southwest stakes 2/19

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by smartyalex

you're correct, the 9 post has won only once out of nineteen (.05%). But what might as well be stated is that the 4 post had only won three of thirty nine (.08%). Not all that much better.

They ran a 9-runner stake for 3yo fillies at this track yesterday, at the same exact distance, and the Chester House filly breaking from post 9 won with complete authority.

While, having that far outside draw with a short run to the first turn isn't ideal, the best horse should be able to overcome it.

HS was reportedly sick between this start and his last start---and, as I figured going in, he would be taken out of his game tactically today. Even with legit excuses like that, running off-the-board in a race like that is a letdown, when you consider all the hype surrounding this horse.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

They ran a 9-runner stake for 3yo fillies at this track yesterday, at the same exact distance, and the Chester House filly breaking from post 9 won with complete authority.

While, having that far outside draw with a short run to the first turn isn't ideal, the best horse should be able to overcome it.

HS was reportedly sick between this start and his last start---and, as I figured going in, he would be taken out of his game tactically today. Even with legit excuses like that, running off-the-board in a race like that is a letdown, when you consider all the hype surrounding this horse.

I just watched the replay again and he doesn't appear to be moving very well, either. I hope nothing is wrong with him.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I just watched the replay again and he doesn't appear to be moving very well, either. I hope nothing is wrong with him.

Something is wrong with him....he's not that fast.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Something is wrong with him....he's not that fast.

Yawn. Not many are so far.

[blackthroatedwind]

But many are faster than he is....which is all that matters.

What exactly is the fascination with this horse? Is it because his connections had another ridiculously overrated horse two years ago?

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But many are faster than he is....which is all that matters.

What exactly is the fascination with this horse? Is it because his connections had another ridiculously overrated horse two years ago?

I'm not impressed with him at all if you really want to know. The three that I like THE MOST so far for the derby are Liquidity, Notional and Bwana Bull. I haven't tossed Scat Daddy yet, either.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I haven't tossed Scat Daddy yet, either.

Hey, I'm still holding out hope that Dynever comes out of retirement....and wins a photo.

[smartyalex]

I'm interested to see what excuse they will have for his lackluster performance......I'm sure they're gonna say that there is something wrong w/ him.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by smartyalex

I'm interested to see what excuse they will have for his lackluster performance......I'm sure they're gonna say that there is something wrong w/ him.

I found the comment below posted on the Fox Hill Farm forum. As I understand it the person who wrote this is an assistant. My question is regarding the "struggling with the surface" comment. It looks like HS has been at Oaklawn and training well since the beginning of the year. So today he struggled with the surface?

At least it was classy in the way that they acknowledged the winner and didn't have a lot of sour grapes about the whole deal.


"Hard Spun seems to have come out of the race in good order. He was scoped and that came back fine.

It'd be nice to find someone or something to blame -- to have a firm excuse -- but that's simply not the case here. It seemed apparent from the break that what we were watching wasn't the Hard Spun we knew -- he has more speed than that. Mario agreed, reporting that he knew immediately that Hard Spun was struggling with the surface.

The important thing is that Hard Spun came out of the race well -- we'll fight another day.

Congratulations to the connections of Teuflesberg on a very nice race."

[blackthroatedwind]

The track must have been cuppy.

I agree, Jim, it is nice to see such gracious comments.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The track must have been cuppy.

I agree, Jim, it is nice to see such gracious comments.

What really got me was this line..

"It'd be nice to find someone or something to blame -- to have a firm excuse -- but that's simply not the case here."

Refreshingly honest I thought.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I found the comment below posted on the Fox Hill Farm forum. As I understand it the person who wrote this is an assistant. My question is regarding the "struggling with the surface" comment. It looks like HS has been at Oaklawn and training well since the beginning of the year. So today he struggled with the surface?

At least it was classy in the way that they acknowledged the winner and didn't have a lot of sour grapes about the whole deal.


"Hard Spun seems to have come out of the race in good order. He was scoped and that came back fine.

It'd be nice to find someone or something to blame -- to have a firm excuse -- but that's simply not the case here. It seemed apparent from the break that what we were watching wasn't the Hard Spun we knew -- he has more speed than that. Mario agreed, reporting that he knew immediately that Hard Spun was struggling with the surface.

The important thing is that Hard Spun came out of the race well -- we'll fight another day.

Congratulations to the connections of Teuflesberg on a very nice race."

That person is Porter's assistant and web site administrator.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by merasmag

care to elaborate?

One of the reasons they said they decided not to go to the Risen Star was because he developed a fever and missed a couple days of training. Jones said it was no big deal, just a little cough and he was fine.....the thing that kills me, is there was all this talk about how he loved the surface, how he was 100% (which I don't think is a good thing in Feb) and this race was a stepping stone....now he got a bad trip, Pino said he didn't like the surface, had too much ground to make up....special horses with a good jock create their trips....maybe he'll end up in the Derby but there has to be a lot of improvement.