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Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS
He was 2nd by 2 length in a Grade 3 to Eastern Memories - and was 3rd at Bay Meadows in a Grade 3 behind Siebe after blowing a 4 length stretch lead going 8.5 furlongs. He made 82K in his 11 career turf starts. Siebe and Eastern Memories stunk.
You have to admit Rollo, if a 3yo colt ran a 93 Beyer with a tough trip the week before the Preakness is won with a 96 Beyer - there is 0 chance he would spend his next 11 starts running blah on the turf.
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Well, to further emphasize the total derth (sp?) of 3yo dirt racing in CA during the time frame involved, Paulson, who was stacked with good 3yos at the time (Corby with Sadler, Diazo with Shoemaker, and Dowty with Jones--though they were all on the bench by summer), ran Diazo in his comeback off the a 5th in the Kentucky Derby on the grass (the restricted Relaunch at Del Mar). Diazo had to ship to get back on the main track (Pegasus, JCGC) before returning home for the BC Classic.
Maybe Cigar should have been shipped East sooner, but nonetheless, really most of the blame for poor management should fall on Mott's shoulders, not Hassinger's (who had to make do with what races were available), as his barn was so big at the time (100+ horses) that its not out of the realm of possibility that Cigar simply got "lost in the shuffle". His decent efforts in CA were probably enough to continue on the surface back East and IIRC he did place in allowance races behind MGSWs like Unaccounted For (whom he ultimately browbeat in Grade 1s on dirt) and possibly Diplomatic Jet (or some other Fred Hooper turfer--Roman Envoy?).