Surviving hot and contested paces

[Calzone Lord]

Storm Cat had a couple of great performances at age two where he pressed fast paces set by the great sprinter Groovy.

Breeders Cup Juvenile:

Storm Cat breaks on top, outsprinted by Groovy, puts him away, opens up, but it nailed by a deep closer in the last jump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcXdbgc9MgA

[_ed_]

This one's pretty legendary - Kotare Chief's Auckland Cup in 1987. 2 miles? No sweat. Leads by 25-30 at one point, and not only holds on but breaks the track record. And I may be wrong, but I think that 3:16.63 has only been beaten once since.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxvnSpVDJdY

Hardly 'contested', admittedly...

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by _ed_

This one's pretty legendary - Kotare Chief's Auckland Cup in 1987. 2 miles? No sweat. Leads by 25-30 at one point, and not only holds on but breaks the track record. And I may be wrong, but I think that 3:16.63 has only been beaten once since.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxvnSpVDJdY

Hardly 'contested', admittedly...

I got quite a laugh from the announcer. With a 1000 meters to go he says "now they're starting to panic these blokes, and they should be". Or how about " he can almost lie down and have a rip". What is a rip? A stiff drink?

[KirisClown]

Urgent Request in the 95 Santa Anita Handicap. Dueled on a rapid pace, then held off Best Pal's big late run..

[parsixfarms]

Seattle Slew in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZFr6N2lNY4.

I never realized that he broke through the gate prior to this performance.

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

Seattle Slew in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZFr6N2lNY4.

I never realized that he broke through the gate prior to this performance.

This was a great last impression for "Slew". It really showed his heart and determination. A lot of handicappers and historians were not overly impressed with him winning the triple crown. It was this race that sealed his greatness. This is the race that everyone remembers, even in defeat...

[Calzone Lord]

Seattle Slew's Kentucky Derby is a great example of it as well.

It was a painfully slow race and came back terrible on figures (Beyers, Ragozins, and my projections) -- but he ran tremendous to blow the break from such a big field and bull his way into a speed duel. Win the battle and the war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWO0QgZKoYY

Had any even marginally respectable closer been in that race and showed up they would have got him -- but it was still a great performance.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by outofthebox

This was a great last impression for "Slew". It really showed his heart and determination. A lot of handicappers and historians were not overly impressed with him winning the triple crown. It was this race that sealed his greatness. This is the race that everyone remembers, even in defeat...

He ran again after the Gold Cup.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by outofthebox

I got quite a laugh from the announcer. With a 1000 meters to go he says "now they're starting to panic these blokes, and they should be". Or how about " he can almost lie down and have a rip". What is a rip? A stiff drink?

A "rip-snorter" is a good time in Australia having a rip is slang, I imaging the same in NZ.

[Calzone Lord]

I was pretty sure he said "he can almost lie down and have a rest"

Devon Loch tried that before -- as you can see at 1 minute and 25 seconds in to this amusing clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62fPLtL8h7s

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

I was pretty sure he said "he can almost lie down and have a rest"

Devon Loch tried that before -- as you can see at 1 minute and 25 seconds in to this amusing clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62fPLtL8h7s

Your right! Just listened to it again...

[hondo]

The 1984 Flamingo stakes when Time for a Change looked Devils Bag in the eye going 109 3/5 for 6f and buried him in the turn for home and then was forced to repel a late charge from the stretch runner Dr. Carter. Unfotunately after that Time for a Change was never really the same.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Storm Cat had a couple of great performances at age two where he pressed fast paces set by the great sprinter Groovy.

Breeders Cup Juvenile:

Storm Cat breaks on top, outsprinted by Groovy, puts him away, opens up, but it nailed by a deep closer in the last jump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcXdbgc9MgA

I loved Tasso. I couldn't believe that horse never developed past 2.

Also, nice job by Lukas with his two in there, Louisiana Slew and Ketoh. The former cost 2.9 million and made back all of that purchase price except for the last 2.825 million.

Ketoh was a homebred half to Althea (among others) that won his debut by double digit lengths and had great expectations. He died early in his 3yo season.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Also, nice job by Lukas with his two in there, Louisiana Slew and Ketoh. The former cost 2.9 million and made back all of that purchase price except for the last 2.825 million.

Louisiana Slew's owner J.E. Jumonville had more money than sense when it came to horses. He was an easy mark for DWL.