Shared Belief

[Indian Charlie]

Pacific Classic next.

I would like to see him stay on dirt, as I think the Del Mar surface is an abomination that is especially ill suited for a horse that runs with Shared Beliefs style.

I've never been a fan of synthetic racing surfaces, but the cushion track at least played fairly similar to dirt, which was one of the two reasons I had no doubt Shared Belief would like dirt racing.

I'd hope Dorf gets some work with him over the track, but hell, that terrible surface has seen many horses work great over it in the mornings only to see them unable to run a step in the afternoon.

I'd just as soon see him go in one of the Arlington turf races, over anything at Del Mar.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Pacific Classic next.

I would like to see him stay on dirt, as I think the Del Mar surface is an abomination that is especially ill suited for a horse that runs with Shared Beliefs style.

I've never been a fan of synthetic racing surfaces, but the cushion track at least played fairly similar to dirt, which was one of the two reasons I had no doubt Shared Belief would like dirt racing.

I'd hope Dorf gets some work with him over the track, but hell, that terrible surface has seen many horses work great over it in the mornings only to see them unable to run a step in the afternoon.

I'd just as soon see him go in one of the Arlington turf races, over anything at Del Mar.

I don't know what the track will be like this year at Del Mar. I thought last year was a definite abomination. There was actually a fairly big speed bias there last year. The track isn't usually like that. It usually plays like your typical synthetic track. Turf horses usually like it. Acclamation who is a grass horse won the Pacific Classic in 2011. Synthetic horses usually like it. Dullahan, who didn't seem to run really well on anything but synthetic (he won the Blue Grass at Keeneland), won the Pacific Classic. I don't see any reason why Shared Belief wouldn't love Del Mar. He ran great at Golden Gate in both of his races there. He ran great at Hollywood Park which was really a track that played half way in between a dirt and synthetic track.

Shared Belief looks like he can run on anything. So far he's run on 3 different tracks and he's undefeated. No matter how Del Mar plays this year, I would bet that Shared Belief has no problem with the track. He seems like a pretty adaptable type of horse. The handicap division on the west coast is terrible right now. I would definitely make Shared Belief the favorite for the Pacific Classic even though I rarely like 3 year olds in there.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I don't know what the track will be like this year at Del Mar. I thought last year was a definite abomination. There was actually a fairly big speed bias there last year. The track isn't usually like that. It usually plays like your typical synthetic track. Turf horses usually like it. Acclamation who is a grass horse won the Pacific Classic in 2011. Synthetic horses usually like it. Dullahan, who didn't seem to run really well on anything but synthetic (he won the Blue Grass at Keeneland), won the Pacific Classic. I don't see any reason why Shared Belief wouldn't love Del Mar. He ran great at Golden Gate in both of his races there. He ran great at Hollywood Park which was really a track that played half way in between a dirt and synthetic track.

Shared Belief looks like he can run on anything. So far he's run on 3 different tracks and he's undefeated. No matter how Del Mar plays this year, I would bet that Shared Belief has no problem with the track. He seems like a pretty adaptable type of horse. The handicap division on the west coast is terrible right now. I would definitely make Shared Belief the favorite for the Pacific Classic even though I rarely like 3 year olds in there.

I didn't follow Del Mar last year and don't know anything about it being speed favoring.

Poly, Tapeta and Cushion are quite different from each other. Cushion plays the most like dirt.

His wins at Golden Gate were against such vastly inferior competition that I think those two races are pretty useless for evaporating him fairly.

I do think it's likely he'd win the Pacific Classic, but in my estimation, he is the most vulnerable in that spot.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Pacific Classic next.

I would like to see him stay on dirt, as I think the Del Mar surface is an abomination that is especially ill suited for a horse that runs with Shared Beliefs style.

I've never been a fan of synthetic racing surfaces, but the cushion track at least played fairly similar to dirt, which was one of the two reasons I had no doubt Shared Belief would like dirt racing.

I'd hope Dorf gets some work with him over the track, but hell, that terrible surface has seen many horses work great over it in the mornings only to see them unable to run a step in the afternoon.

I'd just as soon see him go in one of the Arlington turf races, over anything at Del Mar.

Million dollar bonus is big as he is a gelding right? They arent shipping east for the Travers when they can ship to Delmar for same money. Who is going to beat him in Pac? Game on Dude loose on lead?

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Million dollar bonus is big as he is a gelding right? They arent shipping east for the Travers when they can ship to Delmar for same money. Who is going to beat him in Pac? Game on Dude loose on lead?

You miss my point.

Clearly he's the best horse aiming for the race.

I have my concerns that that racing surface is anti conducive to him running his optimal race.

I think the bonus, while nice, is of secondary value. The purse money from the three races is much greater than the bonus.

I'd guesstimate first place prize money from all three races to be around $3.9 million.

[10 pnt move up]

I am not sure he can run down a loose on the lead GOD, Hollendorfer will probably enter a rabbit again.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I am not sure he can run down a loose on the lead GOD, Hollendorfer will probably enter a rabbit again.

The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to believe GOD might be pretty tough in there. If loose, that is.

This really does have to be the worst reasonable spot for him.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to believe GOD might be pretty tough in there. If loose, that is.

This really does have to be the worst reasonable spot for him.

He would be. And for you to say Shared Belief is the best horse pointing to race is pure comedy. GOD has won multiple G1's and a good 2nd in a BC Classic. The other horse has won a very soft Juvy G1. I dont think Shared Belief will ever in his life run a race like GOD Big Cap this year.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Clearly he's the best horse aiming for the race.

I think he's a really nice horse but am getting very confused by the whole second coming tone going on in this thread.

I'm wondering who else is pointing to the Pacific Classic (aside from the other GoD horse) and am already kind of feeling bad for him cause the whole disappointment turning into disgust, stick-a-fork-in-him mentality is, I fear, a real possibility. (No disrespect meant... I just think your expectations might be a tad too high).

Not to sound like a complete idiot but is California Chrome going to the Pacific Classic?

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

He would be. And for you to say Shared Belief is the best horse pointing to race is pure comedy. GOD has won multiple G1's and a good 2nd in a BC Classic. The other horse has won a very soft Juvy G1. I dont think Shared Belief will ever in his life run a race like GOD Big Cap this year.

I'm thinking that Game on Dude is done. If he runs one of his freak type of races, he may win easily. But I don't see that happening.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

He would be. And for you to say Shared Belief is the best horse pointing to race is pure comedy. GOD has won multiple G1's and a good 2nd in a BC Classic. The other horse has won a very soft Juvy G1. I dont think Shared Belief will ever in his life run a race like GOD Big Cap this year.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Your post gives me hope that he'll stay sound and be around a lot longer than I'd thought.

Game on Dude, historically speaking, is a tremendously overrated horse.

He's a one dimensional horse who's had the luxury of coming along at a time when the handicap division has been pretty weak.

Commentator would have crushed this horse.