Travers week officially begins! - Page 2

Slewstoo · #21 08-22-2006, 08:41 AM

Here's the article about Bright One oracle

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Bright One too sick for Travers
By DAVID GRENING

Bright One, the West Virginia Derby winner who most likely would have been the third choice in Saturday's $1 million Travers, will miss the race due to illness, trainer Dale Romans said Monday.

Romans said Bright One was coughing a couple of hours after he breezed five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning, and an endoscopic examination detected mucus his lungs. Depending on how quickly Bright One recovers, Romans said, he could be pointed to the $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 23 or the $500,000 Indiana Derby on Oct. 7.

"He's not coming, as much as I would like to," Romans said. "Better to not be compromised going into a race like this."

The defection of Bright One leaves the Travers with a field of six, including the John Oxley-owned and John Ward-trained duo of Minister's Bid and Dr. Pleasure. Because the Travers has a $1 million purse, New York rules allow the two horses to run as an uncoupled entry. The field for the Travers will be drawn on Wednesday morning in Saratoga's paddock.

The probable field, with riders, is: Bernardini (Javier Castellano), Bluegrass Cat (John Velazquez), Dr. Pleasure (Cornelio Velasquez), Hesanoldsalt (Eibar Coa), High Cotton (Garrett Gomez), and Minister's Bid (Edgar Prado).

Bright One would have been one of the speed horses in the Travers. In the Jim Dandy, won in gate-to-wire fashion by Bernardini, Minister's Bid was the closest to Bernardini from the gate until the quarter pole when Bernardini began to open up. Ward said Monday he does not want Minister's Bid that close to the pace in the Travers. Ward is hopeful that Hesanoldsalt and High Cotton will be the early pacesetters.

"Our friends in racing will be out in the front chasing Bernardini and we won't have to be the animal to take the giant on early in the game," Ward said. "I don't think we're going to be way back, either, but one thing about it, we're not going to be chasing the speed."

On Monday, Minister's Bid completed preparations for the Travers by working five furlongs in 59.93 seconds on Saratoga's main track under exercise rider Danny Ramsey. The time was the fastest of 40 recorded workouts at the distance. Minister's Bid was clocked in fractions of 12.52 seconds, 24.02, 35.77, and 47.52, and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.04.

"He worked along pretty good," Ward said. "If he looks all right [Tuesday], I would say we're probably going to be up for the game. There wasn't anything in that work to show me that he doesn't need to run."

Though Minister's Bid suffered his first career loss in the Jim Dandy, Ward said he believes the race was more than a useful one to get him ready for the Travers. Minister's Bid was wide down the backstretch while chasing Bernardini. After Bernardini opened up, it appeared as though Hemingway's Key was going to pass Minister's Bid along the rail, but Minister's Bid came on again to get second.

"I think he's better prepared than he was in the Jim Dandy, when he hadn't been around two turns at all, so I'd have to say he's one step up," Ward said. "And that was a real difficult race around two turns. He never got to come out of the bridle. He was on the bridle the whole time chasing that horse, trying to get position."

The Ward/Oxley tandem will also run Dr. Pleasure, who has not won since taking his career debut over this track last September. He finished fourth in the Jim Dandy.

"Dr. Pleasure is probably going into the race with more uptick than any horse in the field," Ward said.

Ward said that Dwyer winner Strong Contender is available to run in the Travers if something happens to Bernardini or Bluegrass Cat by entry time. Barring that, Strong Contender would most likely be pointed to the Super Derby.

#22 08-22-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

Take an average horse and make it win? Are you insane or high or both? Fleet Indian was a NY bred who couldnt even beat NY breds until Pletcher got her earlier this year and shes now a grade one winning machine whose been winning her races by the lengths of football fields and is clearly the division leader. And thats what I'm talking about, no respect whatsoever.

Fleet Indian won 7 times from 12 lifetime starts before Pletcher got her in his barn. The horse was already good. Again, Pletcher took a good horse and kept her good. In fact, Fleet Indian was purchased at auction and then moved to Pletchers barn. But I cant remember what Grade I race she won. Can you re-fresh my mind a little?

#23 08-22-2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Fleet Indian won 7 times from 12 lifetime starts before Pletcher got her in his barn. The horse was already good. Again, Pletcher took a good horse and kept her good. In fact, Fleet Indian was purchased at auction and then moved to Pletchers barn. But I cant remember what Grade I race she won. Can you re-fresh my mind a little?

You are insane. She never won anything close a to grade one and her figures have improved incredibly. Pull her pp's and take a look.

