Some past memories of horses who stunk, but not really

[blackthroatedwind]

Go for Gin was a trip handicappers Derby horse ( and one of my few Derby winners....lucky or not ). The inside speed bias on Florida Derby day was outlandish and he did well to finish fourth all things considered. Then he faced a similar situation when second to Irgun in the Wood Memorial.

[MisterB]

I guess what I am leaning on, is horses get in trouble, a bad ride, stumble, or just don't feel good. So some of these preps can be tossed, if we study the films better, and pick out the show stoppers.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by MisterB

I guess what I am leaning on, is horses get in trouble, a bad ride, stumble, or just don't feel good. So some of these preps can be tossed, if we study the films better, and pick out the show stoppers.

I agree 100% and should have said so. Instead of all the " now " hullabaloo people should be watching these races like any others and hoping to cull useful information for the future. Most horse races aren't won by horses that won their previous start or starts and the Derby is not necessarily any different.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Mister B I get the point you are trying to make and I would assume it has to do with Hard Spun because you seem so intent on excusing his poor effort. Honestly, and I know I'll catch some heat here but I never thought War Emblem was much horse. I understand just how hard it is to win the Derby and Preakness, but he had a dream set up in the Derby. And Thunder Gulch was bad, very bad in that race at Keeneland, but that was one of the first things I learned about the old Keeneland. Many horses just flat out didn't like that track and there was always a good deal of money to be made on horses getting away from there.

Wasn't that also the year Wild Syn wired the Blue Grass with a ridiculously slow pace? It was one thing to get the early lead at the old Keeneland, but then to back the pace down like he did was some feat. Thunder Gulch didn't have a prayer that day with the slow pace. Hopefully I'm thinking of the right year. They went something like :13 for the 3/4s and finished up in 1:49 flat I think.

NT

[Buffymommy]

Thunder Gulch only had one bad race before the Derby so I really wouldn't call him a stinker.

Can I tell I love TG?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Wasn't that also the year Wild Syn wired the Blue Grass with a ridiculously slow pace? It was one thing to get the early lead at the old Keeneland, but then to back the pace down like he did was some feat. Thunder Gulch didn't have a prayer that day with the slow pace. Hopefully I'm thinking of the right year. They went something like :13 for the 3/4s and finished up in 1:49 flat I think.

NT

You are correct, and like I mentioned in the prior post, the 2nd place finisher in the Derby also had a viable excuse coming out of that race.

[blackthroatedwind]

I was there and I remember that day at Keeneland very well. I think Pat Kelly won the race after the Bluegrass on the turf. But what I most remember was Carl Nafzger's maiden who was coming off a trip at Gulfstream, and was a new gelding to boot, just getting up for second to a Ben Perkens firster in the 1st or 2nd race. The exacta paid $100. It was a VERY good day.