Updated Earnings (T-Berg Squeezed)

[lemoncrush]

Depending on what happens this weekend, is there a chance that we'll actually have less than 20 horses in the gate on 5/5?

Being that 7 of the top 20 are either out or on the fence, and several of the horses between 21 and 30 are either looking elsewhere or unlikely to run even if they do have the earnings, I think it might be possible.

I think the past couple years have proved that if you don't have a horse with a legitimate chance to win, it's better to not ruin him and pick a better spot down the road. Anyone see Point Determined, Bob and John, Seaside Retreat, Sharp Humor, Steppenwolfer or Private Vow run a good race since before the derby last year?

And yes, it looks like Chelokee will have no problem getting in.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

Depending on what happens this weekend, is there a chance that we'll actually have less than 20 horses in the gate on 5/5?

Being that 7 of the top 20 are either out or on the fence, and several of the horses between 21 and 30 are either looking elsewhere or unlikely to run even if they do have the earnings, I think it might be possible.

I think the past couple years have proved that if you don't have a horse with a legitimate chance to win, it's better to not ruin him and pick a better spot down the road. Anyone see Point Determined, Bob and John, Seaside Retreat, Sharp Humor, Steppenwolfer or Private Vow run a good race since before the derby last year?

And yes, it looks like Chelokee will have no problem getting in.

I understand your point and wish that more trainers shared the opinion, but Bob and John, while doing it in a miserably slow time, did win the Wood Memorial last year. Sharp Humor ran a close 2nd to Barbaro, Point Determined a close third behind Bro Derek, and Steppenwolfer multiple times behind Lawyer Ron.

Like I said though, there are always going to be some horses who don't belong.

NT

[lemoncrush]

I agree...and steppenwolfer was probably a bad example.
I can't fault most trainers to take a shot when their horse is in good form, and Bob and John did win the Wood, so it wasn't like he was a complete fluke.

But Going Wild 2 years ago is probably a better example. The horse was in horrible form and was in no way, shape or form going to be a factor that day.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

I agree...and steppenwolfer was probably a bad example.
I can't fault most trainers to take a shot when their horse is in good form, and Bob and John did win the Wood, so it wasn't like he was a complete fluke.

But Going Wild 2 years ago is probably a better example. The horse was in horrible form and was in no way, shape or form going to be a factor that day.

I bet you never thought you'd see Going Wild winning a race after the Derby before Steppenwolfer did!

[tiznowthegreat]

I thought I heard that Jack Junior was going to the derby for sure. Anybody else heard that?

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by tiznowthegreat

I thought I heard that Jack Junior was going to the derby for sure. Anybody else heard that?

I think it's the opposite. . .

[Buffymommy]

How great would it be for Skip Code to win the Derby?

Go Skippy!

[paisjpq]

Sightseeing to skip derby and only go to the Preakness "if it looks like the derby wasn't a good race" and the preakness "will be one of those 6-7 horse fields" according to the TDN...