as deep as we thought this field was gonna be, they're dropping like flies now.. Terrain out, Giant Oak decsion coming monday. Hell, seeing imperial council get in (via earnings) is not totally out of the question


-bt-

LEXINGTON PROBABLES:

Pitched Perfectly
Square Eddie
Advice
Hull
Conservative
El Crespo
His Greatness
Jeranimo
Masala
Mythical Power
Omniscient
Parade Clown
Brave Victory/Santana Six

i doubt shug would run him tho.

I don't understand the decision to not run Terrain. The horse is nearly a lock for fifth place.

How many years are we chastising guys for running horses who have no chance? Al Stall is doing what he thinks is right for his horse and that's a good thing.

NT

:tro:

The gelding factor seems to be the key factor with him. Lots of other purses out there for 3-year olds, especially on synthetics, which Terrain seems to thrive on.

As far as the other horses with a shot getting in, what happened to Flying Pegasus after the LA Derby? Summer Bird isn't nominated I believe, although I would assume Pletcher and Zito would both jump at the opportunity to send "Take the Points" and "Just a Coincidence".

And as much as Imperial Council may have had an excuse in the Wood with his pre-race meltdown, I don't see Shug sending him to Churchill (although he did work at Belmont yesterday, so he must have come out of the race fine).

AS OF 4/15/09:

1 Regal Ransom $1,250,000
2 Pioneerof the Nile $1,193,250
3 Square Eddie $774,981 Lexington
4 I Want Revenge $774,000
5 Papa Clem $760,000
6 Desert Party $641,667
7 Quality Road $600,000
8 General Quarters $595,645
9 Friesan Fire $570,465
10 Musket Man $485,000

11 Hold Me Back $438,000
12 West Side Bernie $385,160
13 Chocolate Candy $370,000
14 Win Willy $230,000
15 Giant Oak $169,256
16 Dunkirk $150,000
17 Mine That Bird
18 Flying Private $124,000
19 Mr. Hot Stuff $114,000
20 Summer Bird $100,000
---------------------------------------------
21 Join in the Dance $90,000
22 Flying Pegasus $90,000
23 Take the Points $85,000
24 Atomic Rain $77,500
25 Just A Coincidence $75,000

Ah Lukas. I enjoyed Steve Haskin's remembrances on his trip to the Derby with Charismatic. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...under?id=50129

Love him or hate him, he's a pretty fun character to have on the track for the Triple Crown. I can't help but get nostalgic. As long as I've followed racing, Lukas has been in it.

Did you read "Three Strides From the Wire"?

probably because some of the rankings are subject to change since there are still a couple graded races left.

He was being sarcastic about 'actually' earning the cash....

yeah, i figured he was. can be hard to tell sometimes on here.

I haven't but I adored Charismatic. I looked it up on Amazon and looked at some of the reviews. Turns out the author couldn't even get the date of the first Santa Anita Handicap right if one is to be believed. Another said there were multiple factual errors. As I haven't read it, who knows, but I'm suspicious of what it might've said about Lukas. I'm going to assume it was critical right?

It wasn't critical of his training although I think it mentioned what he said about Antley after the Belmont and following his death. (the book follows Antley beyond the Belmont)

Oh interesting. I know some folks really have it out for him, and I'm not saying he deserves one way or the other, I just know that the face of trainers in the 90s for me was always him and Baffert and Zito. I assumed the book was just another one of the 'rag on D. Wayne' club. He does seem to be a sufferer of chronic verbal diarrhea. In truth, I wonder if it would bother any of us if we felt like a jockey who rode one of our horses had a past that was getting whitewashed. We obviously didn't know Chris. Lukas should've been introduced to the concept of tact though. Speaking ill of the dead isn't the same as carefully correcting the record. I wonder if he blamed any of Charismatic's situation on Chris. Did he imply the drugs affected the racing?

So that we're not completely off topic, looks like Flying Private could get in. Where is he on the Ten Cents a Shine--Charismatic spectrum of Derby horses from Lukas?

Excellent point. One of the best Derby's in the last 15 years was the 1997 Derby. It was a field of 13 and it was a fabulous race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDR40H3zWeY

it's look less and less likely there will be 20 horses in the field this year.

agreed - i say 16 go