Latent Heat

[blackthroatedwind]

The Malibu will certainly be easier if the connections of Brother Derek foolishly pass the race and run in the Hollywood Derby instead. That plan seems like a bad sign for Brother Derek.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The Malibu will certainly be easier if the connections of Brother Derek foolishly pass the race and run in the Hollywood Derby instead. That plan seems like a bad sign for Brother Derek.

Have we really come to the point in horse racing where running November 26th precludes a horse from running back on December 26th? I thought it would be at least a few more years before we got to that point.

[blackthroatedwind]

I wouldn't say it precludes it but going turf to dirt, and cutting back, at that level is probably unlikely. Not saying it won't happen, or wouldn't work, but they are two such distinct directions.

One of the reasons trainers often go to the turf as a last resort, especially with good horses, is many don't like to switch back and forth between surfaces. Or...so I hear.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I wouldn't say it precludes it but going turf to dirt, and cutting back, at that level is probably unlikely. Not saying it won't happen, or wouldn't work, but they are two such distinct directions.

One of the reasons trainers often go to the turf as a last resort, especially with good horses, is many don't like to switch back and forth between surfaces. Or...so I hear.

I'll agree that it is a bad move if they wind up skipping the Malibu or he runs extremely poorly there. I can't blame them though for seeing a big race on the calendar, a horse with a hole in his calendar, and actually deciding to run that horse in the big race. It is an actual sporting act in a sport where such acts are few and far between.

[blackthroatedwind]

I have no problem with an aggressive campaign, obviously, but this horse seems perfectly suited for the Strub series and I think it would be a mistake to deviate from that course. It just feels like they should be thinking grass after those races don't work out for him.

The whole thing makes me feel like they have no real game plan with the horse which would be a shame. I think he's pretty good. Not as good as many thought going into the TC perhaps but better than he showed in the Derby and Preakness.

At this point, if the Malibu was his next start, I would consider him the horse to beat. Latent Heat is a nice horse, but he has something to prove before one would put him ahead of Too Much Bling and/or Brother Derek. He might well prove better but so far he's a lot of hype with a little bit of delivery.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I have no problem with an aggressive campaign, obviously, but this horse seems perfectly suited for the Strub series and I think it would be a mistake to deviate from that course. It just feels like they should be thinking grass after those races don't work out for him.

The whole thing makes me feel like they have no real game plan with the horse which would be a shame. I think he's pretty good. Not as good as many thought going into the TC perhaps but better than he showed in the Derby and Preakness.

At this point, if the Malibu was his next start, I would consider him the horse to beat. Latent Heat is a nice horse, but he has something to prove before one would put him ahead of Too Much Bling and/or Brother Derek. He might well prove better but so far he's a lot of hype with a little bit of delivery.

I can't believe I am already at the point where I'm longing for the old days of like two years ago when coming into a race off an 8 week layoff was a concern rather than an advantage.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I can't believe I am already at the point where I'm longing for the old days of like two years ago when coming into a race off an 8 week layoff was a concern rather than an advantage.

It's a long year and the bigger races are mostly later in the year. No reason to be overly aggressive early in the season.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The Malibu will certainly be easier if the connections of Brother Derek foolishly pass the race and run in the Hollywood Derby instead. That plan seems like a bad sign for Brother Derek.

I wouldn't like Brother Derek on the turn-back to 7 panels from a hard race in the 1 1/4-mile Classic....he'd be a bet-against for me...

I'd breifly freshen him for a start in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Parl in January...I mean, it is freakin' Cal-bred and Fla-breds for $1 MILLION!!!....can't pass that up. Plus, Lava Man is reportedly running in the turf race on Sunshine Millions day against Miesque's Approval - which means that the ONLY horse Bro Derek may have to beat is Sweetnorthernsaint...but at least it is at his best distance of 1 1/8 miles - and did I mention that it is for $1 MILLION!!!....can't pass that for the Malibu if you're Bro Derek's connections....

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

I wouldn't like Brother Derek on the turn-back to 7 panels from a hard race in the 1 1/4-mile Classic....he'd be a bet-against for me...

I'd breifly freshen him for a start in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Parl in January...I mean, it is freakin' Cal-bred and Fla-breds for $1 MILLION!!!....can't pass that up. Plus, Lava Man is reportedly running in the turf race on Sunshine Millions day against Miesque's Approval - which means that the ONLY horse Bro Derek may have to beat is Sweetnorthernsaint...but at least it is at his best distance of 1 1/8 miles - and did I mention that it is for $1 MILLION!!!....can't pass that for the Malibu if you're Bro Derek's connections....

