Derby Trail Forums - Smooth Air

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- - Smooth Air (http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21253)

ELA	03-30-2008 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Everyone has been waiting for some quality efforts, and when there is one, there's always a bizarre eagerness to trivialize it. Didn't this come up last week? Does every horse that is 2nd to an impressive winner have to be a suck up?

And if Big Brown had stopped in the stretch per chance? Then it would be that Smooth Air was a 'perfect trip' winner of course. And he didn't ride the rail if you watch the head on. Was in amongst horses through halfway down the backstretch when he commenced his rally.

In a class of horses that are largely uninteresting, absent of talent or associated with repulsive connections, Smooth Air is refreshing and highly appealing. While I work to remain impartial as often as I can, I'm entitled to fan up to a horse occasionally...

Aside from this horse, this performance, etc. -- Steve, I think you bring out an excellent point. I don't think there is anything wrong about an occasional "fan up" so to speak, and I don't think that is automatically coupled with partiality. However, the negative orientation regardless, the never enough, or whatever you want to call it, tends to be the norm. Not pretty huh? LOL.

Anyway, like I said, a friend of mine owns him. I know most of the entire Burns family, at least those involved with the family business. They are very nice people. I don't know their trainer but it sounds like a very nice story -- which I am sure will not appeal to everyone, so expect the critics. LOL.

Eric

ELA	03-30-2008 12:03 PM

BTW, I've watched the race numerous times. I was impressed at his performance. He had several points during the race where he was called on, had to push the button, etc. Watch him make his -- sustained -- move.

Eric

Travis Stone

03-30-2008 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Everyone has been waiting for some quality efforts, and when there is one, there's always a bizarre eagerness to trivialize it.

That is so true.

Bigsmc

03-30-2008 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

First, they are going.

Bennie Stutts told me in the paddock they would only go if he was 1-2-3. It is a lifetime dream fulfilled for this 70 year old. The job Stutts did preparing this colt was masterful. All the pedigree dopes can chew on this effort for a good long while as they are again shown up as a pack of frauds perpetuating nonsense.

Manny Cruz was thrilled and told me walking back that he saw at about the 3/8ths Big Brown wasn't going to come back to him, so he rode out strictly to hold 2nd. He was immediately worried about being taken off Smooth Air by a high profile rider, but Stutts asked him, "You'll come with us to Kentucky, won't you jock?"...

It was a very fun scene to be around.

As for owner Brian Burns, he couldn't be at the race. I guess no one listened to ATR Friday, because he was on the show with me again. His brother is in grave condition with cancer and Burns is spending all his time with him. This performance undoubtedly raised everyone's spirit.

Secondly, I don't know how or why anyone would go out of their way to try to diminish this game colt's effort from Saturday. He was the only horse other than the winnr that did any real running. He's not much to look at, but as Stutts said after the race to Cruz, "He's a professional racehorse.. You're a professional jock.. and I'm a professional trainer.."

Smooth Air is the '08 Derby 'feel good' story.. And Stutts, the ultimate old school trainer, may have one more trick up his sleeve yet..

I did...:cool:

Travis Stone

03-30-2008 01:22 PM

Smooth Air was 7 1/2 lengths clear of the third place finisher. He rallied from sixth, which was the best finish of horses closest to the pace top to bottom. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place horses early could manage only seventh or worse.

Perfect trip or not, he ran his race, which was good enough for a solid second. If people want to label such performances as "suck-up" I can rattle off a massive list of good suck-up horses who won some pretty big races.

Travis Stone

03-30-2008 01:35 PM

What circumstances make you think he cannot repeat his effort in the Derby?

sumitas

03-30-2008 01:36 PM

Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) made the race yesterday. Otherwise you would have had a huge blowout. What's not to like about Smooth Jazz and his $3,000 stud fee ? Now based in NY.

hoovesupsideyourhead

03-30-2008 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Look, I was not trying to take anything away from the horse, so people can relax. I have said from the get go that the horse ran a good race, I just doubt he can do it in the Derby. We'll see.

i have more doubts about big brown..

The Indomitable DrugS

03-30-2008 03:10 PM

While I don't think Smooth Air sucked up and his performance was OK even considering that he was one of the ones who benefited from the draw...

He clearly doesn't have a prayer in the Ky Derby...even this years Ky Derby!

However, he's earned his way in...and I don't have any problems with him running. He's won races wire-to-wire at 5.5 furlongs, and can at least stay on at distances up to 9 furlongs when taken off the pace.

sumitas

03-30-2008 03:56 PM

Big Brown and War Pass could fry each other on the lead in the Derby so I'm looking for a horse just off the pace.

The Indomitable DrugS

03-30-2008 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Didn't this come up last week? Does every horse that is 2nd to an impressive winner have to be a suck up?

I'm confused.

Which prior horse or race are you talking about?

RolloTomasi

03-30-2008 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I'm confused.

Which prior horse or race are you talking about?

You're baiting someone to mention that horse that was 2nd in the Rebel Stakes so that you can recount, for the millionth time, how you had the exacta, arent' you?

The Indomitable DrugS

03-30-2008 04:17 PM

Obviously.

Though King's Silver Son is a giant piece of crap of Anak Nakal proportions, I was more hoping it would lead to someone arguing that he didn't suck up in that race and is somehow an OK horse.

I am also wondering what happened to all of those people who made such a big deal with the painfully obvious that Majestic Warrior's Hopeful win was a suckup and he was a phony.

I was kind of fishing for some of those people to re emerge and take up the fight for KSS.

Thanks for spoiling my fun.

RolloTomasi

03-30-2008 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I am also wondering what happened to all of those people who made such a big deal when I stated the painfully obvious that Majestic Warrior's Hopeful win was a suckup and he was a phony.

I'm keeping MW on my radar. I hated his Hopeful win, but got suckered into betting him yesterday because of his early bid/stop run in the LA Derby (which I took to mean he was "short"--as opposed to a late-running sprinter). He's probably a goat, but if one of these nags wins the first two legs of the TC I'm pinning my hopes that he's this year's Lemon Drop Kid or Birdstone or what-have-you.

The Indomitable DrugS

03-30-2008 05:04 PM

I don't know man...

A horse like Pyro could be an extremely likely and big margin winner of the Belmont Stakes.

Especially if Asmussen doesn't try and tweak his training a little to put more speed into him right before the Derby.

Coach Pants

03-30-2008 05:19 PM

The Equibase chart comments lists Hey Byrn as being bumped hard at the start.

I don't see the bump.

The Indomitable DrugS

03-30-2008 06:07 PM

You can see it better on the head-on.

He and Elisyum Fields bumped into each other pretty hard and a little squeezing went on.

Not exactly the kind of start you want to have when drawn out there.

Here's a bit of a blurry pic of about where it happened. He's in pink and EF is wearing the white blinks.

Elisyum Fields was like a pinball between those two horses.

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