Met Mile field?

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

who trained that horse, jamie sanders

Hahaha! Nice one!

Actually, it could not have been, that horse could actually compete in the races he was placed in!

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Yeah, and he beat a good field. Broad Brush and I believe King's Swan to name a couple.

He was a damn good horse.

I agree!

[philcski]

A real racehorse:
Gulch, by Mr. Prospector.

At 2: Won the Hopeful, Futurity, Saratoga Special, Tremont, and 2nd in the Norfolk
At 3: Won the Wood, Bay Shore (they were run on different days back then), Met Mile, was 2nd in the Woodward, Whitney, Jamaica (on turf), 3rd in the Belmont, Gotham, and 4th in the Travers, Marlboro Cup, and Preakness
At 4: Won the BC Sprint, Met Mile, Carter, Potrero Grande, was 2nd in the Cal, Whitney, Vosburgh, Tom Fool, and 3rd in the Iselin and Oaklawn Handicaps

[philcski]

Originally Posted by ARyan

That would have been something to get excited about.

Not only did he do that he came back and won it again the next year... what's the probability that a horse (with a good pedigree) that wins the Met Mile at 3 comes back at 4 these days???

[blackthroatedwind]

Leroy Jolley trained him through his 3YO season and Lukas had him as a 4YO.

I saw a LOT of those races. He lost the Gotham in the mud to, I believe, Gone West and the Whitney to Java Gold. He lost the Whitney the following year to Personal Ensign.

Of course, if Afleet had a competent rider, he would have beaten Gulch in both the Met Mile ( as 4YOs ) and the BC Sprint.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by philcski

Not only did he do that he came back and won it again the next year... what's the probability that a horse (with a good pedigree) that wins the Met Mile at 3 comes back at 4 these days???

Do you remember the 1988 Met Mile? Afleet had him beat and Stahlbaum hit Afleet in the head with the whip and he propped.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Do you remember the 1988 Met Mile? Afleet had him beat and Stahlbaum hit Afleet in the head with the whip and he propped.

No... I tried to find a youtube of it a while back and couldn't.

The only time I know I saw him live was the '88 Whitney, because Personal Ensign beat him.

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

First of all, aside from my post being for a laugh, would you describe the general reaction differently? Were there any threads or discussions of this horse here or really anywhere?

He was a mediocre talent from the Far East, that Godolphin purchased and promptly laid up for 14 months. He set a dawdling pace and hung on while racing on a strong rail.

I predict if he runs in the Met Mile he will be much closer to last than first.

And, finally, I stand by my original opinion......the general reaction to his win was in fact ennui.

Group 1 winner (albeit local G1s) at 2,3,4 and 5.. no mean acheivement.. i mentioned him last year as a horse to look out for.. He doesnt seem to run well two races in a row so he wouldnt seem a good bet whatever the race next time out..

[hockey2315]

I'm pretty sure Chatain is being pointed there. . .

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I'm pretty sure Chatain is being pointed there. . .

Yeah, thanks, I knew I was missing someone interesting.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Yeah, thanks, I knew I was missing someone interesting.

You think he's interesting here, too? A mile is perfect for this horse. . . I think he has a chance to be a top contender in the BC mile unless Discreet Cat is 100% by then. . .

[parsixfarms]

I would also have to think that Diabolical is a likely candidate for this race.

As for 3YOs that ran well in the Met Mile, Housebuster was beaten a neck by eventual Horse of the Year Criminal Type in the 1990 Met, with Easy Goer third.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

You think he's interesting here, too? A mile is perfect for this horse. . . I think he has a chance to be a top contender in the BC mile unless Discreet Cat is 100% by then. . .

You do mean the BC 1m70y, right?

[jjf1031]

The race would be a dream setup for CQ and a much better option than the Belmont. Of the contenders mentioned, none entice me other than Silver Wagon who I love as a racehorse but question if he will have the same kick at 1M as 7F. Latent Heat possibley, but I am not on board for anyone out of Westchester. As a longshot perhaps Ramsgate if Frankel ships him as its possible he just did not like Keeneland Poly in Commonwealth even though he was 3 for 3 over Poly at Holywood

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

I think that Pletcher said that Lawyer Ron was pointed to this race if I can remember correctly. High Limit is a very talented horse, and I heard that Frankel was going to run him on the east coast this year even though he had been working at Hollywood Park, but he's not showing any works since mid-March.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by jjf1031

The race would be a dream setup for CQ and a much better option than the Belmont.

Circular Quay would get trounced by real race horses at this stage in his career. The runners up front in the Met Mile aren't the quitters that CQ would need to finish in the money against elders in a graded race.

[jjf1031]

Originally Posted by cakes44

Circular Quay would get trounced by real race horses at this stage in his career. The runners up front in the Met Mile aren't the quitters that CQ would need to finish in the money against elders in a graded race.

I disagree. I think that when analyzing this years Met Mile field there are no super horses ala a Gulch that at this point at least, we will be extolling their virtues down the line. Not going to bore by going over every horse but you have alot of horses that are distance challenged(Latent Heat) and/or have shown a lack of propensity to win races (Sun King). WHile either of the two mentioned above could win I cannot see where this is a spot that CQ would get "trounced", as I am a firm believer that a one-turn mile is exactly what he needs and the prospective pace scenario when dealing with the horses mentioned in this thread would be to his liking

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cardus

That Honour and Glory race is one of my Belmont favorites. He squeezed up the rail at 12-1 to beat You and I and Afternoon Delites. I think he set a stakes record in that one.

Few people could believe that Lukas entered him after he got fried in the Derby three weeks earlier.

I couldn't believe it when he entered Cat Thief in the Met Mile after running in the Preakness and he was bet down to 2 and change.

Honour and Glory wired the field I believe.

[sumitas]

a recap of Utopia's win
http://nyra.com/belmont/stories/Westchester.html

[Skip away]

Utopia isnt much. Then again it doesnt take much to beat Sun King and Political Farce. This year's Met Mile is in trouble if Sun King is the most accomplished horse going.