Time Is Now For Darley's Dominance In States - by Joel Cunningham

Originally Posted by Unbridled

Joel, great writeup. As for those that doubt Discreet Cat. Granted he might not have beaten anything in Dubai, but last year I was at Stan Hough's barn up at Saratoga. He pulled out Discreet Cat and told me that he thought the horse had a lot of talent and that even though he was a Forestry he'd be a two turn horse and if he was as good as he thought he was he was going to skip the BC Juv b/c he thought he was a legitimate Derby horse. Four days later he debuted and ran a 103 beyer and 6.5 rag in his debut after cutting out wicked fractions on the front end. Make no bones about it, this is one talented horse.

I agree 100%...I thought he had a REAL chance to win the Derby (if he would have showed up) despite all going against him from an experience standpoint and the shipping across-seas standpoint...I really did...its kind of the same feeling I had about Bernardini in the Preakness..He lacked experience but I really thought he was a special horse and he proved it, and I really think Discreet Cat is special too. We all know that nobody would have probably beaten Barabro that day at CD, so it was good move they didn't elect to run him..

..however, with Barbaro out and George Washington hurt, I really believe Darley has potentially the 3 best 3-year-olds in the world at each of their respective disciplines.

Bernardini and Discreet Cat taking little convincing for me to believe they are the best 3-year-olds in training right now, and I still believe Henny Hughes is a potential monster in the Sprint ranks...we'll soon see, but I just see us looking back at the end of 2006 and saying,

"Damn, Darley won seemingly everything in the states after Bernardini broke through in the Preakness."

..thats just my forecast, but I acknowledge that it is a very bold statement..

Thanks to all that read and enjoyed it. I love to write about my thoughts on this industry because it goes through my head all day long, and Derby Trail looks like a great platform to do that.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Thanks to all that read and enjoyed it. I love to write about my thoughts on this industry because it goes through my head all day long, and Derby Trail looks like a great platform to do that.[/quote]

Great. I enjoy reading everything you type so keep it coming! I love hearing from people that are so passionate about horses like I am. I know how you feel because it goes through my head all day long too, even though I am on the outside looking in. That will all change next year though!

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

I agree 100%...I thought he had a REAL chance to win the Derby (if he would have showed up) despite all going against him from an experience standpoint and the shipping across-seas standpoint...I really did...its kind of the same feeling I had about Bernardini in the Preakness..He lacked experience but I really thought he was a special horse and he proved it, and I really think Discreet Cat is special too. We all know that nobody would have probably beaten Barabro that day at CD, so it was good move they didn't elect to run him..

..however, with Barbaro out and George Washington hurt, I really believe Darley has potentially the 3 best 3-year-olds in the world at each of their respective disciplines.

Bernardini and Discreet Cat taking little convincing for me to believe they are the best 3-year-olds in training right now, and I still believe Henny Hughes is a potential monster in the Sprint ranks...we'll soon see, but I just see us looking back at the end of 2006 and saying,

"Damn, Darley won seemingly everything in the states after Bernardini broke through in the Preakness."

..thats just my forecast, but I acknowledge that it is a very bold statement..

Thanks to all that read and enjoyed it. I love to write about my thoughts on this industry because it goes through my head all day long, and Derby Trail looks like a great platform to do that.

It's a joy to read your write-ups, Joel. Keep em coming!

I wrote that on a whim yesterday evening and just realized how poorly editted it was. I've editted it and gone back and posted a cleaner, more factual peice for better reading...Sorry

Very well written although I disagree with some of it. If you are the guy who runs the Churchill website, excellent job. You should hire yourself out to Darley because with all their money they should be able to put together a better site.

Darley has a ton of upside, but they are still unproven in the states. You would think with 50 stallions they would be able to do better than they do here. Sir Percy is from their Mark of Esteem though so I guess right now they are red hot.

Expect Corinthian to give Discrete Cat a run for the money in the Dwyer although if SNS shows up I would give him the edge over both.

Can't argue with Bernardini, although I still think Barbaro was the better horse, mainly because of his proven ability on all surfaces.

Watch out for Lael in the future. If they stop selling their horses to the Sheiks they could be the ones dominating american racing. Grandera who Darley now owns was theirs. George Washington and Barbaro were both theirs at one point and they have Showing Up and some nice mares.

Winstar is also interesting.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by boldruler

Very well written although I disagree with some of it. If you are the guy who runs the Churchill website, excellent job. You should hire yourself out to Darley because with all their money they should be able to put together a better site.

Darley has a ton of upside, but they are still unproven in the states. You would think with 50 stallions they would be able to do better than they do here. Sir Percy is from their Mark of Esteem though so I guess right now they are red hot.

Expect Corinthian to give Discrete Cat a run for the money in the Dwyer although if SNS shows up I would give him the edge over both.

