Sir Greeley...no 2nd this weekend

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Smokey Stover is running in No Cal next, and retaining Gryder. With the $5 million purse for the Golden Shaeen in Dubai, that race is really bound to hurt the Carter....though last year, Cal Breds ran 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in it.

Perhaps something will emerge soon enough---perhaps something like a Bright One, who's flashed impressive raw talent before and is working very strongly for his return. I have a feeling the Carter and Met will probably both be sub-par as well.

Bright One is running in the Richter Scale...right?

Smokey Stover could easily come for the Carter. Very good chance for him to get a Grade 1.

So, based on that, in a three horse field Sir Greeley was doing no better than filling out the tri.

[JJP]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Bright One is running in the Richter Scale...right?

Smokey Stover could easily come for the Carter. Very good chance for him to get a Grade 1.

So, based on that, in a three horse field Sir Greeley was doing no better than filling out the tri.

Smokey Stover is a nice horse but he had a pretty good setup when Bordonaro and Proud Tower Too killed each other w/suicidal fractions. He's another one who has to prove to me he can with away from California (i.e. race day Bute).

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by JJP

Smokey Stover is a nice horse but he had a pretty good setup when Bordonaro and Proud Tower Too killed each other w/suicidal fractions. He's another one who has to prove to me he can with away from California (i.e. race day Bute).

Weird....most pace people I know had that as a slow paced race. Everybodys pace figures certainly indicates that. And Proud Tower Too and Bordonaro never hooked each other in that race.

Considering how well Cal based sprinters historically perform when they ship East...that is certainly no worry.

I'm not sure he'll run in the Carter though, as he is a gelding, so the Grade 1 win doesn't mean anything. Which is why he passed the Malibu.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by JJP

Smokey Stover is a nice horse but he had a pretty good setup when Bordonaro and Proud Tower Too killed each other w/suicidal fractions. He's another one who has to prove to me he can with away from California (i.e. race day Bute).

I agree a bit with DrugS that his win was a little more solid than you do but I would be more concerned that nobody else gained an inch of ground and essentially Smokey Stover was right on the pace.

But, you're right, he has to win outside of California, but he MIGHT be pretty good. Sir Greeley, the original subject of this thread, is an established horse. An OK one....but not as good as Smokey Stover might be. If I told you right now that one of them will hit the board in this year's BC sprint, Smokey Stover would be 100-1 favorite over Sir Greeley assuming he hadn't gotten hurt.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I agree a bit with DrugS that his win was a little more solid than you do but I would be more concerned that nobody else gained an inch of ground and essentially Smokey Stover was right on the pace.

He sat three or four lengths off a pair of tigers, who both had Grade 1 sprint wins over the track, and looped around them with alarming ease.

I think none of the closers gained an inch of ground because the horses behind the top three were vastly inferior to the top 3.

If any horse out of the race could be knocked for the fact that no one gained much ground---it would be Proud Tower Too, who was loose on an unchallenged lead.

He, came back to just miss to Latent Heat in the Grade 2 San Carlos, while running unquestionably the better race.

I don't see why SS needs to prove he can win in the East. It's not like Idiot Proof and Shaggy Mane had any great troubles recently. I think his form will improve markedly if shipped East.

Aaron Gryder is bound to screw that horse up though.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I don't see why SS needs to prove he can win in the East. It's not like Idiot Proof and Shaggy Mane had any great troubles recently. I think his form will improve markedly if shipped East.

He has to prove he can IF he runs here...and if he does I think he will do well. But, he still has to do it.

The two horses you mentioned took advantage of a speed bias. Doesn't IEAH own one of them?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

That was not a speed biased track that day IMO. Not even close

Many horses ran well racing wide and off the pace---including the Matz bum that looped around Most Distinugished.

The four horses involved in the pace battle in the six furlong maiden race all came back to run markedly better as well

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

That was not a speed biased track that day IMO. Not even close

Many horses ran well racing wide and off the pace---including the Matz bum that looped around Most Distinugished.

The four horses involved in the pace battle in the six furlong maiden race all came back to run markedly better as well

And the two horses that tried to close behind the IEAH horse you mentioned just finished one-two in a stake 9 days ago.

The fact is that other than that insane closer I bet in the sprint nobody gained significant ground in any of the races....other than the Matz horse you mentioned who got a pretty juicy setup.

By the way, did you think Most Distinguished maybe turned a corner or just met a very weak field. I want to believe the former but am inclined to think the latter. He has run some reasonably fast races before.

[Linny]

If he stays in one piece, I'd think that Chatain might be a nice middle distance horse.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Linny

If he stays in one piece, I'd think that Chatain might be a nice middle distance horse.

Yeah, I would guess he is probably pointing for both the Carter and Met.