those posters could have been people with a grudge for some unknown reason.

Or they could have been ill-informed idiots with keyboards.

NT

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Or they could have been ill-informed idiots with keyboards.

NT

That's always a possibility, lol

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Betsy

A few people on Thoroughbred Champions were talking about how La Penta always pushes his horses and used DaTara as an example (for instance, well after he'd proved he wasn't up to the task, LaPenta/Zito put him in spots he didn't belong). If they are wrong, then I apologize for making such comments. For all I know, those posters could have been people with a grudge for some unknown reason.

The folks over there are 80% pretty pony fans who have never had anything to do with campaigning a racehorse. The important word there is racehorse. They all seem to think if a horse runs a poor race he should get "time on the farm." Sometimes what they need in MORE work, harder training but if you do that you are called a butcher.
DaTara won the Belmont. Thats an example of bad management? That fact that that horse won anything is a testament to good management, not bad.
I know Nick and have met Robert LaPenta a few times. He's a very good owner in terms of giving his horses time and running them where they fit. I had the uncomfortable distinction of watching the Wood Memorial with Zito and LaPenta when War Pass was trying to rebound and earn a spot in the Derby. I felt bad for them that day, they really thought that their colt was the goods, he sure had looked like it at 2. They did the right thing and stopped. After an on the board run in the Wood, most owners would have pressed.

It's Zito's call on Fly Down. The colt has not worked since his allowance win and that tell me all I need to know. Miner's Reserve has pedigree and his maiden was pretty nice. At this point, with so many races left and no clear leaders if he were mine, I'd be pointing for the Kentucky Derby. Does that mean "press on at all costs?" No. It means move into a stakes race. Lets face it that G3 Sham last weekend was just that. The allowance that Radiohead won was a tougher event. The 2 colts in the Sham with more than a maiden win were dreadful and the winner was exiting a statebred maiden.
Granted, the stakes get harder now, but spots are out there. I wouldn't want him killed (figuratively speaking here) just for a graded check, but to get an idea how he stacks up against this crop.

As for Jackson Bend, I think he's better at a mile against serious horses but he's not exactly been a dud. His two races for LaPenta were seconds behind well regarded colts. I don't think he wants any part of Eskendereya going 2 tuns but I'm not sure how tough the Wood is going to be.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Linny

The folks over there are 80% pretty pony fans who have never had anything to do with campaigning a racehorse. The important word there is racehorse. They all seem to think if a horse runs a poor race he should get "time on the farm." Sometimes what they need in MORE work, harder training but if you do that you are called a butcher.
DaTara won the Belmont. Thats an example of bad management? That fact that that horse won anything is a testament to good management, not bad.
I know Nick and have met Robert LaPenta a few times. He's a very good owner in terms of giving his horses time and running them where they fit. I had the uncomfortable distinction of watching the Wood Memorial with Zito and LaPenta when War Pass was trying to rebound and earn a spot in the Derby. I felt bad for them that day, they really thought that their colt was the goods, he sure had looked like it at 2. They did the right thing and stopped. After an on the board run in the Wood, most owners would have pressed.

It's Zito's call on Fly Down. The colt has not worked since his allowance win and that tell me all I need to know. Miner's Reserve has pedigree and his maiden was pretty nice. At this point, with so many races left and no clear leaders if he were mine, I'd be pointing for the Kentucky Derby. Does that mean "press on at all costs?" No. It means move into a stakes race. Lets face it that G3 Sham last weekend was just that. The allowance that Radiohead won was a tougher event. The 2 colts in the Sham with more than a maiden win were dreadful and the winner was exiting a statebred maiden.
Granted, the stakes get harder now, but spots are out there. I wouldn't want him killed (figuratively speaking here) just for a graded check, but to get an idea how he stacks up against this crop.

As for Jackson Bend, I think he's better at a mile against serious horses but he's not exactly been a dud. His two races for LaPenta were seconds behind well regarded colts. I don't think he wants any part of Eskendereya going 2 tuns but I'm not sure how tough the Wood is going to be.

Fly Down worked yesterday, by the way, but I appreciate your post. That's good to hear about La Penta (I never had a problem with Zito)... now I feel badly, lol.