Can't argue with Bernardini, although I still think Barbaro was the better horse, mainly because of his proven ability on all surfaces.

Watch out for Lael in the future. If they stop selling their horses to the Sheiks they could be the ones dominating american racing. Grandera who Darley now owns was theirs. George Washington and Barbaro were both theirs at one point and they have Showing Up and some nice mares.

Winstar is also interesting.

I have been watching out for Lael since Barbaro. They seem to have some nice horses currently (Tagg trains a lot of them, does he not?)

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I have been watching out for Lael since Barbaro. They seem to have some nice horses currently (Tagg trains a lot of them, does he not?)

Tagg has a bunch. Showing Up is his best and is headed to Virginia for a big grass race, but he has Rumpspringa who just ran 108 for 6f at Belmont. Klepto Cat is a really nice filly who trounced a horse named Criminologist who just won big this weekend. Polished Arrow is another of theirs. He has a bunch of other foreign horses, Stormy Kiss, La Chiflota, Auguri for them which are all stakes horses.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by boldruler

Tagg has a bunch. Showing Up is his best and is headed to Virginia for a big grass race, but he has Rumpspringa who just ran 108 for 6f at Belmont. Klepto Cat is a really nice filly who trounced a horse named Criminologist who just won big this weekend. Polished Arrow is another of theirs. He has a bunch of other foreign horses, Stormy Kiss, La Chiflota, Auguri for them which are all stakes horses.

I picked Klepto Cat and Auguri last week in the Belmont Challenge...

Originally Posted by boldruler

Very well written although I disagree with some of it. If you are the guy who runs the Churchill website, excellent job. You should hire yourself out to Darley because with all their money they should be able to put together a better site.

Darley has a ton of upside, but they are still unproven in the states. You would think with 50 stallions they would be able to do better than they do here. Sir Percy is from their Mark of Esteem though so I guess right now they are red hot.

Expect Corinthian to give Discrete Cat a run for the money in the Dwyer although if SNS shows up I would give him the edge over both.

Can't argue with Bernardini, although I still think Barbaro was the better horse, mainly because of his proven ability on all surfaces.

Watch out for Lael in the future. If they stop selling their horses to the Sheiks they could be the ones dominating american racing. Grandera who Darley now owns was theirs. George Washington and Barbaro were both theirs at one point and they have Showing Up and some nice mares.

Winstar is also interesting.

I can understand how many may feel my thoughts were a little bold, but I really believe they will win the rest of the important 3-year-old races if form holds up, and they have a mass of other very important horses in other division that should account for several graded stakes wins in the states through the rest of the year.....just my opinion..

..I do, however, seriously disagree with anybody who feels that Cornthian can run with Discreet Cat......I think Discreet Cat will run away from Corinthian like his feet were cemented in the dirt....Discreet Cat has twice the ability and class IMO...we'll see soon enough, but I certainly am up for a side wager if you are game?...So, what do you think?

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

I can understand how many may feel my thoughts were a little bold, but I really believe they will win the rest of the important 3-year-old races if form holds up, and they have a mass of other very important horses in other division that should account for several graded stakes wins in the states through the rest of the year.....just my opinion..

..I do, however, seriously disagree with anybody who feels that Cornthian can run with Discreet Cat......I think Discreet Cat will run away from Corinthian like his feet were cemented in the dirt....Discreet Cat has twice the ability and class IMO...we'll see soon enough, but I certainly am up for a side wager if you are game?...So, what do you think?

I'm up for a side wager if gator isn't. Not a big one though. I can't believe I am going against Discreet Cat. I have been touting that horse for a very long time. He was one of the ones on the other board that I said was a potential superhorse in the making. However, I love Jerkins, Corinthian, and America! What's the terms? Nevermind, I'll PM you so we can discuss the terms if you are up to it!

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

I'm up for a side wager if gator isn't. Not a big one though. I can't believe I am going against Discreet Cat. I have been touting that horse for a very long time. He was one of the ones on the other board that I said was a potential superhorse in the making. However, I love Jerkins, Corinthian, and America! What's the terms? Nevermind, I'll PM you so we can discuss the terms if you are up to it!

How did I get put into this conversation? LMAO... Boldruler made the comment about Corinthian. I don't think Corinthian can touch Discreet Cat with a ten foot pole. Discreet Cat is a very nice colt and I think he'll prove that here soon enough.

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

I'm up for a side wager if gator isn't. Not a big one though. I can't believe I am going against Discreet Cat. I have been touting that horse for a very long time. He was one of the ones on the other board that I said was a potential superhorse in the making. However, I love Jerkins, Corinthian, and America! What's the terms? Nevermind, I'll PM you so we can discuss the terms if you are up to it!

What did you have in mind, Jessica?...Just a friendly wager?