Delta Jackpot takes on importance this year

[blackthroatedwind]

I've got no sympathy for any " late bloomer " that doesn't get in due to earnings. I'll take my chances that the truly deserving will make it and only ridiculous trainers that never run their horses will risk missing the big dance with a legit contendor.

The ones that belong will dance the dances and get the earnings.

[jpops757]

I havnt seen the entries or nomomees but I bet Assmusen has something in here. Suprising that Going Balistic didnt run here other the the previous week-end.

[dellinger63]

Suprised Baffert has two entered

1 1 Xchanger Bravo J Shuman Mark 122 0 L 6-1
2 2 Malt Magic Espinoza V Baffert Bob 117 0 L 20-1
3 3 Scatter the Tak Meche D J Blasi Scott 117 0 L 12-1
4 4 Go Poppa Fooze Theriot H J II Norman Cole 119 0 L 9-2
5 5 Officer Rocket (GB) Hebert T J Holthus Robert E 122 0 L 7-2
6 6 Ice Man Cometh Bejarano R Violette Richard A Jr 117 0 L 15-1
7 7 Mistycal Light Hernandez B J Allen Randy 117 0 L 30-1
8 8 Birdbirdistheword Albarado R J McPeek Kenneth G 119 0 L 3-1
9 9 Pirates Deputy Gomez G K Baffert Bob 119 0 L 8-1
10 10 Freesgood Desormeaux K J Currin William L 119 0 L 6-1

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Suprised Baffert has two entered

1 1 Xchanger Bravo J Shuman Mark 122 0 L 6-1
2 2 Malt Magic Espinoza V Baffert Bob 117 0 L 20-1
3 3 Scatter the Tak Meche D J Blasi Scott 117 0 L 12-1
4 4 Go Poppa Fooze Theriot H J II Norman Cole 119 0 L 9-2
5 5 Officer Rocket (GB) Hebert T J Holthus Robert E 122 0 L 7-2
6 6 Ice Man Cometh Bejarano R Violette Richard A Jr 117 0 L 15-1
7 7 Mistycal Light Hernandez B J Allen Randy 117 0 L 30-1
8 8 Birdbirdistheword Albarado R J McPeek Kenneth G 119 0 L 3-1
9 9 Pirates Deputy Gomez G K Baffert Bob 119 0 L 8-1
10 10 Freesgood Desormeaux K J Currin William L 119 0 L 6-1

officer rocket for sure anyone going to tucson next week?

[cakes44]

I love betting that place. What is the stretch, like 300 feet?

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

officer rocket for sure anyone going to tucson next week?

I wouldn't count out Xchanger, especially with that 1 hole he drew.

Originally Posted by oracle80

I wouldn't count out Xchanger, especially with that 1 hole he drew.

This is the horse I like as well. I wont be betting this race because I do not know much about that track down there. It does seem to have some tight turns. And isnt it going to be around 3 turns? But one horse I know I dont like is Officer Rocket.

[cakes44]

It is actually only 2 turns, but run out of a chute I think?

[smartyalex]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

This is the horse I like as well. I wont be betting this race because I do not know much about that track down there. It does seem to have some tight turns. And isnt it going to be around 3 turns? But one horse I know I dont like is Officer Rocket.

Well with such expertise on the sport.......can you please tell us why you "don't like" Officer Rocket in this race? You sound very confident. Might I ask what your opinion is based on?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I've got no sympathy for any " late bloomer " that doesn't get in due to earnings. I'll take my chances that the truly deserving will make it and only ridiculous trainers that never run their horses will risk missing the big dance with a legit contendor.

The ones that belong will dance the dances and get the earnings.

Amen.

My idea has always been that the 1-2 finishers in the Arkansas, Santa Anita, and Florida Derbies, as well as the 1-2 finishers in the Wood and Blue Grass get automatic berths. That gives u 10 horses. The next four would be based on earnings as a 3yo after u get the automatic qualifiers. If any of those 14 drop out, the next one on the list makes it.

I guess I was right with Officer Rocket. Was in contention and then just folded like a cheap suit. I know he was bumped and then was rushed up. But he lost by like a mile. I just dont think horse is a two turn horse.

