9/4 (SAR): Forego H. (G1), Woodward H. (G1)

[CSC]

I'm certainly not convinced in Quality Road at 1-5 here, his last race where he had a very soft pace to work with was pretty inexcusable, Convocation grinded out a workmanlike win in his last going 3 wide most of the way, he can run better off of that prep. Convocation looks a good value bet to me in this spot, if Arcodoro sets a honest pace.

[hockey2315]

Convocation won't win.

[CSC]

Why can't he? Quality Road is obviously no worse than a 2nd place finish in here, but he has enough cracks in his armour at Saratoga to not be a iron clad lock.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by CSC

Why can't he? Quality Road is obviously no worse than a 2nd place finish in here, but he has enough cracks in his armour at Saratoga to not be a iron clad lock.

Is it really cracks or was it more of Johnny V letting him loaf in the lane and get nipped at the wire? I think they learned a hard lesson last time and it won't happen again.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Is it really cracks or was it more of Johnny V letting him loaf in the lane and get nipped at the wire? I think they learned a hard lesson last time and it won't happen again.

Maybe, I understand not taking on a big favorite for the sake of taking on a favorite, however if I were singling him I would not be comfortable with the Pletcher rush back, considering how sporadic QR has run in his career. Pletch usually likes to space his races out. I wonder had he won the Whitney, would he even be in here, nevertheless this isn't GP or Belmont, it's a good opportunity in my opinion. Jerkins/Pletch exacta. How ironic would this be?

[Alan07]

How are these handicaps?

[the_fat_man]

With the results so far in some of these stakes, I'm thinking that if QR doesn't win, Pletcher will turn in his SUPPLIER to the FEDS.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Is it really cracks or was it more of Johnny V letting him loaf in the lane and get nipped at the wire? I think they learned a hard lesson last time and it won't happen again.

That 111 beyer and a nose second still kills these. Who is jumping up running a 110 or higher?

[CSC]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

That 111 beyer and a nose second still kills these. Who is jumping up running a 110 or higher?

Obviously QR can win, but that would lead to virtually no discussion on this thread. When he showed up in the entries for this race, I'm sure alot of race fans were shocked given his history of light racing. If you would have asked me last month where he was headed next, I would have said 1-9 they would have pointed for the JCGC. I don't like this pattern, I guess we will just have to wait and see if anyone can jump up and give him a race.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by CSC

Obviously QR can win, but that would lead to virtually no discussion on this thread. When he showed up in the entries for this race, I'm sure alot of race fans were shocked given his history of light racing. If you would have asked me last month where he was headed next, I would have said 1-9 they would have pointed for the JCGC. I don't like this pattern, I guess we will just have to wait and see if anyone can jump up and give him a race.

This has been the plan all along CSC. It was always Whitney-Woodward-BCC

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by CSC

Obviously QR can win, but that would lead to virtually no discussion on this thread. When he showed up in the entries for this race, I'm sure alot of race fans were shocked given his history of light racing. If you would have asked me last month where he was headed next, I would have said 1-9 they would have pointed for the JCGC. I don't like this pattern, I guess we will just have to wait and see if anyone can jump up and give him a race.

Anyone that pays attention to stuff couldn't have been too surprised. Pletcher has been talking about running in the Whitney then the Woodward since before the Met Mile.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...et-mile-lineup

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by CSC

Obviously QR can win, but that would lead to virtually no discussion on this thread. When he showed up in the entries for this race, I'm sure alot of race fans were shocked given his history of light racing. If you would have asked me last month where he was headed next, I would have said 1-9 they would have pointed for the JCGC. I don't like this pattern, I guess we will just have to wait and see if anyone can jump up and give him a race.

If you paid attention to anything Pletcher has said about his schedule this year, you wouldn't have been shocked. This race was always on the agenda after the Whitney. He won't lose.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by CSC

Obviously QR can win, but that would lead to virtually no discussion on this thread.

This horse has attained Pee VAL status. In other words, it's IRRELEVANT. Some of us had know previously but the Whitney made it clear, even to its most ardent supporters, that QR won't win the CLASSIC. QR has ZERO shot in the CLASSIC. Unless, of course, he's allowed to walk on the front end --- which won't happen. QR can beat as many plugs as one would want from now till the end of the year. But QR is not relevant as he's just not good enough when it comes to real horse distances.

We're sitting here debating whether Convocation can beat him. You know, the hanging, pick up the absolutely LAST pieces, Convocation.

If I were a trainer, any trainer, and I had a decent router, I'd take my best speed route horse and I'd run at QR early, then I'd have my better horse run at him late. This is a SURE recipe for success against QR. Doesn't work going 8F (on speed tracks) but it's MONEY at 9F and up. You'd think someone would actually implement this. I know that trainers of prior eras certainly would/did.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Convocation won't win.

CAN'T