Dick Small!

That is true....and Magic Weisner didn't win the Tesio that year, he was second.
In the early 80s Deputed Testamony won the Tesio and the Preakness.
Other notable Tesio winners include:
Broad Brush
Private Terms
and Concerto.

Just looked at the pp, and I think Etude is a VERY solid single here. The horse finished second in his first three and was very wide in each of those races.
Since then he has picked up three victories in a row including a nice score in the Private Terms last out against a field of ten which included one of his opponents here (Saratoga Lul).
His works for this race - 5f in 1:02 followed by a slow mile work - are exactly what he did before the Private Terms when he ran a big one.
He has demonstrated a versatile running style, and his dam (Groovy Feeling) was a G2 winner going 10f, so the stretching out to 9f may not be a problem for him.
He will probaby be odds-on so there isn't any value, but I would be surprised if he doesn't win it.

Even as Tesio fields go, this is a weak bunch of horses. Yet to see TG on the field, but knowing a few of their sheets from prior races, as someone noted earlier, this will be a prep for 8th in the Preakness.

I've been high on Etude for several months. His dam was about the only Groovy offspring to run well at 9f+, so I think she is more her dam's daughter than her sire's. (It happens, just like in people.) Not bred to be an early star, should be better as the year goes on, and next year. Sort of like Brass Hat.

Hi.

Glad we brought Mark Shuman to ATRAB Friday.. All he did was win the three stakes he was in today at Pimlico.. Xchanger demolishes them with Etude flat and off the board..

He was impressive...glad they're skipping the Derby
May be a "wiseguy" horse in the Preakness off that effort.

Shuman said he'd have to be really impressive for them to think Preakness. Liking Old Hilltop is a big plus when making that decision.. Tough call...

Altough he didnt beat any top tier horses, he looked impressive doing it.. It looked as if it was just another morning workout..

Listening to Shuman's comments after the race yesterday, and seeing the look on his face, I say he's got a Derby starter - I think he was impressed with the effort.

Maybe I should take up fishing, or watching MLS or something.
I need some kind of new hobby....I obviously stink at this one.

I remember a horse named Hollywood Handsome that was by Groovy that used to run long on the turf. Actually that is the only horse I can recall who was by Groovy and I'm sure I only remember him because he was so different than his sire

He is 5-1 in the future book for the Derby

































Ohio version

The look on Shumans face may have been because he does have a monster. The other horse he started that day is a monster, not xchanger, Talent Search