Smooth Air

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Everyone has been waiting for some quality efforts, and when there is one, there's always a bizarre eagerness to trivialize it. Didn't this come up last week? Does every horse that is 2nd to an impressive winner have to be a suck up?

And if Big Brown had stopped in the stretch per chance? Then it would be that Smooth Air was a 'perfect trip' winner of course. And he didn't ride the rail if you watch the head on. Was in amongst horses through halfway down the backstretch when he commenced his rally.

In a class of horses that are largely uninteresting, absent of talent or associated with repulsive connections, Smooth Air is refreshing and highly appealing. While I work to remain impartial as often as I can, I'm entitled to fan up to a horse occasionally...

Aside from this horse, this performance, etc. -- Steve, I think you bring out an excellent point. I don't think there is anything wrong about an occasional "fan up" so to speak, and I don't think that is automatically coupled with partiality. However, the negative orientation regardless, the never enough, or whatever you want to call it, tends to be the norm. Not pretty huh? LOL.

Anyway, like I said, a friend of mine owns him. I know most of the entire Burns family, at least those involved with the family business. They are very nice people. I don't know their trainer but it sounds like a very nice story -- which I am sure will not appeal to everyone, so expect the critics. LOL.

Eric

[ELA]

BTW, I've watched the race numerous times. I was impressed at his performance. He had several points during the race where he was called on, had to push the button, etc. Watch him make his -- sustained -- move.

Eric

[Travis Stone]

Smooth Air was 7 1/2 lengths clear of the third place finisher. He rallied from sixth, which was the best finish of horses closest to the pace top to bottom. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place horses early could manage only seventh or worse.

Perfect trip or not, he ran his race, which was good enough for a solid second. If people want to label such performances as "suck-up" I can rattle off a massive list of good suck-up horses who won some pretty big races.

[Travis Stone]

What circumstances make you think he cannot repeat his effort in the Derby?

[sumitas]

Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) made the race yesterday. Otherwise you would have had a huge blowout. What's not to like about Smooth Jazz and his $3,000 stud fee ? Now based in NY.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

While I don't think Smooth Air sucked up and his performance was OK even considering that he was one of the ones who benefited from the draw...

He clearly doesn't have a prayer in the Ky Derby...even this years Ky Derby!

However, he's earned his way in...and I don't have any problems with him running. He's won races wire-to-wire at 5.5 furlongs, and can at least stay on at distances up to 9 furlongs when taken off the pace.

[sumitas]

Big Brown and War Pass could fry each other on the lead in the Derby so I'm looking for a horse just off the pace.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Look, I was not trying to take anything away from the horse, so people can relax. I have said from the get go that the horse ran a good race, I just doubt he can do it in the Derby. We'll see.

i have more doubts about big brown..