Same case though, the Malibu is 12/26 and the Sunshine Millions are at the end of January. Nothing to stop him from running in both.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Same case though, the Malibu is 12/26 and the Sunshine Millions are at the end of January. Nothing to stop him from running in both.

Racing in an inconsequential race like the Sunshine Millions is what you do to earn dollars if your horse has no real stud value. A horse like Brother Derek has MUCH more to gain running in races like the Malibu/Strub series in terms of breeding dollars.

He won't be in the Sunshine Millions.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Racing in an inconsequential race like the Sunshine Millions is what you do to earn dollars if your horse has no real stud value. A horse like Brother Derek has MUCH more to gain running in races like the Malibu/Strub series in terms of breeding dollars.

He won't be in the Sunshine Millions.

See, I have to diagree here....He is like Gentleman, Siphon and all other of those watered-down pedigrees that could really run over there...they don't make stallions....

[Linny]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Racing in an inconsequential race like the Sunshine Millions is what you do to earn dollars if your horse has no real stud value. A horse like Brother Derek has MUCH more to gain running in races like the Malibu/Strub series in terms of breeding dollars.

He won't be in the Sunshine Millions.

As a son of Benchmark, I'd say send him to the HOL Derby, then the Malibu and then the Sunshine Millions. Lava Man went back and forth from dirt to turf, restricted to G1. I just don't see BD as the type of horse who's value will be hinged on a G1. He doesn't have enough breding for him to ever be a hot sire with breeders. They need to make $ with him now, not wait for stud deals.

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Same case though, the Malibu is 12/26 and the Sunshine Millions are at the end of January. Nothing to stop him from running in both.

Yeah, but that would be a tall task and I think a horrible idea.....you can't take a horse who has had a bad comeback after a bad experience in the Triple Crown, and then decide to turn him back to sprinting from 1 1/4 miles in a tough race and expect him to be as fast as Too Much Bling, etc. and then decide to ship him across the country again a month later to go 1 1/8 miles for $1 million and expect him to be at his best through that kind of campaign......that is a classic way on how to SOUR a horse...

Do whats right....he's had a hard campaign and just ran a very hard race in the BC Classic....give him a little freshening and point for a prime effort for $1 million against restricted company at GP in January.....the hjorse is already a Grade 1 winner so the grade f the Malibu is not so relevent to me as is running for a $1 million purse where you'll be about 5-2 or so in the betting...

Hell, the horse is a Benchmark out of some obscure California female family...believe me, his value as a stallion will NOT be improved by him winning the Malibu.....they need to race for purse money to maximize this horse at this point......

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Yeah, but that would be a tall task and I think a horrible idea.....you can't take a horse who has had a bad comeback after a bad experience in the Triple Crown, and then decide to turn him back to sprinting from 1 1/4 miles in a tough race and expect him to be as fast as Too Much Bling, etc. and then decide to ship him across the country again a month later to go 1 1/8 miles for $1 million and expect him to be at his best through that kind of campaign......that is a classic way on how to SOUR a horse...

Do whats right....he's had a hard campaign and just ran a very hard race in the BC Classic....give him a little freshening and point for a prime effort for $1 million against restricted company at GP in January.....the hjorse is already a Grade 1 winner so the grade f the Malibu is not so relevent to me as is running for a $1 million purse where you'll be about 5-2 or so in the betting...

Hell, the horse is a Benchmark out of some obscure California female family...believe me, his value as a stallion will NOT be improved by him winning the Malibu.....they need to race for purse money to maximize this horse at this point......

Well, you always have to keep an eye out for the horse to see what he's telling you so he doesn't sour and know when to back off. I still think you can be ambitious when you draw up the campaign and then back off if necessary. Part of the reason they are considering the Hollywood Derby might be that the horse is itching for a race and ready to tear down his stall if they don't get him out there for a race. I believe that they are considering bringing Premium Tap back for the Clark for that very reason after initially announcing that he'd be skipping it.

[Cajungator26]

Whatever happened to Brother Derek's full brother Don'tsellmeshort?

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Whatever happened to Brother Derek's full brother Don'tsellmeshort?

He's probably running in claiming races like his other brother Swizzle Stick....believe me, this pedigree will not make a stallion...not in Kentucky anyway - and if so, not for long....he'll end up back in California standing for a nickle with Flying Continental and High Brite when its all said and done - not that there is anything wrong with that....they all have their places in the market