Eskendereya skipping FL Derby, prefering Wood

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I agree in general.

Nacho Friend obviously ran well, and clearly better than the second horse, but Awesome Act beat him by enough that it will be a hard gap to reasonably expect him to close. Plus, I find it hard to believe longer distances won't favor the winner...at least over Nacho Friend.

Nacho Friend strikes me as the kind of horse that will be running in too many races that he can't win.

I expect Conveyance to dust him out West.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

I expect Conveyance to dust him out West.

Any other 3:5 shots you like?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Any other 3:5 shots you like?

Oh Andy, I didn't say I'd bet it.....I just think that's a long trip to be drilled.

[Kasept]

Tom Albertrani just said on ATR that another option for Odysseus is the Street Sense approach to Derby via the Blue Grass. He said while he isn't a fan of racing on synthetics, the benefit is a single ship to Kentucky rather than one to NY for Wood and then a second one to KY for Derby.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Tom Albertrani just said on ATR that another option for Odysseus is the Street Sense approach to Derby via the Blue Grass. He said while he isn't a fan of racing on synthetics, the benefit is a single ship to Kentucky rather than one to NY for Wood and then a second one to KY for Derby.

Graded stakes money? He's at $180k, but is that a lock to make the field? If he bombs on the poly (certainly a possibility), then what?

Street Sense was obviously the leading money earner going into that race so the money meant nothing.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by philcski

Graded stakes money? He's at $180k, but is that a lock to make the field? If he bombs on the poly (certainly a possibility), then what?

Street Sense was obviously the leading money earner going into that race so the money meant nothing.

$180k should be plenty. With situations like Lookin at Lucky, Nobles Promise and Dublin glomming the big gelt at Oaklawn, I don't get a sense there are going to be tons of leapfroggers.

$100,000 got you in last year.

[asudevil]

The schmucky decisions at Florida's premier track never cease to amaze us. Here's what ya get for moving it 6 weeks prior to Louisville.

"Where's ya head at....where's ya head at?"

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by asudevil

The schmucky decisions at Florida's premier track never cease to amaze us. Here's what ya get for moving it 6 weeks prior to Louisville.

"Where's ya head at....where's ya head at?"

It's not like Eskendereya's connections just found out about how many weeks there are between the Fla Derby and the Ky Derby.

Gulfstream made the decision to move to March 20 from a business standpoint and what they were left with was a Saturday where they are absolutely the only act in town.

NT

[philcski]

Originally Posted by asudevil

The schmucky decisions at Florida's premier track never cease to amaze us. Here's what ya get for moving it 6 weeks prior to Louisville.

"Where's ya head at....where's ya head at?"

I actually think it was the right move- gives trainers the option of going to the Derby off a 6 week layoff or running in the Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby 3 weeks out if necessary. With 5 weeks out and today's training schedules, you are stuck going straight to the Derby (which has obviously worked out alright.)

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Kasept

$180k should be plenty. With situations like Lookin at Lucky, Nobles Promise and Dublin glomming the big gelt at Oaklawn, I don't get a sense there are going to be tons of leapfroggers.

$100,000 got you in last year.

Good point.
And 2nds at Sunland and FG are worth $160k and $150k respectively, so those finishers would need more. For some reason I was thinking $200k was last year's hurdle.