War Pass --DB ?

[the_fat_man]

I'd don't know if this has been touched on or, if it has, whether it's been given enough emphasis.

While I'm not particularly interested in how fast War Pass ran last out, I was impressed by the uniqueness of the splits of his race.

23.94 22.78 25.18 24.48

So, it seems that he did something atypical in dirt racing, accelerating the final split.

Wonder if anyone with a database can see how rare this is at GP (or generally) at the distance (and others).

[blackthroatedwind]

Part of the problem with the splits at Gulfstream is the short runup in mile races always seems to result in faster second quarters in those races. You actually see this in 1 1/16 races ( and probably mile races ) at Belmont which makes me question the runup they use in those races.

As for War Pass's final quarter being faster than his third quarter, well the third quarter was around a turn, and the stretch was the only time they aired him out at all in the race so I suppose it makes sense.

Contrary to what I've been reading from some esteemed posters here.....War Pass is a damn good horse with a solid resume. Unlike most of the other 3YOs, or really any of them, it shouldn't be surprising if he does something a little better than most.

[the_fat_man]

Obviously, I agree with your statement but I don't think I've seen too many horses accelerate in the stretch on the dirt going a route. You might see it every so often in a sprint on a jacked up MED track or in poly sprints.

While the earlier splits were certainly not impressive, they weren't slow enough to detract from the impressiveness of the acceleration. This was a unique run.

Of course, maybe someone can run a query and show that the run wasn't unique at all.

[blackthroatedwind]

Well, apparently you and I are in the minority around here that seem to think that War Pass is a tremendously talented horse. Very little he does on the positive side will really surprise me.

People are so used to throwing undeserved superlatives at horses that when an actually superior animal comes around they are confused.

[alysheba4]

up until now, i would say he will run away and hide from any other 3 year old.
what about that frankel filly out of empire maker. she might be as good as the rest of the colts.........

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by alysheba4

up until now, i would say he will run away and hide from any other 3 year old.
what about that frankel filly out of empire maker. she might be as good as the rest of the colts.........

She will actually have to run to demonstrate that. So far she's shown that she's good on polytrack and turf. She's certainly got a lot of ability but I'll reserve judgement until she shows us what she can do on the dirt.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

People are so used to throwing undeserved superlatives at horses that when an actually superior animal comes around they are confused.

Sharp post. Racing fans naturally gravitate towards anything that resembles something good because of this desperate need for a superstar. It's over-used and when something good does come around, people stutter.

I think this plays into that larger idea that horseplayers are so jaded and cynical, that a good thing truly isn't. War Pass could win the Derby by 10 and people would still find fault.

Horseplayers... they're never happy.

[blackthroatedwind]

Well, Travis, if I was to tell you why I think that is I would just come of as insulting.

I will say that I wish everybody would bet enough money on the opinions they post on the internet so that when they lose it hurts enough to try to figure out why they formed a poor opinion. That's one thing you can learn by wagering that you probably won't by simply spewing opinions with little or no financial involvement.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

Sharp post. Racing fans naturally gravitate towards anything that resembles something good because of this desperate need for a superstar. It's over-used and when something good does come around, people stutter.

I think this plays into that larger idea that horseplayers are so jaded and cynical, that a good thing truly isn't. War Pass could win the Derby by 10 and people would still find fault.

Horseplayers... they're never happy.

Funny.. I felt the same way in '06 when there seemed to be a significant contingent of DT posters that refused to give Bernardini credit for anything he did.

War Pass is a very nice horse.

I think that he's a bit overrated and that he won't win the Derby.

If that makes me jaded and cynical, then.. I don't know.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Well, apparently you and I are in the minority around here that seem to think that War Pass is a tremendously talented horse. Very little he does on the positive side will really surprise me.

People are so used to throwing undeserved superlatives at horses that when an actually superior animal comes around they are confused.

Um, for the record, I have him ranked #1, and I am the only person on the Derby site to give him the nod over Pyro.

