Cobalt Blue

[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.