Derby "might-runs"

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

My buddy who works the gap in the a.m. at Churchill said both horses look really good, but Desert Party looks especially good.

Apparently Garcia has his choice of the two, and he's likely taking Desert Party.

I'll be interested to see how he works over the next couple of weeks.

speaking of choices...gomez has yet to give word on whether he's riding pioneer or dunkirk in the derby-assuming both go. and mike smith picked up the mount on chocolate candy for ky.

[Merlinsky]

I guess I can't blame them for putting Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks if they do. Bravo, ESPN or whatever it's still a big deal and a G1 ripe for the plucking.

I don't understand Terrain. Not knocking him it just feels like he's hovering. He "won" the Arlington-Washington Futurity via double DQ which I'd forgotten and I was trying to look at the footage on Youtube, I'll take the NTRA article's word for it I guess he was bothered a lot but it's hard to see it. He's never actually beaten graded stakes competition by coming home in front and seems like all the talk revolves around using him in your exotics, never 'he's my pick to win it all.' What's his ability level in all honesty? I'm just trying to better understand some of those that don't quite have their name up in neon lights but are high on the earnings list. Is he a wiseguy horse? Underrated? What?

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

I guess I can't blame them for putting Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks if they do. Bravo, ESPN or whatever it's still a big deal and a G1 ripe for the plucking.

I don't understand Terrain. Not knocking him it just feels like he's hovering. He "won" the Arlington-Washington Futurity via double DQ which I'd forgotten and I was trying to look at the footage on Youtube, I'll take the NTRA article's word for it I guess he was bothered a lot but it's hard to see it. He's never actually beaten graded stakes competition by coming home in front and seems like all the talk revolves around using him in your exotics, never 'he's my pick to win it all.' What's his ability level in all honesty? I'm just trying to better understand some of those that don't quite have their name up in neon lights but are high on the earnings list. Is he a wiseguy horse? Underrated? What?

Terrain reminds me an awful lot of Wilko in some ways. He's an honest horse with a bit of talent, and if he continues to be spotted in certain races, he'll make a good deal of cash whether he ever wins or not.

The Arlington race was a crazy one, and it was really tough to say whether or not he should have been put up to first or to second, so it's kind of one to let go while still realizing that he's never actually come home first against graded company.

I don't think he's a wiseguy horse at all; there's nothing at all that's hidden about him -- it's all there in the open, what you see is what you get. He'll show up with the same effort and whether that'll be good enough for third, fourth, or tenth is up to you to figure out. I like him to get up for the bottom of exotics.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

I don't understand Terrain. .... Is he a wiseguy horse? Underrated? What?

Classic Harvey Pack 'suck up' horse. Runs at his one pace throughout the race and passes tired horses in the stretch; only if they run insanely fast up front early does this sort win the big ones (Giacomo, Gato del Sol).

[RolloTomasi]

The dam, Kelli's Ransom is by Red Ransom, and two highly successful Dubai-owned horses have traveled distances by him - Ekraar and Dubai Millennium.

Dubai Millenium was by Seeking The Gold, not Red Ransom.

Interestingly, Regal Ransom is closely related to fellow Derby hopeful, Pitched Perfectly. His 2nd dam is the latter's first dam.