Cobalt Blue

Originally Posted by miraja2

I really like Air Commander in this one after his sharp 4f work on Tuesday. His Beyer figs have improved in each start, and I think that is accurate. He has improved with each start, and I think the cut back from 9 to 8.5 will actually fit him well in this particular start. He will also be carrying 4 less lbs than he did in his last.
I'm not sold at all on Cobalt blue. He was all-out to win his last, which was an N1X with only 4 others in the race. I'll pass.

Cobalt Blue was all out but what horse would not be with 21 4/5 and 44 4/5 fractions... ? He probably ran the first 2 f in 22 and 1/5 but he was right on the 44 4/5. Thats just fast. Apparently they think he can stretch this 6 furlong race out. I dont think this 6f race tells us much except that the horse has speed. The horse really looks good though.

Air Commander has gotten better but he just looks slow. I hate to go just by times but he looked slow and the times were slow. This should be an interesting race. But as a Grade II it just looks really bad.

Why are so many other West Coast or other Derby contenders passing on this race?

I'm not impressed with Air Commander. He reminds me of a slightly better Point of Impact.

[Danzig]

from bloodhorse:

Determining which horse a jockey rides leading up to the Kentucky Derby on May 5 can occur voluntarily or involuntarily. Crossroads develop and decisions are made. For Garrett Gomez and his agent, Ron Anderson, one such determination involved Cobalt Blue (Just In Case), Grapelli (Worth Watching) and Air Commander in Saturday’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes.

Gomez, who had ridden Cobalt Blue and Air Commander to victory in their last races, opted for Air Commander, a son of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given trained by Bob Baffert.

“He’s got a little more seasoning than some of the other colts,” Gomez said of Air Commander, who has won his last two starts in a four-race career. “He’s run two turns three times now and that gives him an advantage, in my mind. He’s a very talented colt, as are the others. He’s got some quirks which we’re trying to resolve, but he seems like he’s getting better.

“Not taking anything away from Cobalt Blue, but I think right now he might be a little behind some of these colts. I mean, he could win, but my agent and I had to make a decision. You never want to be in that situation, but it happened that both horses are running in the same race and the bridge had to be crossed.

Victor Espinoza takes over on Cobalt Blue, who is owned by Merv Griffin and trained by Doug O’Neill. Cobalt Blue has had three races, all sprints

[KY_Sasquash]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

I'm not impressed with Air Commander. He reminds me of a slightly better Point of Impact.

I'm with you on Air Commander. He's yet to run fast, too.

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Cobalt Blue was all out but what horse would not be with 21 4/5 and 44 4/5 fractions... ? He probably ran the first 2 f in 22 and 1/5 but he was right on the 44 4/5. Thats just fast. Apparently they think he can stretch this 6 furlong race out. I dont think this 6f race tells us much except that the horse has speed. The horse really looks good though.

Air Commander has gotten better but he just looks slow. I hate to go just by times but he looked slow and the times were slow. This should be an interesting race. But as a Grade II it just looks really bad.

Why are so many other West Coast or other Derby contenders passing on this race?

I guess the trainers get lured by all the options they have. When i was in california you had the San Vicente, Felipe, and the Derby at Santa Anita. If you were a non stakes winner you could prep your horse for the SA Derby in the Bradbury. Now they have messed with the distances and timing, and it leads to short fields. Pletcher was quoted as saying that the drop in distance is why he is skipping this race with Ravel and waiting for the SA Derby.