4/3 (AQU): Carter, Wood (G1's); Bay Shore, Excelsior (G3's)

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Too many stakes chances are out there and horsemen space longer and longer amounts of time in between starts.

It's a great recipe for uninspiring short fields in big stakes.

[Rudeboyelvis]

If Eightyfiveinafifty throttles 'em in the Bayshore.... A huge IF since he draws the rail again after the last fiasco... But if... I'm sure 120K would most likely not be enough to get in. Question is, does Contessa get Derby dreams again and look at the Lexington or train up to the Trial and shoot for the Preakness?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

If Eightyfiveinafifty throttles 'em in the Bayshore.... A huge IF since he draws the rail again after the last fiasco... But if... I'm sure 120K would most likely not be enough to get in. Question is, does Contessa get Derby dreams again and look at the Lexington or train up to the Trial and shoot for the Preakness?

Dosent he have to crush these? Almost by default, this group is even worst then the last he faced.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Dosent he have to crush these? Almost by default, this group is even worst then the last he faced.

Hurricane Ike and Raynicks Jet are better than Peppi Knows, so I'm not sure I buy your premise.
He's a step slow out of the box which was picked up by Mig last time and well documented by your sister's future baby daddy. Granted it's a long run up and the turn is not an issue here, but if he gets pressed to the rail and freaks again it could be any one of these (agree it's a laughable graded race). My point was that if he gets the 7/8th in hand by multiple lengths (15+) does Contessa look for a spot, or train to the Preakness... Hell, it wouldn't surprise me to see him wheel him into the Derby off of a solid Trial effort.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Hurricane Ike and Raynicks Jet are better than Peppi Knows, so I'm not sure I buy your premise.
He's a step slow out of the box which was picked up by Mig last time and well documented by your sister's future baby daddy. Granted it's a long run up and the turn is not an issue here, but if he gets pressed to the rail and freaks again it could be any one of these (agree it's a laughable graded race). My point was that if he gets the 7/8th in hand by multiple lengths (15+) does Contessa look for a spot, or train to the Preakness... Hell, it wouldn't surprise me to see him wheel him into the Derby off of a solid Trial effort.

I think Raynicks Jet is a nice NY bred. He could certainly jump up and give them a scare.

I'm going to tread lightly with Hurricane Ike and any other horse Sadler enters in dirt races coming up. He has a horrendous record with horses going synth to dirt in graded stakes and is a guy who got "good" when CA went to synthetics.

NT

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I'm going to tread lightly with Hurricane Ike and any other horse Sadler enters in dirt races coming up. He has a horrendous record with horses going synth to dirt in graded stakes and is a guy who got "good" when CA went to synthetics.

NT

Not sure what to make of this dude. He excels in stretching out horses. I mean, every so often we expect a horse to win 1st time it goes 2 turns, but this guy wins regularly with them and, more often than not, his horse beats a field with route experience. Since he's not running on the AQU Inner, I suspect he's got an 'advantage'.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

If Eightyfiveinafifty throttles 'em in the Bayshore.... A huge IF since he draws the rail again after the last fiasco... But if... I'm sure 120K would most likely not be enough to get in. Question is, does Contessa get Derby dreams again and look at the Lexington or train up to the Trial and shoot for the Preakness?

I highly doubt he has any TC illusions.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I highly doubt he has any TC illusions.

The TC or a TC start?

As much as the horse doesn't look like Forrest Camp, there is no way anyone thought he was getting a mile and a half on his best day...

That said, the Kentucky Derby was certainly a well documented goal prior to the equipment malfunction in the Whirlaway... I don't know how anyone can take anything away from that - good or bad - so a strong effort in this spot would not necessarily discount a shot at the a TC race, namely the Preakness.

In fact a Whithers / Preakness path is fairly sensible.

[jms62]

I think NYRA truly misses Ernie P he could be always be counted on to add numbers.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by jms62

I think NYRA truly misses Ernie P he could be always be counted on to add numbers.

Pathetic, but very very true.

[pmacdaddy]

Correct pronunciation of Eskendereya - http://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/stories...FunFacts.shtml