Disapointing '08 so far for...

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

How did racing Showing Up in the Derby two years ago ruin the horse?

maybe it didn't have a direct effect on his soundness, it just seemed Tagg was always talking about the horse like he was dealing with Humpty Dumpty.

Just seems to me when horses are rushed into the derby it takes the toll later. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the Jacksons would like to have handled the early stages of his career differently.

[King Glorious]

I'm still eagerly awaiting the return of Crossing the Line. It also doesn't help that some of last year's most exciting horses, including Fabulous Strike and Midnight Lute, haven't made an appearance yet this year and Curlin's only made two and neither were in this country. Smokey Stover's retirement today and the loss of Euroears earlier haven't helped things either.

[jpops757]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I'm still eagerly awaiting the return of Crossing the Line. It also doesn't help that some of last year's most exciting horses, including Fabulous Strike and Midnight Lute, haven't made an appearance yet this year and Curlin's only made two and neither were in this country. Smokey Stover's retirement today and the loss of Euroears earlier haven't helped things either.

My #1 cant wait for is Euroears, flat mile or sprint , turf or dirt.

[HaloWishingwell]

In the human side of it, Bob Baffert has really hit bottom. He might want to consider moving East and away from those Phonytracks out West.

[jmj934]

I think the Grasshopper has been a huge disappointment in the year 2008. I can remember many people were high on him to start the season.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by jmj934

I think the Grasshopper has been a huge disappointment in the year 2008. I can remember many people were high on him to start the season.

Yes, and when I suggested he may have been one of those horses that really excelled at Saratoga I was scoffed at. Kind of like when I suggested that Street Sense might be a rail runner.

[NTamm1215]

While I think Neil Howard is an excellent horseman, I think Grasshopper has been mis-managed this year. After a very good effort against a really bad field at Fair Grounds in the Mineshaft, he ran well in the NO Cap but was just outmoved and narrowly missed.

Instead of looking at races like the Oaklawn Cap or Alysheba, he was sent to the Westchester, which is run at a distance that doesn't really seem to suit Grasshopper well as it is run at a fast early clip. He utterly lacked punch that day and then was brought back in eighteen days in the Pimlico Special over a sloppy track.

In the long run I don't think he's much horse and he may just be a Saratoga horse for course but now they're kind of on an island. You'd be kind of dumb to run him in the Stephen Foster if Curlin shows up, and there has to be some level of concern that he re-surfaces in the Whitney as well.

Maybe the turf is the future for this guy? Of course it is also worth mentioning that his full brother, Turf War, has been absolutely dreadful this year as well.

So, yes, Andy you were probably right about G-Hopper. As far as your other prognostication, Street Sense did get a rail trip in the BC Classic, he just lost to a better horse.

NT