Well I was wrong! I guess McPeek & Baffert have two for the Derby next year, by earnings anyway. At least my three came in together. Only instead of 1-2-3 they were 5-6-7.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I guess I was right with Officer Rocket. Was in contention and then just folded like a cheap suit. I know he was bumped and then was rushed up. But he lost by like a mile. I just dont think horse is a two turn horse.

He just never looked comfortable. I don't think that he's going to be a two-turn star, but I think he'll turn out to be one of the better of his generation.

He never really settled last night.

[smartyalex]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I guess I was right with Officer Rocket. Was in contention and then just folded like a cheap suit. I know he was bumped and then was rushed up. But he lost by like a mile. I just dont think horse is a two turn horse.

Touche! As metiioned in another post, he just didn't look comfortable. I wish they could find this horse a "Jock" and stick w/ him as well. Euro, you got me on this one. I think Officer Rocket will still be a horse to watch out for during the Oaklawn meet. He could also use a nice break. He left his stable at the Spires Monday morning. "Vanned" to Oaklawn......left for Delta Downs on the 28th. Now headed back home to Oaklawn. Time will tell.

[Danzig]

altho the earnings system is flawed, they have to have some way to limit starters. and of course any way they did it, there would be flaws and arguments against. hell, all these years they had the rules to get in the bc races, and people still complained.
everyone knows the rules--they need to plan accordingly. certainly this million dollar race was available to anyone who was interested.
also, a more 'important' race doesn't necessarily guarantee a better quality performer come bc day. look at the bluegrass stakes recently. then there's tapits wood memorial. just because it's an historic race, and not an upstart like the jackpot, doesn't really mean it will generate a better or deeper field.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Amen.

My idea has always been that the 1-2 finishers in the Arkansas, Santa Anita, and Florida Derbies, as well as the 1-2 finishers in the Wood and Blue Grass get automatic berths. That gives u 10 horses. The next four would be based on earnings as a 3yo after u get the automatic qualifiers. If any of those 14 drop out, the next one on the list makes it.

The only issue is with this is that you are giving recent history more credit then past history. What they do as 2 year olds should be consider, also earlier in the year. Ideally, I would love to have the option to use a race as a tune up like they did with Monarchos and run my eyeballs out in the Derby, the above and you won't be able to do that.

The Kentucky Derby Entry thing seems to be one of those things that is very broken, but a fair and equal way to figure it out hasn't come to the forfront

[SentToStud]

What horse has been left out the past 4-5 years that anyone here feels had a solid shot?

Originally Posted by SentToStud

What horse has been left out the past 4-5 years that anyone here feels had a solid shot?

Rock Hard Ten and although the way that Barbaro ran it wouldn't have mattered, but SunRiver certainly could have hit the board.

And I wanna say that its laughable for people to say certain guys overrun horses as two year olds, then say that the trainer was a bum for not running them enough to make the Derby on earnings.
They are all different, and the number one thing a trainer has to do is to do right by the horse.
They all can't be two year olds, and MANY horses would be better suited to starting late i their two year old years, or as three year olds.
The rules are the rules, and its about the fairest system we have. But I really can't fault a guy who waits for knees to close or for a horse to mature enough to take a pounding and waits to start him later on.
If more trainers did this, we'd have much better summer and fall three year olds, because so many get pounded on early and don't even make it to spring.

I will say this as well, the slots for the Derby are filling up very fast.
I realize that not all will stay sound, but unlike many other years, the horses who have the earnings seem to have some distance breeding and quality about them, and the others who wanna get in are gonna have a tough time unless they win big pursed preps.
Street Sense, Nobiz Like Showbiz, Tiz Wonderful, Great Hunter, Circular Quay, Scat Daddy, Birdbirdistheword all have solid earnings already. I'm not sure you can poput bafferts runnerup from last night in ther because he has shown that he will pass with a horse he doesnt feel belongs.
But those 8 have the earnings and then you can toss in the Dubai race winner.
Granted some may fall by the wayside, but you still have the Hollywood Futurity which will be won by someone other than those 8 I listed, as none are going to run there, and the winner of that race will be in.
I think trainers who honestly wanna get to the Derby are gonna have a hard road compiling earnings and will have to WIN a big prep, not just hit the board this coming spring.