If you like Sun King in the Classic...

[slotdirt]

Let me ask you guys who are doubting Sun King: first, name the five races where he's attempted 10 furlongs? I only count three.

Second, has Sun King tried 10 furlongs in his four year old season? Lots of horses have run up the track at longer distances as three year olds, yet came back to run brilliantly at 10f as older horses. Pleasantly Perfect comes to mind. Conversely, there are many horses who show promise at a distance as sophomores, yet don't run a lick as an older horse. Flower Alley immediately comes to mind.

I'd love to hear answers to those two questions.

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

While I actually think Sun King has a good shot to hit the board in the Classic, I don't really get your post. First, Pleasantly Perfect had one race as a 3 year old, on the turf, and he was eased. I for one am not convinced that Sun King can't win at 1 1/4, but I think it's because of his running style now. Instead of being up on the pace, he's making one run, and his success this year is no coincidence. Yeah Flower Alley had had a very dissappointing year, but I don't think he has really been healthy all year. The distance of the races has nothing to do with it.

I think hes healthy now though Da Hoss.
Pletcher was furious with the committee's decision to make him an also eligible and if he were only running the horse on the owners say so, I doubt he would have been that furious.
His last work was also reported to be excellent, as in super.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by oracle80

I think hes healthy now though Da Hoss.
Pletcher was furious with the committee's decision to make him an also eligible and if he were only running the horse on the owners say so, I doubt he would have been that furious.
His last work was also reported to be excellent, as in super.

When Todd got furious did it occur to him that it was impossible for Flower Alley to be excluded from the race?

Or perhaps he couldn't believe the committee actually excluded the least deserving entrant in the race. Who, pray tell, does he think Flower Alley should have received preference over?

[slotdirt]

Super Frolic?

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

When Todd got furious did it occur to him that it was impossible for Flower Alley to be excluded from the race?

Or perhaps he couldn't believe the committee actually excluded the least deserving entrant in the race. Who, pray tell, does he think Flower Alley should have received preference over?

Super Frolic for one.

Horses in bad form who have won grade ones and raced at that highest level should always be preferred over horses who NEVER have.
I don't think I'm alone in saying that it isn't rocket science that in a grade one race that horses who have ACTUALLY won grade ones should get iin before those who never have.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Super Frolic for one.

Super Frolic has had a MUCH better year than Flower Alley.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Super Frolic has had a MUCH better year than Flower Alley.

Super Frolic hasn't won a single race and hasn't even run 2nd in a G1 this year. At least Flower Alley has a G3 victory. To me the most pathetic thing was the committee chair saying that Flower Alley had no graded stakes victories this year before someone had to correct him and tell him that the Salvator Mile was a G3. How can you be involved in making that decision and be clueless as to the grading of a race?

I'm surprised that Flower Alley is an also eligible but I like it. It sets the precedent that for inclusion into the BC you will be judged solely on what you accomplished during that year. No coasting in based on prior accomplishments.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Super Frolic hasn't won a single race and hasn't even run 2nd in a G1 this year. At least Flower Alley has a G3 victory. To me the most pathetic thing was the committee chair saying that Flower Alley had no graded stakes victories this year before someone had to correct him and tell him that the Salvator Mile was a G3. How can you be involved in making that decision and be clueless as to the grading of a race?

I'm surprised that Flower Alley is an also eligible but I like it. It sets the precedent that for inclusion into the BC you will be judged solely on what you accomplished during that year. No coasting in based on prior accomplishments.

Upon reflection I would have to say I am wrong. First of all, Todd did say it was a moot point for the reasons I stated. But second of all, there are inconsistencies throughout the races that make a strong case for Flower Alley. For example, my beloved Commentator doesn't deserve to be in the Sprint based on his 2006 resume over Areyoutalkintome and how Gatorize is in the body of the Juvenile Filly race over a number of stakes winners is mind boggling.

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

While I actually think Sun King has a good shot to hit the board in the Classic, I don't really get your post. First, Pleasantly Perfect had one race as a 3 year old, on the turf, and he was eased. I for one am not convinced that Sun King can't win at 1 1/4, but I think it's because of his running style now. Instead of being up on the pace, he's making one run, and his success this year is no coincidence. Yeah Flower Alley had had a very dissappointing year, but I don't think he has really been healthy all year. The distance of the races has nothing to do with it.

My point is that I don't think a few races against some very tough competition as a 3YO really proves a thing when it comes to the form of an older horse in November of their 4YO season. My second point is that 3YO form doesn't always translate into form as an older horse. Maybe Pleasantly Perfect is a bad example, but there are still a gaggle of horses out there who stink up the joint at a distance as a 3YO, yet run their eyeballs out at the same distance once they've matured.

Dalakhani: I would not be too critical of Premium Tap's Whitney debacle as he missed several workouts due to bad track conditions.

Slot: Pleasantly Perfect is by Pleasant Colony out of an Affirmed mare, a stout ten furlong pedigree. Sun King is genetically challenged at ten panels as his past performances point out. Two races were at one mile and three sixteenths, and lumped into the five. BBB