War Pass --DB ?

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I couldn't care one way or another if he wins the Derby, runs last in the Derby or even makes the Derby.

What I'm 'selling' is a reasonable approach to the ups and downs of horses as their careers unfold as opposed to knee jerk lunacy suggesting a previously undefeated Champion colt is minutes from retirement because he tossed in a non-effort clunker.

And I'm sorry I can't come up with a more recent example than dual Classic winner Afleet Alex who came within 2-3 strides of a Derby win and Triple Crown. My bad...

He hung late in the Derby.Ran huge in the Preakness.If he didn't have the one bad race at OAKLAWN,maybe he would have finished the Derby,but he got late.All the recent Derby winners have been horses who haven't had a bad race like this in the 2 months before the derby.I hope he runs.He will fry,and insure a nice pace.He pulls anyways.Even in the races against Pyro,he was giving up ground to Pyro in the stretch.He isn't bred for 10f.He doesn't relax enough to get 10f.This horse is for figure geeks.Not for people who can figure out who is gunna get 10f.This wasn't an o.k. 3rd.This is not some minor setback.A bad race like this is not the norm for a derby winner.His best chance would be in a wicked rain storm.Overlooking this race is knee-jerk (if you're talking about trying to win the Derby.)Nice to say it's a minor set back.It isn't.Not saying he can't be a nice stakes horse this year,but horses without March-April hick ups usually win the derby.Just look at it objectively.It's a major hick up.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

He hung late in the Derby.Ran huge in the Preakness.If he didn't have the one bad race at OAKLAWN,maybe he would have finished the Derby,but he got late.All the recent Derby winners have been horses who haven't had a bad race like this in the 2 months before the derby.I hope he runs.He will fry,and insure a nice pace.He pulls anyways.Even in the races against Pyro,he was giving up ground to Pyro in the stretch.He isn't bred for 10f.He doesn't relax enough to get 10f.This horse is for figure geeks.Not for people who can figure out who is gunna get 10f.This wasn't an o.k. 3rd.This is not some minor setback.A bad race like this is not the norm for a derby winner.His best chance would be in a wicked rain storm.Overlooking this race is knee-jerk (if you're talking about trying to win the Derby.)Nice to say it's a minor set back.It isn't.Not saying he can't be a nice stakes horse this year,but horses without March-April hick ups usually win the derby.

Isn't the larger point that BOTH tossing the race completely out, AND throwing the horse under the bus based on one start are both wrong approaches? We learned SOMETHING about War Pass based on his race Saturday that we should all use the next time he runs. At this point different people have different ideas about what that something was, but I think it would be wise to avoid any sort of extreme opinion one way or the other based on one race. I think that was the larger point Steve was trying to make in bringing up Afleet Alex's last place finish at Oaklawn.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I think what you are missing SCUDS is no one is saying he's going to win the Derby in this thread. I certainly haven't. Never have. But, it's pretty obvious something was amiss the other day. I just didn't then and still don't understand how ONE race where something was obviously not right turns War Pass into a fraud and Zito a clueless trainer. That has been my point from the start. The horse is still very good and a champion. So what he might not win the Derby, doesn't diminish what he has done and might do later on.

LOL...Gary Stevens is touting him to win the Cigar Mile.

I said Zito is an o.k. trainer.Sometimes,I think he does appear clueless.I mean when Bailey gets off Noble Causeway at the gate? The horse is not o.k.

There are a lot of things going against War Pass,but a hick up in the middle of March is by far the most important thing people are overlooking.I am only writing as far as the derby goes.Of course he is a nice horse.I don't think he is a 10f horse.He might have a shot in the Preakness.

[sumitas]

I throw out the BC races at Monmouth because of the Xtreme conditions. And I include the juvi and War Pass running over that bizarre surface.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

No sh it he might not be a 10 furlong horse. If Zito was a Cali trainer, you'd be fellating him right now.

He is an o.k. trainer.Tommy Lasorda of the training world.

[sumitas]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

He is an o.k. trainer.Tommy Lasorda of the training world.

What a riot. Zito would look great in a LA Dodgers hat.