3/3 (TP): John Battaglia Memorial S.

[VOL JACK]

It's his own fault, he refuses to give these pinheads pre-race instructions.
He claims, 'they are going to do what they want to anyway.'

[Cannon Shell]

The Team Valor steed added "adjunct" medication which obviously enhanced his performance. I'm sure Barry will not mention this little tidbit when espousing the virtues of the win despite claiming that US stakes winners running on medication are laughed at throughout the world.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The Team Valor steed added "adjunct" medication which obviously enhanced his performance. I'm sure Barry will not mention this little tidbit when espousing the virtues of the win despite claiming that US stakes winners running on medication are laughed at throughout the world.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The Team Valor steed added "adjunct" medication which obviously enhanced his performance. I'm sure Barry will not mention this little tidbit when espousing the virtues of the win despite claiming that US stakes winners running on medication are laughed at throughout the world.

If he espouses the virtues of this particular win wouldn't that be ridiculous enough?

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

If he espouses the virtues of this particular win wouldn't that be ridiculous enough?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

If he espouses the virtues of this particular win wouldn't that be ridiculous enough?

I'm impressed with the severity of Derby fever that the Team Valor-Motion juggernaut has developed. They have 3 or 4 prospects that are predictably targeting polytrack and turf races as a way into the Kentucky Derby. Yeah, they really discovered the proper winning formula last year with that ridiculous route. Just insert Euro-raced or -bred horse and press "go".

If anything, Animal Kingdom won the Derby in spite of their clueless handling. Who knows how much more accomplished he would have been had he campaigned in a more traditional manner. Probably would have actually deserved the Eclipse award at the very least.

The worst symptom, as you suggest, is their continued insistence that State Of Play is a viable contender. I like the excuse for the Sam F. Davis: "He fizzled on dirt at Tampa, but that is an unusual surface and he warrants at least some breezes over a conventional dirt track." Sure he does, Barry, but not until he makes enough Derby cash to secure a spot in the starting gate, right?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

I'm impressed with the severity of Derby fever that the Team Valor-Motion juggernaut has developed. They have 3 or 4 prospects that are predictably targeting polytrack and turf races as a way into the Kentucky Derby. Yeah, they really discovered the proper winning formula last year with that ridiculous route. Just insert Euro-raced or -bred horse and press "go".

If anything, Animal Kingdom won the Derby in spite of their clueless handling. Who knows how much more accomplished he would have been had he campaigned in a more traditional manner. Probably would have actually deserved the Eclipse award at the very least.

The worst symptom, as you suggest, is their continued insistence that State Of Play is a viable contender. I like the excuse for the Sam F. Davis: "He fizzled on dirt at Tampa, but that is an unusual surface and he warrants at least some breezes over a conventional dirt track." Sure he does, Barry, but not until he makes enough Derby cash to secure a spot in the starting gate, right?

I was going to post something similar to this. Simply because they were successful in putting a square peg into a round hole once, they're going to keep trying.

State of Play showed all the signs of developing into a nice turf horse by the end of the Saratoga meet, but he was then put in the BC Juvenile Turf after missing training because of an illness. His 2012 comeback was on dirt (?) and now he's taking the synthetic route to a potential Derby start. Let's hope they get him back to turf as soon as possible.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Let's hope they get him back to turf as soon as possible.

There's really not enough money here for that.

The St. James Palace perhaps?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

There's really not enough money here for that.

The St. James Palace perhaps?

Little did you know when they crossed the wire in the With Anticipation that the exacta was two of the most mis-managed horses of the coming year.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The St. James Palace perhaps?

Doubtful. Stephanie's Kitten is already penciled in for a start in the Coronation Stakes.

What's the odds that NA-based runners take down two prestigious events at this year's Ascot meeting? Especially if Wesley Ward trains neither?

Of course, State Of Play's best race was his debut, so a matchup with Black Caviar isn't so far fetched, I suppose.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

If he espouses the virtues of this particular win wouldn't that be ridiculous enough?

It was as impressive a race as a grass horse beating a Philly Park horse while trouncing some Turfway horses and a GP maiden on a synthetic track could be expected to be. In other words he is screwed now that he no longer has the nw2x condition.