Orb Work this A.M.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

I think the dice have been rolling awfully cruel over the course of this drought.

Imagine if Spectacular Bid or Easy Goer had been foaled in the Sea Hero crop with El Bakan taking a 3rd for Robert Perez in that years Preakness.

Real Quiet coming a bad nose bob short, Mine That Bird, of all horses, taking a serious swing at it, and Afleet Alex was merely a more patient ride away from beating the mighty Giacomo (50/1) and Closing Argument (70/1) ... he was a close 3rd.

Hardiness, health, lack of quality opposition within the crop, and lack of terrible ride are four big factors to pulling this sweep off.

Being able to beat Golden Soul home, this field on Saturday with Titletown Five in it, and win the Belmont doesn't feel like it's asking much at all...but the dice element hasn't been kind for triple crown hopefuls over this drought.

If Smarty couldn't do it...no horse will ever again.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

If Smarty couldn't do it...no horse will ever again.

better horses than he failed. and i'd lump him under the 'ride' portion of what doug posted as factors.
i think it'll happen again, regardless of who tried and couldn't do it.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

If Smarty couldn't do it...no horse will ever again.

It's just a three race divisional series, five weeks apart, all level weights.

It will happen many more times in your life...even if you swear off that stuff you eat now and live off of fried food and beer.

Last year, I'll Have Another was an odds-on favorite on the morning line in the Belmont Stakes, he was beating Spectacular Bid, Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, and even the indomitable Smarty Jones on video games ...

And all of a sudden, he's scratched, retired, on his way to Japan because his pedigree isn't much, and now he's in a desperate photo with Sea Hero for 18th place in a video game running of the last 20 Derby winners.

Big Brown only needed to show up to beat D' Tara. He just didn't show up, not sure if it was the unhinged shoe or whatever that caused his physical issue. Spectacular Bid's Belmont was a case of Murphey's Law.

Every year there will be a Derby winner. All that's asked is for them to repeat in two fresh races against very similar competition.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

It will happen many more times in your life...even if you swear off that stuff you eat now and live off of fried food and beer.

Must you torture me?

(stares sadly at bowl of veggie burgers with cheese and sautéed vegetables)

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

It's just a three race divisional series, five weeks apart, all level weights.

It will happen many more times in your life...even if you swear off that stuff you eat now and live off of fried food and beer.

Last year, I'll Have Another was an odds-on favorite on the morning line in the Belmont Stakes, he was beating Spectacular Bid, Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, and even the indomitable Smarty Jones on video games ...

And all of a sudden, he's scratched, retired, on his way to Japan because his pedigree isn't much, and now he's in a desperate photo with Sea Hero for 18th place in a video game running of the last 20 Derby winners.

Big Brown only needed to show up to beat D' Tara. He just didn't show up, not sure if it was the unhinged shoe or whatever that caused his physical issue. Spectacular Bid's Belmont was a case of Murphey's Law.

Every year there will be a Derby winner. All that's asked is for them to repeat in two fresh races against very similar competition.

I was actually joking, but I did stop thinking the Triple Crown was the most important thing that could ever happen to racing after Smarty Jones.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I was actually joking, but I did stop thinking the Triple Crown was the most important thing that could ever happen to racing after Smarty Jones.

Such a weird moment; being in the crowd and hearing everyone get so utterly quiet when Birdstone passed him. It wasn't that quiet earlier in the day when they asked for a moment of silence after announcing Reagan's death.

What a crowd. My husband swore he would never ever attend Belmont in a Triple Crown year after that day.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Such a weird moment; being in the crowd and hearing everyone get so utterly quiet when Birdstone passed him. It wasn't that quiet earlier in the day when they asked for a moment of silence after announcing Reagan's death.

What a crowd. My husband swore he would never ever attend Belmont in a Triple Crown year after that day.

There are 3 days that I am grateful for not being at the track that day: Smarty's Belmont; Barbaro's breakdown in the Preakness (the only TC race I skipped that year, thankfully) and Eight Belle's breakdown in the Derby. (Not that every breakdown isn't heart wrenching, but those two had so much intensity with the crowds.)

My biggest regret for not being there was Rachel's win in the Woodward. I was there for Rags to Rich's Belmont and I'm positive that Rachel's Woodward had to be more electric.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

There are 3 days that I am grateful for not being at the track that day: Smarty's Belmont; Barbaro's breakdown in the Preakness (the only TC race I skipped that year, thankfully) and Eight Belle's breakdown in the Derby. (Not that every breakdown isn't heart wrenching, but those two had so much intensity with the crowds.)

My biggest regret for not being there was Rachel's win in the Woodward. I was there for Rags to Rich's Belmont and I'm positive that Rachel's Woodward had to be more electric.

I was in a play during Barbaro's TC races, and I remember I got to the theater early and dragged their old TV into the dressing room to watch the race. Several of the actors and the playwright showed up to watch, too, because I had gotten them interested in it. And then poor Barbaro broke down. I think they were ALL turned off racing that day. Awful.

[Payson Dave]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

There are 3 days that I am grateful for not being at the track that day: Smarty's Belmont; Barbaro's breakdown in the Preakness (the only TC race I skipped that year, thankfully) and Eight Belle's breakdown in the Derby. (Not that every breakdown isn't heart wrenching, but those two had so much intensity with the crowds.)

My biggest regret for not being there was Rachel's win in the Woodward. I was there for Rags to Rich's Belmont and I'm positive that Rachel's Woodward had to be more electric.

Rachel's win in the Woodward had the most electric feel in the air that I can ever remember...I'm telling you...ya could feel it in the air

[Danzig]

!well, maybe next year...