Early Breeders' Cup Projections...

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

That would be cruelty to animals for Pletcher to run this horse, who is clearly done and disinterested in racing, against a monster like Bernardini in the Classic...I doubt Pletcher does it...he got a good enough account of Bernardini's ability first hand when his star 3YO broke down trying to keep up with him....

Yeah, you are probably right...In no way do I think that FA could beat Bernardini, but if Pletcher enters him in the race, he will be ready for a big effort. I wouldn't expect him to enter him either, but I will be watching him...

[blackthroatedwind]

Was he also ready for a big effort when entered in the Woodward...or was that just a fake out?

Flower Alley's career is over. It was basically over when he didn't show up until half the year was over.....but now it's official. He couldn't beat two fat guys in a horse suit.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Was he also ready for a big effort when entered in the Woodward...or was that just a fake out?

Flower Alley's career is over. It was basically over when he didn't show up until half the year was over.....but now it's official. He couldn't beat two fat guys in a horse suit.

Exactly...everybody called me crazy and synical at the time when I stated that something was worng with Flower Alley earlier this year for him to start so late....people defended Pletcher saying that it was all scheduled, but i know what I saw wit my own two eyes when he was training the two weeks before the Derby...

When they didn't point him towards the Stephen Foster - the prestigious Grade 1 race at the same track the Breeders' Cup was going to be run at this year - I knew something wasn't right....that was as losical a start as any for a campaign for a 4yo horse that you felt was the incumbant handicap division leader...

he would have had a half-year off had he pointed for the Foster - more than enough freshening for a strong campaign....the fact that a horse of his stature had to come back in a weak contest at Monmouth WAY late in the season told me that he wasn't the same animal too....

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Exactly...everybody called me crazy and synical at the time when I stated that something was worng with Flower Alley earlier this year for him to start so late....people defended Pletcher saying that it was all scheduled, but i know what I saw wit my own two eyes when he was training the two weeks before the Derby...

When they didn't point him towards the Stephen Foster - the prestigious Grade 1 race at the same track the Breeders' Cup was going to be run at this year - I knew something wasn't right....that was as losical a start as any for a campaign for a 4yo horse that you felt was the incumbant handicap division leader...

he would have had a half-year off had he pointed for the Foster - more than enough freshening for a strong campaign....the fact that a horse of his stature had to come back in a weak contest at Monmouth WAY late in the season told me that he wasn't the same animal too....

Well, I for one never doubted what you were saying in regards to Flower Alley. To be honest, I wasn't impressed with him even after his 2nd in the BCC. (Sorry.)

[SundayStar]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

Are you sure OB is running again before the BC? I can't find it but I think I read an article quoting Ed Dunlop saying OB would get a break and then head to the BC. ( I hope she gets a little break)

she's scheduled to run in a stakes race on the arc undercard.

Originally Posted by SundayStar

she's scheduled to run in a stakes race on the arc undercard.

Hell, why not just run in the Arc?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Hell, why not just run in the Arc?

Racing on the undercard must be there idea of a 'break'

[blackthroatedwind]

I guess that means the Prix de L'Opera.

[repent]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Hell, why not just run in the Arc?

its a fair point,
that may be answered by what we have been discussing.
its already been a tough campaign.
and do you really want to run her at 12f, then cut her back in distance?

Dunlop said something about taking her home and seeing if the ground is "suitable" to giving her another prep before coming to the BC.
seems like hes just keeping the options open,
but I heard that she could very well face Alexandrova on the Arc undercard.


Repent

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Was he also ready for a big effort when entered in the Woodward...or was that just a fake out?

Flower Alley's career is over. It was basically over when he didn't show up until half the year was over.....but now it's official. He couldn't beat two fat guys in a horse suit.

read a story the other day...pletcher said there have been 'some offers' regarding flower alley...he's done. i'm sure they will make some sort of an announcement in the ensuing weeks. i think the chances of flower alley running in the bcc are somewhere between slim and no.

[Danzig]

[quote=pdrift1]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Oh, I forgot to mention:

Giacomo...no shot, Second of june..game but not good enough, Suave..actualy interesting with his best but he is too inconsistent for me and i doubt that he is a fighter...he should have beaten Magna Gaduate at CD in last year's Clark and was puerly out-gamed to the wire when he had aim and went by on the outside...but he likes CD and gets the distance..a little interesting underneath, Super Frolic ran huge in this race last year at like 60-1 but his best only puts him in TRIS and SUPERS, all of John Ward's horses are under-experienced and over-matched...


OH, I ALMOST FORGOT PERFECT DRIFT!!! - who I actually like to hit the board with Leparoux but he cannot win....Here is my TRI now:

Bernardini / Perfect Drift / Invasor

..as for last place finisher...well, you never know what cheap speed will be thrown in to the wolves and fade to last, but I really think Shirocco will run horribly on the dirt....Seek Gold might be the worst horse in the race, but his plodding style and the fact he'll get the distance and likes CD will allow him to pass a few tiring horses in the stretch....

