Casino Drive: Defender of the Crown?

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Just show up fresh in the Belmont,and you got a shot. You really think Bird droppings was anywhere near as good as Smarty? Didn't matter.He was fresh with some distance ability.That's what you need to have.Winners of the 1st 2 legs of the Triple Crown are still tired,and they don't have those tight turns anymore(it's a real 12f race,and that last 8th of a mile is not what they are ready for.)

[Danzig]

horse comes around the turn, and still has a 1/4 mile to go..has to be hard for a horse who's used to running a bit down the lane and then shutting her down to have to keep going and going....

but he has to win in md first. swale, anyone?

so, no matter how impressive big browns win was, and it was impressive, this is NOT easy. 11 horses have done it. how many won two of the three? a lot more than 11!

[pointman]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

Just show up fresh in the Belmont,and you got a shot. You really think Bird droppings was anywhere near as good as Smarty? Didn't matter.He was fresh with some distance ability.That's what you need to have.Winners of the 1st 2 legs of the Triple Crown are still tired,and they don't have those tight turns anymore(it's a real 12f race,and that last 8th of a mile is not what they are ready for.)

It also helps when there are 3 or 4 riders whose only object is to take one horse out of the race instead of trying to win it themselves. Maybe Jerry Bailey will come out of retirement for the Belmont.

[Better Than Honour]

they will not beat a 100% sound big brown but if he has any foot problem a 12f race will take the toll on them. he is very beatable in a 12f race if there is a horse in there that wants to run 12f. casino drive probably could pick up the pieces if big brown goes backwards in the stretch. somebody in that race is going to be a birdstone or jazil. not very talented but at a competitive advantage in a 12f race. casino drive appears the most likely candidate if he runs a solid peter pan.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by Better Than Honour

they will not beat a 100% sound big brown but if he has any foot problem a 12f race will take the toll on them. he is very beatable in a 12f race if there is a horse in there that wants to run 12f. casino drive probably could pick up the pieces if big brown goes backwards in the stretch. somebody in that race is going to be a birdstone or jazil. not very talented but at a competitive advantage in a 12f race. casino drive appears the most likely candidate if he runs a solid peter pan.

Wasn't Birdstone a multiple Grade I winner?

[Better Than Honour]

Originally Posted by justindew

Wasn't Birdstone a multiple Grade I winner?

Yes. There are quite a few that are multiple grade 1 winners that aren't that talented.

[AlexP]

Birdstone was talented. He completed a triple that was either done by only a couple of horses or not very many. Sure, he may not have been as good as the top horses that year like Smarty or Zapper, but he was still good. And, he had some stamina this breed needs.

[Better Than Honour]

Originally Posted by AlexP

Birdstone was talented. He completed a triple that was either done by only a couple of horses or not very many. Sure, he may not have been as good as the top horses that year like Smarty or Zapper, but he was still good. And, he had some stamina this breed needs.

True, but he was not very fast.