I also have Zanjero ranked #3 in the handicap division. (this is sort of a joke)

Originally Posted by justindew

Um, for the record, I have him ranked #1, and I am the only person on the Derby site to give him the nod over Pyro.

I also have Zanjero ranked #3 in the handicap division. (this is sort of a joke)

How's Jill Byrne doing? Is she going to be ready for the derby?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I think everyone should agree that it is absurd for War Pass to get any credit for his comeback race - because he ran a big final 1/4 mile fraction.

Much like with Daaher in the Cigar Mile - he was allowed totally unopposed on an uncontested early lead - through VERY soft fractions - a trip that has always been and will always be considered the best dirt trip in all of horse racing.

Daaher should have been just buried here for his phony win in the Cigar Mile - but the tone seemed to be like he proved he was some real authentic excellent horse with the win.... because he got his final quarter mile in a supersonic 23 4/5ths, which propelled him to a 116 Beyer.

If people still don't want to believe that an unpressured lead through soft fractions in a small field - is that good of a trip - just focus in another race at the same distance that day.

An N1X allowance for 3yo fillies won by Halo Hollie that day, at THE SAME distance as War Pass, featured a six furlong fraction of 1:10.65. The unpressured War Pass ran his six furlong fraction in 1:11.90.

I realize it was a meaningless comeback race and all - but if a horse is going to get praised for an effort that came with a once in a lifetime type good trip - the least he should be required to do is run a good figure.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

In the BC Juvy, War Pass got an easy lead, even though he set very fast fractions, and no one came to get him because no one else ran at all except for Pyro. I think it had something to do with the condition of the track. Pyro ran much better against War Pass when the track wasn't in that sort of condition in the Champagne. In fact, it looked like to me that War Pass loved those conditions, and maybe improved over the surface. He has never ran anywhere close to as good as he did in the BC Juvy. Also, there may have been a little bit of a rail bias at the beginning of the day. Still, I think the two best horses at that time won the two Juvy races.

I think War Pass is a very good horse, but not as good as everyone is making him out to be.

In his comeback at GP, he was loose on the lead yet again, but wasn't all out for that race, which accounts for the lower BSF. They are definitely trying to leave as much as they can in the tank. He ran some at the end of his allowance, but he still could have given more.

The only race that War Pass hasn't been loose on the lead is his first start, and he certainly didn't crush some inferior horses.

We shall see how good he is...

If he can still win the Derby on the lead while being pressured, and holding off horses like Colonel John and El Gato Malo who can currently run their last 1/8 of a mile and an eighth race in less than 12 seconds, then I will say this is a great horse.

When War Pass beats a horse like this, I will get excited...
This is one of the prettiest moving animals that I have ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZqXyVN03mE&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6w_J...eature=related

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Well, apparently you and I are in the minority around here that seem to think that War Pass is a tremendously talented horse. Very little he does on the positive side will really surprise me.

People are so used to throwing undeserved superlatives at horses that when an actually superior animal comes around they are confused.

UH HUH...

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

UH HUH...

Lotta horses don't like dat track. The race is a toss.

[Bobby Fischer]

"24.48?"

"oh thats not too bad"

"what was the penultimate?"
"25.18?, oh that explains it somewhat"

"it was graded stakes level horse, running against claimers under wraps until the stretch?" "oh never mind"

[miraja2]

Since the other thread was closed, I guess I'll start a new one.
Apparently he is okay physically.
"All the preliminary tests we've done are good," Zito said. "He scoped clean after the race, his airways are great, and he had no infection."
The rest of the article:
http://www.drf.com/news/article/93020.html

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Since the other thread was closed, I guess I'll start a new one.
Apparently he is okay physically.
"All the preliminary tests we've done are good," Zito said. "He scoped clean after the race, his airways are great, and he had no infection."
The rest of the article:
http://www.drf.com/news/article/93020.html

Of course, McGlaughlin said that same thing about Daaher.

[Danzig]

it's too soon to throw in the towel, king. besides, daaher had two clunkers in a row, war pass only has one blemish so far.

[King Glorious]

I don't think it's too soon. I hope it is but I have no belief that I'll ever see War Pass run again.