Square Eddie - who's gonna ride him?
 

Anyone get a beyer fig yet? I'd love to see a chart from fatman...

He has to move up 2nd back. Probably ran closer to 1 1/8 miles on Saturday.

I thought that was a very impressive move on the turn.

Should be a "square" price...

Justin Dew isn't committed yet.

Has the Derby been moved to the turf?

That move was visually impressive, too bad he flattened out. I also believe he could be there at the end on Derby day.
I like the "Savage" photo, what some don't realize is that is actually a future photo of "Mine that Bird" taking a swipe at POTN.

My first post in months and this is what I get? At a price I'll take the chance that the son of Smart Strike can handle dirt.

Here you go.

Numbers added to left of horse names indicate the number of feet traveled in relation to the winner.

Thanks FM. It's hard to visually calculate this, but it seems like Square Eddie was at least 5 wide the whole way around, and more like 7 wide as they turned for home. Meanwhile Advice broke from the 11 hole and was able to tuck in before the first turn and only a slight bump with the 7 as he straightened away to negate a "dream trip". Fifty feet doesn't seem like all that much, maybe 6-7 lengths?

I would simply - and humbly - suggest that not all Smart Strikes love the dirt.

It won't matter that he broke his leg, came back in three months' time, and will be running twice in two weeks while also going a distance that's 3/16ths farther than anything he's gone before? I'll take the chance that even if he loves the dirt he has no chance of overcoming those obstacles.

There are a number of impossible horses pointing to the Derby (as there are every year) and Square Eddie is definitely one of them in my opinion.

NT

50 ft = 5 3/4 lengths per Trakus.

50 feet may not be that much in a dirt race, in general, but it's quite significant in poly (and turf) races. In this case, other than the finishing position of His Greatness, there's never a difference of more than 7.5 lengths from 1st to last for these horse at any point in the race. Hard to make the case, as some try to, that WIDER is better on artificial surfaces.

He ran a 91 Beyer.

He just didn't seem to have any heart to run for the lead when the real running started. Bottom line. I don't care if it was dirt, fake dirt, grass, or whatever. Heart means a lot. If you like him O.K. I want to see some heart.

Even horses with hearts the size of the grandstand falter after a ridiculous ride/move like that.

NT

He could have the heart of a lion, the eye of the tiger and King Kong's nuts, I still wouldn't bet him.

Agreed...however, I will refute the notion that among the numerous reasons why Square Eddie is a bad bet in the Derby his heart is not one of them.

NT

but what if it's muddy? :D

I agree with you on everything except the part about King Kong's nuts.

I guess I know what I should be checking for in the paddock on Derby Day. :$:

I get the feeling that he's been brought back too soon and might be injured again in a strenuous race like the Derby

He doesn't seem fit or sound enough for the KD .

I just hope he makes it all the way around.

I'm thinking he may hit the super, questionable ride, visually impressive move on the turn, I liked his race in the BC, he is going to go off some crazy odds.

i agree, even if he runs well or by chance wins. he will have to run 4 times in 7 weeks and he already looks tired the way he ran saturday. people love these big middle moves which rarely win on dirt anyway, it looks good but does not usually get the horse to the circle. it works great on those poly tracks but on dirt i'd rather have some tactical speed in most races. this horse is a very shaky proposition. make sure the price is right !

Nakatani opted for Eddie over Mr. Hot Stuff.

I do believe we have our 20th place finisher!

Reason to upgrade Mr. Hot Stuff with the way I've seen Corey riding.