8/24 (SAR): Travers, King's Bishop, Test (G1's), Ballston Spa (G2)

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by pointman

Smith didn't try to get Pianist in front and I believe if he sent early Pianist was faster than the 1.

He had the lead on Let Em Shine but for some odd reason he didn't take to the rail to shut off and force Mentor Cane to go outside of him. Neither needed to be a machine. Smith just needed to have a smart strategy. He didn't on either of those horses plain and simple.

Was the rail that good? Orb.

[Scav]

The very fact that I left off Laughing and used Miz Ida instead, knowing speed was outstanding, should ban me from handicapping/wagering for a full year. Cost me a $1 P4....Priceless!

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Was the rail that good? Orb.

Maybe Orb is just that average.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Maybe Orb is just that average.

Supposedly Orb doesn't like being down inside. Then there's the whole 'coming off a 77 day layoff in a G1 against the other top 3yos while racing at 1 1/4 and finishing fairly close despite said layoff' thing. He finished right in there with the top 3 from the Jim Dandy having not had that race in him. It doesn't mean that but for the excuses he'd win all the time, but for God's sake he's not average. In his two races at Saratoga he's been 3rd both times, the first featured him losing to Violence and Titletown Five in his first attempt to break his maiden. Maybe he's not in love with it, who knows. It's not like he's losing to bums.

Let's take a minute and appreciate how 2 of the top 3 in the Travers ran in all 3 TC races and the just barely 4th place finisher was in 2 of 3 TC races.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

Supposedly Orb doesn't like being down inside. Then there's the whole 'coming off a 77 day layoff in a G1 against the other top 3yos while racing at 1 1/4 and finishing fairly close despite said layoff' thing. He finished right in there with the top 3 from the Jim Dandy having not had that race in him. It doesn't mean that but for the excuses he'd win all the time, but for God's sake he's not average. In his two races at Saratoga he's been 3rd both times, the first featured him losing to Violence and Titletown Five in his first attempt to break his maiden. Maybe he's not in love with it, who knows. It's not like he's losing to bums.

Let's take a minute and appreciate how 2 of the top 3 in the Travers ran in all 3 TC races and the just barely 4th place finisher was in 2 of 3 TC races.

Average was in terms of Derby winners and potential one time triple crown locks. Obviously in terms of the 20,000 horses bred in his crop he is vastly superior and one of the greats.

He had a dream trip and ran 3rd, depending on the spot I will have to look at it like that.

[King Glorious]

I don't think much of Orb but I can't help but feel like he would have won this race if he hadn't been compromised by his trainer. Coming into the lane, he had every look of a winner but he got tired and I feel like with a prep under his belt, he would have gotten the job done. There are two ways to look at it. He'll be better next time (Jockey Club Gold Cup?) and then the BC Classic will be his third race so could be his best. The other way to see it is that even if he is better in the next two, it probably won't be good enough to beat what he's likely to face and he missed a golden opportunity to take a huge race and possibly lock up a divisional title by looking ahead and forgetting the present.

[alysheba4]

saratoga is without question the hardest ( dirt track ) to cap.....i raised the white flag after today.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by alysheba4

saratoga is without question the hardest ( dirt track ) to cap.....i raised the white flag after today.

Their turf races kill me. I almost pray for a bias so I can narrow down the usual 6 that have a shot to at least the speed horses.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I don't think much of Orb but I can't help but feel like he would have won this race if he hadn't been compromised by his trainer. Coming into the lane, he had every look of a winner but he got tired and I feel like with a prep under his belt, he would have gotten the job done. There are two ways to look at it. He'll be better next time (Jockey Club Gold Cup?) and then the BC Classic will be his third race so could be his best. The other way to see it is that even if he is better in the next two, it probably won't be good enough to beat what he's likely to face and he missed a golden opportunity to take a huge race and possibly lock up a divisional title by looking ahead and forgetting the present.

We can guess that a prep would have made a difference, but so would have more pace. I though Orb ran pretty all things considered. That said, Palace Malice was still the best horse in the race.

[cakes44]

I guess I'm not so sure that Palace Malice was clearly better than WTC in this race?