Derek Ryan on Quality Road: "Look him in the eye and he's counterfeit"

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Musket Man, trained by Derek Ryan for owners Eric Fein and Vic Carlson, was a game third in the Whitney, despite racing close to the pace under jockey Rajiv Maragh. Ryan is considering both the Woodward and the Hawthorne Gold Cup for the Yonaguska colt as a prep the Breeders’ Cup.

“We’ll probably keep him going long now the rest of the year,” Ryan said. “He ran his race. One of these days, he’s going to get a legitimate pace and the race will set up for him. He was closer than he ever has been in any of his races. It wasn’t by design, but it wasn’t his fault. At least [Maragh] had the initiative and the brains to go on with it.”

Surprised that front-runner Haynesfield opted to lay back rather than challenge Quality Road, Ryan felt the 1-to-2 favorite showed a chink in his armor.

“If we didn’t press him, the other horse wouldn’t have won either,” Ryan said. “Look at it on paper. Quality Road’s on the inside, he’s going to go. The other horse has got to go. They should be up there. If they were going :22 and :45, I’d understand him taking back. But they’re letting them crawl.

“It just goes to show you if you press him a little bit, he’s not as good as they say he is. Just look him in the eye, and he’s counterfeit. Even with those fractions, he’s supposed to win that race yesterday. I’ll buy me a rabbit for the next time.”

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/rac...-Gold-Cup.aspx

I can't believe the guy said that. QR set suicide fractions in the Met Mile. Musket Man looked like he had him measured and right when QR saw Musket Man, QR dug down and found more and held him off. The Met Mile showed that QR has a lot of heart. To battle back after setting fractions like that was impressive.

[Danzig]

well, apparently they will face off yet again. this time both are pointing to the woodward, along with mine that bird. blame heads for the jockey club gold cup.

what's with rail trip? think i saw they were planning on possibly the ky cup classic(or maybe that was lookin at lucky). any chance he takes on either blame or quality road before the classic? also, regarding quality road...does he really go in the classic, or will they ultimately try the dirt mile?

[letswastemoney]

Really? Mine That Bird will try Blame again? Hmmm...well...he will eat up money...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Really? Mine That Bird will try Blame again? Hmmm...well...he will eat up money...

no, i meant musket man will try qr again.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Really? Mine That Bird will try Blame again? Hmmm...well...he will eat up money...

Speaking of Mine That Bird, Haskin was talking about how he pointed MTB (I think to the Mig was it? It was on ATR that he said it) and the physical transformation from before was amazing. Muscles on top of muscles or something. I couldn't tell on the NYRA video. Why does he end up an afterthought again?

[Danzig]

because he didn't run ten f in the slop versus three year olds? no, seriously..he wouldn't be the first classic winner never to win again. i remember reading that lukas said they had worked with him to get him to lay closer early-i'm assuming that didn't work out?

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Danzig

well, apparently they will face off yet again. this time both are pointing to the woodward, along with mine that bird. blame heads for the jockey club gold cup.

what's with rail trip? think i saw they were planning on possibly the ky cup classic(or maybe that was lookin at lucky). any chance he takes on either blame or quality road before the classic? also, regarding quality road...does he really go in the classic, or will they ultimately try the dirt mile?

He'll face one of them... I read he's either running in the Woodward or JCGC then BCC.