[/QUOT

not sure if your being sarcastic about drift, i assume not but does he deserve to be in the bcc? i know he does but want your take since im debating this on another thread and i see you have him in your tri........and thats what i said about suave before also, inconsistent but if he he feels like running can run a huge race.

i'm not going to debate whether he belongs in there. i will say i'd be surprised if he hit the board, and i wouldn't bet on him to do so. maybe add him into a super, but a tri? probably not. of course there is still time between now and november, he'd have to work lights out at churchill and everyone else falter in the weeks leading up to the classic for me to think he has much of a shot. he's still good, but he's not as good as before. but, plenty of time left. not every horse currently headed toward churchill will be there. we all know that, or should! plenty of time to make up tickets...

[pdrift1]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Oh, I forgot to mention:

Giacomo...no shot, Second of june..game but not good enough, Suave..actualy interesting with his best but he is too inconsistent for me and i doubt that he is a fighter...he should have beaten Magna Gaduate at CD in last year's Clark and was puerly out-gamed to the wire when he had aim and went by on the outside...but he likes CD and gets the distance..a little interesting underneath, Super Frolic ran huge in this race last year at like 60-1 but his best only puts him in TRIS and SUPERS, all of John Ward's horses are under-experienced and over-matched...


OH, I ALMOST FORGOT PERFECT DRIFT!!! - who I actually like to hit the board with Leparoux but he cannot win....Here is my TRI now:

Bernardini / Perfect Drift / Invasor

..as for last place finisher...well, you never know what cheap speed will be thrown in to the wolves and fade to last, but I really think Shirocco will run horribly on the dirt....Seek Gold might be the worst horse in the race, but his plodding style and the fact he'll get the distance and likes CD will allow him to pass a few tiring horses in the stretch....

not sure if your being sarcastic about drift, i assume not but does he deserve to be in the bcc? i know he does but want your take since im debating this on another thread and i see you have him in your tri........and thats what i said about suave before also, inconsistent but if he he feels like running can run a huge race.

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[Danzig]

not quite sure how my post ended up BEFORE the one i just replied to....

[pdrift1]

[quote=Danzig188]

Originally Posted by pdrift1

i'm not going to debate whether he belongs in there. i will say i'd be surprised if he hit the board, and i wouldn't bet on him to do so. maybe add him into a super, but a tri? probably not. of course there is still time between now and november, he'd have to work lights out at churchill and everyone else falter in the weeks leading up to the classic for me to think he has much of a shot. he's still good, but he's not as good as before. but, plenty of time left. not every horse currently headed toward churchill will be there. we all know that, or should! plenty of time to make up tickets...

i agree its only geting harder for him . and this will be a tuff race and he needs to pick things up heading in. but blackthroats comments about he should not even be in the bcc makes me laugh

[pdrift1]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

not quite sure how my post ended up BEFORE the one i just replied to....

lol cause i erased it so i could quote it for cunningham , sry

[Hwjb]

Ouija Board is indeed set to contest the Prix de l'Opera, although I imagine connections will have second thoughts if conditions become swamp-like at Longchamp, which they have a tendency to do there.

Ouija Board did run in the Arc as a 3yo prior to winning the BCFMT, but it is worth bearing in mind that she'd had just 3 outings prior to the Arc that season, whereas this time around she's had 7.

The l'Opera could be something of a classic if it features the much-anticipated clash of generations between Alexandrova and Ouija Board. It would be a thriller, the edge perhaps just going to Ouija over 10f, although I very much fancy Alexandrova in the BCFMT with the added furlong in her favour.

Originally Posted by pdrift1

not sure if your being sarcastic about drift, i assume not but does he deserve to be in the bcc? i know he does but want your take since im debating this on another thread and i see you have him in your tri........and thats what i said about suave before also, inconsistent but if he he feels like running can run a huge race.

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Seriously, I like him to hit the board at a price..I really do...He should have won the Grade 1 Foster there earlier this year but hung at the end like usual...I know it wasn't a stellar group but he still was in total command in that race before giving it up on his own in the end......He LOVES Churchill Downs and has shown that he can run big on several occasions there....Remember his Derby?

Also, he is best at 1 1/4 miles and he'll get a great pace scenario here again....I used him last year to hit the TRI for some big cash....

There isn't a horse with more class in the race, and while he isn't as fast as he used to be, he is fast enough and consistent enough at this track and trip to hit the board here at a square price..

Remember, just because he doesn't win often doesn't mean he won't be right there at the wire...I know he won't win because he is a hanger, but he will be right there in the top 5...he loves finishing with the top flight....