Cajungator26 · #24 08-22-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Bright One was announced out of the race yesterday.

He was? Dammit.

#25 08-22-2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

You are insane. She never won anything close a to grade one and her figures have improved incredibly. Pull her pp's and take a look.

I did, the talent was there. The horse is very well bred. Pletcher made a good horse good. What was the Grade I race she won? I cant find it.

Cajungator26 · #26 08-22-2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

You are insane. She never won anything close a to grade one and her figures have improved incredibly. Pull her pp's and take a look.

Isn't a grade two close to a grade one? LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sorry Mike, just pulling your chain.

Sightseek · #27 08-22-2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Fleet Indian won 7 times from 12 lifetime starts before Pletcher got her in his barn. The horse was already good. Again, Pletcher took a good horse and kept her good. In fact, Fleet Indian was purchased at auction and then moved to Pletchers barn. But I cant remember what Grade I race she won. Can you re-fresh my mind a little?

Fleet Indian is going to the Personal Ensign this friday. It will be a warm-up for the Pletcher v. Albertrani debate with FI vs. Balleto.

#28 08-22-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I did, the talent was there. The horse is very well bred. Pletcher made a good horse good. What was the Grade I race she won? I cant find it.

Oh Ok the Del Cap is apparently a grade 2 now(used to be major race and a grade one). In any case she runs in a grade 1 this weekend.

#29 08-22-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Isn't a grade two close to a grade one? LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sorry Mike, just pulling your chain.

Cajun Im really mentally dull right now.

#30 08-22-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

Oh Ok the Del Cap is apparently a grade 2 now(used to be major race and a grade one). In any case she runs in a grade 1 this weekend.

Well maybe she will get her Grade I win this weekend. But she has delveloped into a nice horse. Of course, she isnt beating very much, but that he not her fault. Pletchers has done a nice job with her.

Sightseek · #31 08-22-2006, 12:47 PM

So who is going to fill out the tri; hesanoldsalt, High Cotton or Ministers Bid?

#32 08-22-2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

So who is going to fill out the tri; hesanoldsalt, High Cotton or Ministers Bid?

I thought Salt ran huge last time, really huge, and hes had proper rest since then.
My buddy's gf gallops for Pletcher and she says that Cotton has been exceptional in the morning.
Bid needed his last and the post and surface compromised him.
This is a polite way of saying I don't have a ****ing clue!!!

SniperSB23 · #33 08-22-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

So who is going to fill out the tri; hesanoldsalt, High Cotton or Ministers Bid?

Maybe they'll fill out the super with Salty Pleasure...

Sightseek · #34 08-22-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

This is a polite way of saying I don't have a ****ing clue!!!

Who is riding High Cotton in this? Gomez?

Sightseek · #35 08-22-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Maybe they'll fill out the super with Salty Pleasure...

Hi-C Pleasure!

Slewstoo · #36 08-22-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

So who is going to fill out the tri; hesanoldsalt, High Cotton or Ministers Bid?

High Cotton.

It's really too bad that Bright One couldn't make it for this, or a Baffert horse specifically Point Determined

King Glorious · #37 08-22-2006, 02:55 PM

I think it will be Bernardini and then the rest. I don't think any of the rest matter so put all and all in the other spots. They are so evenly matched once u get past Bernardini.

#38 08-22-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I think it will be Bernardini and then the rest. I don't think any of the rest matter so put all and all in the other spots. They are so evenly matched once u get past Bernardini.

THat is your list? You have got to be kidding. You are leaving out Cigar and Silverbulletday was much better than Go For Wand and Point Given was much better than Smarty Jones. Good lord man. And you are fogetting Ladys Secret. She raced a few times in 1986 and 87.

Buffymommy · #39 08-22-2006, 03:11 PM

I am seriously excited to see this match up. Will it even be a match up w/Bernardini running away with it or maybe BGC running away with it? I am kinda excited about a new late developing 3 yr old coming into their own. OH THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUN RACE TO WATCH.

I like High Cotton and Hesanoldsalt. (Not to win, but to be improving and getting into the mix)

Cajungator26 · #40 08-22-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

I am seriously excited to see this match up. Will it even be a match up w/Bernardini running away with it or maybe BGC running away with it? I am kinda excited about a new late developing 3 yr old coming into their own. OH THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUN RACE TO WATCH.

I like High Cotton and Hesanoldsalt. (Not to win, but to be improving and getting into the mix)

I'll go with Minister's Bid for fun (since Bright One is out.)