Shared Belief

[Rupert Pupkin]

Now they're saying they might go in the San Diego Handicap instead of the Los Alamitos Derby. They'd have to go against older horses in there but the advantages are that it is on synthetic and it is only 1 1/16 miles. I guess they are having second thoughts about running 1 1/8 miles on the dirt coming off just a 6 furlong race on the synthetic. I can't blame them.

The big negative (aside from running against older horses) if they go in the San Diego Handicap is that this would put them in a position where they have to go from running 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles if his subsequent start was going to be either the Travers or the Pacific Classic. It is very rare to see a horse that has never run further than 1 1/16 miles win a Grade 1 going 1 1/4 miles. It practically never happens. I've seen it a few times but it is very rare. Maybe they will pass on both the Pacific Classic and the Travers and try him on the grass in the Del Mar Derby (1 1/8 miles). That would be a little more conservative.