Best call of the day was Donna Barton

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by Linny

Because national coverage doesn't like to admit that betting is what drive the sport, they offer no pertinent information to players. Her comment was valid and because she's an experienced horsewoman, I take her comments on horse's appearance quite seiously. I'd like to see the network allow her to make comments as soon as the horses get onto the track.

Most of the articles written between January 1st and the moment the Derby starts are useless because they are written by folks who wouldn't know which end of the horse to feed and which end to clean up after. Haskin will never say Horse X doesn't look good" or he'll be kicked out of the barn. That's why he told everyone what a monster in waiting Hotep was. In the week leading up to the Derby he listened to the rumors about Endorsement and noted that the colt had not trained. He took him off his top 12. The next day the colt galloped and Hasking RAVED about how wonderful the horse looked. He apologized to his readers for believing the scuttlebutt. The next day the horse was out with an injury. Who was right?

I will tell you what he was right about....He wrote in Bloodhorse and spoke at length on ATR about 2 specific horses coming into derby preps. Haskin said that Ice Box was totally compromised by the pace (Esky) in the Fountain of Youth and that he came home quite nicely to finish 5th. Haskin and Byk also positively commented on his appearance in the paddock before that race. That was instrumental in me having a really nice score in the FL Derby. A few days later, while analyzing the LA Derby, he said that Mission Impaz was 5 wide the whole trip in the Rebel. He told us to expect a much better set up. Who's always right anyway? Here come the answers.....