Curlin v. Cobalt Blue

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

The only problem I have with Cobalt Blue is that his race yesterday reminded me very much of Brother Derek's runs leading to the Derby. I think he's a hugely talented horse, but I don't see how we can extrapolate anything from his performance yesterday. Not sure about the difference in the variants between the two days, because the 1 1/16 distance there hasn't been run a whole lot recently, but a stakes horse loping through fractions slower then 32K-28K claimers two days earlier doesn't set me on fire. He got it all his way the entire way, much like Brother Derek did all last Spring. We've seen how coasting on a soft lead in five horse fields leading up to the Derby helps a horse -- that is to say, not very much.

I think he's a good horse, don't get me wrong. But I just don't think yesterday told me anything at all about whether or not he can handle real racehorses in a normally run race.

Difference is Brother Derek ran very hard out of the gate. Brother Derek used so much up. I think Cobalt Blue is controlable speed. Which he used zero of yesterday. I was impressed with how comfortable he ran. Brother Derek always looked like he was trying so hard, and he was. Very game animal. I have little idea of how game Cobalt Blue is.