Smooth Air

[The Bid]

Very serious shot

[booner]

He will be in all my bets on Derby Day.

[HaloWishingwell]

[b][i]This crop should be compared to past harness horses NOT to anyone in the past. COURT VISION with AFLEET ALEX? Not in record, talent or ability to eat hay.

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by HaloWishingwell

[b][i]This crop should be compared to past harness horses NOT to anyone in the past. COURT VISION with AFLEET ALEX? Not in record, talent or ability to eat hay.

i don't think any of these 3 y/o's are good enough to carry AA's gear.

[HaloWishingwell]

Originally Posted by ddthetide

i don't think any of these 3 y/o's are good enough to carry AA's gear.

I agree

[ddthetide]

i think this derby has "giacomo" written all over it. it's a matter of finding the horses in this group that can pick up the pieces. smooth air's fitness may allow him to do it.

[HaloWishingwell]

and if they like COURT VISION that much they might as well use ANAK NAKAL who was right behind him in the Wood and has won a Graded race at CD.

[miraja2]

I can't think of a single legitimate reason why anyone would consider this colt to be a contender to win the race.
He's a nice animal with a smart trainer, and he certainly gives an honest effort, but the day this colt wins a 10f, G1 race is the same day merasmag wins a pulitzer.

[Gander]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I can't think of a single legitimate reason why anyone would consider this colt to be a contender to win the race.
He's a nice animal with a smart trainer, and he certainly gives an honest effort, but the day this colt wins a 10f, G1 race is the same day merasmag wins a pulitzer.

How about more pace than in any other of the preps we have seen. I cant think of a single prep that had fast fractions. If 2 or 3 horses go out hard in the Derby, and the stalkers move prematurely, and you have a pace meltdown, Smooth Air is one of about 3 horses who will likely benefit from this and pull a "Giacomo", if you will. Hes got a good chance. Just dont fall for too short of a price.

[HaloWishingwell]

In my opinion there are better closers to possibly pull a "GIACOMO" than SMOOTH AIR. Besides seeing the TOMCITO was the horse right behind him I also take a chance that someone or many will be between the beaten lengths between BIG BROWN and SMOOTH AIR.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Gander

How about more pace than in any other of the preps we have seen. I cant think of a single prep that had fast fractions. If 2 or 3 horses go out hard in the Derby, and the stalkers move prematurely, and you have a pace meltdown, Smooth Air is one of about 3 horses who will likely benefit from this and pull a "Giacomo", if you will. Hes got a good chance.

Well, they went 22.76 and 45.83 in the Florida Derby. That isn't exactly crawling.
He had a very favorable post and a great trip that day, but despite that (and despite the fact that he seemed to be running his guts out in the stretch), he didn't close an inch. The pace was fast enough that day that the horses who were second, third, fourth, and fifth at a 1/4 and a 1/2, ALL finished seventh or worse. It wasn't like they were cheap speed either. Fierce Wind and Elysium Fields were two of the favorites. Meanwhile, the horses coming from off the pace (Tomcito, Cool Gator, Majestic Warrior) ALL finished in the top half. Big Brown obviously ran a very nice race that day, but given the early pace, I have to think that if Smooth Air was really a top-notch two-turn horse, he would have made up SOME ground, or at least have done something in the stretch other than look completely spent.
His previous race in Tampa (the Sam Davis) showed me the same thing. Big Truck simply ran by him at the end.
To me he is a closer that just flattens out in the stretch when asked to go two-turns, and I don't think the increase in distance to 10f can do anything but hurt him.

[Travis Stone]

I don't see how anyone can honestly toss horses on a whim in this race. This entire crop has been nothing but a bunch of horses taking turns beating each other. If someone feels like Smooth Air can get the trip at 40-1, I say have at it. There's nothing wrong with betting a horse who is 7-for-7 in the money in a group like this.

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by HaloWishingwell

and if they like COURT VISION that much they might as well use ANAK NAKAL who was right behind him in the Wood and has won a Graded race at CD.

Court Vision has won a Graded Stakes at Churchill as well.
Neither horse has set the world on fire with their 3-year old form, but I would take G.Gomez and Court Vision before Anak Nakal on all of my derby tickets.