8/7 (SAR): Whitney H., Test S. (G1's); Hattie Moseley

[hockey2315]

I really wasn't impressed by anyone's performance in the race. Guess I missed something. I thought QR was flat and Blame benefitted.

[2Hot4TV]

If everybody stays the coarse and make it to the Breeders Cup Classic it will be a the best yet.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I really wasn't impressed by anyone's performance in the race. Guess I missed something. I thought QR was flat and Blame benefitted.

Most likely.

This was the Quality Road that "showed up" in the Hal's Hope at GP earlier this year. I really hope they have an explanation .. because other than getting hit in the eye repeatedly with a braid bead .. I'm surprised at how awful his race was.

Had he closed his right eye through the stretch or flinched a little more than he did - I would be sold that he might have been distracted, but I doubt that did anything more than just annoy him.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I really wasn't impressed by anyone's performance in the race. Guess I missed something. I thought QR was flat and Blame benefitted.

There is some merit here I think. Quality Road was definitely not on his game. I, like many others, was ready to give it to him on the first turn.

I witness first-hand at Gulfstream this year how goofy the track is... it's 9f's but the stretch is short and the jockeys ride it different. You turn for home and you're already at the finish. That helps a horse like Quality Road immensely. Plus, some horses really seem to thrive there... more than the "horse for course" stuff at other tracks.

Regardless though the pace was slow, and Blame was up against it and he still got the job done, and he'll have no problem as the races get longer.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I really wasn't impressed by anyone's performance in the race. Guess I missed something. I thought QR was flat and Blame benefitted.

I could not have said it better myself.

Granted, I didn't expect QR to lose here, but I thought he looked pretty mediocre in the Met. Mediocre might be too strong a word, but I thought the race was intensely overrated. I don't like his action when not running at GP.

[hockey2315]

111 Beyer for Blame (not buying it). . . 97 for Champagne d'Oro. 96 for Brother Bird, six points faster than his Derby winning bro.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

111 Beyer for Blame (not buying it). . . 97 for Champagne d'Oro. 96 for Brother Bird, six points faster than his Derby winning bro.

So I'm assuming you're quite skeptical of Champagne d'Oro's figure as well as the decision was clearly made that the track slowed down during the period between the 4th and 9th?

NT

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

So I'm assuming you're quite skeptical of Champagne d'Oro's figure as well as the decision was clearly made that the track slowed down during the period between the 4th and 9th?

NT

Ya, sure.