Curlin

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Why exactly would he need a break after only three starts?
He had 6 weeks in between his debut and the Rebel, and a month in between the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby.
If that schedule is too taxing for him to make the Derby......he isn't much of a horse.

It's not a matter of space in between races, it's a matter of too much, too soon. The Derby is a whole different animal than the Preakness, so I agree that the Derby might be a lot to ask of this horse, even if he does indeed win tomorrow.

The derby is a lot to ask, that's why its the derby. Rapidly developing horses have won on occasion. If Curlins wins at OP he deserves a shot..

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by easy goer

The derby is a lot to ask, that's why its the derby. Rapidly developing horses have won on occasion.

Such as......???

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Such as......???

None in my lifetime.

Unless you count the reincarnation of the ex-claimer from Lukas....who had like 15 races.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

None in my lifetime.

Unless you count the reincarnation of the ex-claimer from Lukas....who had like 15 races.

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

Wouldn't that make them undefeated?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Wouldn't that make them undefeated?

Who?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

Did Valhol run in the Derby? Didn't he run very few times prior to it?

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

Showing Up last year. . .

I meant like horses that suddenly started getting better in their sophomore seasonn. Charismatic is the example I was thinking of. Real Quiet had not won as a sophomore. Dust Commander was a claimer at 2, then all of a sudden won Blue Grass and Ky Derby, he didnt win any other major stakes.
Going back aways Count Turf was nothing going into the derby and I think Dark Star was too.


What about War Emblem? He hadnt won any stakes races at 2, he wins an ALW, then IL derby, then Ky Derby. Isnt this the sort of thing w/ Curlin: maiden...Rebel stakes..???

SO read what I said. I didnt say "had only 3 races." I said "rapidly developing". Dont put words in my mouth

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Barbaro had just two races over dirt in his career coming into last years Derby.

And had only five races in him.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Barbaro had just two races over dirt in his career coming into last years Derby.

And had only five races in him.

That worked real well when they brought him back in two weeks after never racing on less than five weeks rest in his life. It was the same thing the year before. Closing Argument skipped his March prep and went in with huge spacing between his 3yo races. He ran huge in the Derby and then suffered a career ending injury in the Preakness. I think you can absolutely get away with babying your horse up to the Derby but then that horse is not going to be prepared if you try and bring him back in the Preakness.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Barbaro had just two races over dirt in his career coming into last years Derby.

And had only five races in him.

I believe the last horse to win the Derby with less than 5 lifetime starts was Exterminator in 1918.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Barbaro had just two races over dirt in his career coming into last years Derby.

And had only five races in him.

Barbaro debuted a little earlier than Feb. 3.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

It's not a matter of space in between races, it's a matter of too much, too soon. The Derby is a whole different animal than the Preakness, so I agree that the Derby might be a lot to ask of this horse, even if he does indeed win tomorrow.

Well sure, if the connections don't feel the horse is ready for the Derby, they shouldn't run him there.
The original poster mentioned giving the horse a "break" which I took to mean literally a break, which made no sense to me at all.
If Curlin wins tomorrow (and comes out of it healthy) I don't see how anyone could blame them for sending him in the Derby. It would be awfully hard to have an undefeated winner of a major "prep" race.....and then skip the Derby.