This is from Larry Jones to John Piesen on running Eight Belles a couple of days ago. Could be LJ backing up the owners wishes, but if he genuinely thinks Eight Belles is the best 3 year old running this year, I think you try the Derby and let Proud Spell do the work in the Oaks.

http://www.nationalracemasters.com/a...ingle&hd_id=05


I'm still leaving out hope that Eight Belles will go to the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Jones, conservative by nature, believes that Eight Belles is the season's best 3-year-old, regardless of gender, but he feels that Eight Belles -- unlike 1988 Derby winner Winning Colors -- does not have sufficient speed to clear the Derby field at the first turn.

"I spoke to D. Wayne the other day," Jones was telling me this morning, "and he told me that Winning Colors was so fast from the gate, and made the lead so easy, that she didn't know if there were boys or girls or whatever behind her.

"On the other hand, Eight Belles doesn't have that kind of gate speed. It takes her a while to get going. And if she would draw 17 or 18, that would really be a problem."

That said, if Eight Belles passes the Derby, she and Proud Spell conceivably could run one-two in the Kentucky Oaks...just as two other Jones' fillies ran one-two in an Oaklawn hundred-grander on Wednesday.

I'm not sure what you're watching. When I see Ariege run, I instantly think of Lady's Secret.

oh my god. . . i hope this was sarcastic

I don't recall seeing Lady's Secret coming from the clouds to win too often on turf. I doubt Ariege is a dirt horse.

Never said "better", said "just as good". Not much difference in my opinion, NEITHER are world beaters.

Yes...I'm sorry, I should have used an emoticon I guess. I tried to use sarcasm on as many levels as I could there.

I don't see how anyone could think they as good as the colts. It isn't like any of the fillies are lighting the world on fire either.

FTFY.

Overall, I don't think that the fillies are as good as the boys but at the top, I don't think there's much difference. I think that the top four girls (IB, Proud Spell, Pure Clan, and Eight Belles) are on par with the top four boys (Big Brown and whoever else the other three might be).

I'd give Eight Belles a shot in the Derby too. I would make her my third choice behind Big Brown and Colonel John, assuming War Pass and El Gato Malo aren't there (which they shouldn't be). But I also agree with Steve that of Jones' two, Proud Spell would be the one I'd rather see there.

why would you assume war pass wouldnt be there ? and why should the 2 yr old champ, who just ran second in a major prep not be there ? some ppl are making no sense at all

Because, umm, I don't know. Oh, because I watched his race in the Blue Grass. It was not good. I don't care if he had won the race. I don't think Tale of Ekati should be there either. Don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying that neither of them hasn't a earned a spot in the top 20 of their class because they have. But just because a horse has placed himself in the top 20 doesn't mean that they should go. The way that I personally view where horses should run is where they have a realistic chance of winning the race or where the conditions fit them well. Can you honestly say after watching his last race that you think the conditions of the Derby will suit War Pass? If you can, you are in a very small minority. I love War Pass. Until Big Brown busted out, I thought there was no question that War Pass was the best horse of his generation. But I don't think he wants to run 10f. He could easily have a good season running in spots like the Met Mile, Peter Pan, Dwyer, Haskell/Jim Dandy, BC Dirt Mile, and Cigar Mile.

GEWD. :)

What has Pure Clan or Indian Blessing done this year to put them on par with the top four males? Pure Clan was just 3rd in a four horse field of fillies and Indian Blessing is either heading to a sprinting career or retirement.

pure clan did surge late in that race, and she does seem to be one who wants more distance.

war pass could never run in the met mile.... COMMENTATOR IS GOING.

I realize you pride yourself on always being wrong but neither of these comments are true....as usual. It has NEVER been said that Commentator was running in the Met Mile. It has also never been said that he wasn't running but nobody has ever stated he was ( other than you ). I can assure you that I am more likely to know where Commentator will be running than anyone on this board.

oh yeah, how did i miss that. send her to the derby then, she'll be fine.

Indian Blessing has still run two races that were faster than Pyro, who despite his loss, will still be one of the two favorites for the Derby. I would put Eight Belles in my top three for the Derby and Pure Clan is right with her, IMO. It's not so much that the fillies have done more than the boys but that the boys have done nothing to seperate themselves from the fillies.

This is the same Eight Belles who was all out to beat Alina right?

You do also realize the Alina was coming in off a 100 Beyer, something very few of the males have been able to do this year.