Hard Spun Confirmed For Preakness

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Danzig

hmmm, no wildncrazy...and i forgot about xchanger and slew's tizzy. full field no doubt in two weeks.

I expect Hard Spun to run but if I was his trainer I'd sure watch him closely...that was a gut-wrenching performance yesterday off a blazing work...I'd be looking for any sign of regression. At this point, if your horse isn't named Street Sense, the Preakness is another grade one race with a nice purse...winning it would be nice but doesn't mean any more than winning say the Travers later in the year, coming back in two weeks for either Hard Spun or Curlin is something to consider very carefully!

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I expect Hard Spun to run but if I was his trainer I'd sure watch him closely...that was a gut-wrenching performance yesterday off a blazing work...I'd be looking for any sign of regression. At this point, if your horse isn't named Street Sense, the Preakness is another grade one race with a nice purse...winning it would be nice but doesn't mean any more than winning say the Travers later in the year, coming back in two weeks for either Hard Spun or Curlin is something to consider very carefully!

Based upon the path they took with Hard Spun, I'd have to think that Larry Jones wouldn't risk this colt by running him back unless he felt he was 100%. Just a guess...

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Based upon the path they took with Hard Spun, I'd have to think that Larry Jones wouldn't risk this colt by running him back unless he felt he was 100%. Just a guess...

I'd hope no trainer would risk a horse that was less than 100%, just saying that the Preakness, for those not named Street Sense, is not the "road to glory" and I understand why many trainers choose to skip it.

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I'd hope no trainer would risk a horse that was less than 100%, just saying that the Preakness, for those not named Street Sense, is not the "road to glory" and I understand why many trainers choose to skip it.

it's ashame the preakness has become a "weekend off" for so many derby horses. as long as the horse is 100% run him back. just because May 5 , wasn't YOUR day maybe May 19 is? i'd just like to see more of the good horses.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by ddthetide

it's ashame the preakness has become a "weekend off" for so many derby horses. as long as the horse is 100% run him back. just because May 5 , wasn't YOUR day maybe May 19 is? i'd just like to see more of the good horses.

As a fan, I would too...but as a horseperson, I understand, especially with today's thoroughbred, that running back in two weeks off the most grueling race of a young horse's life is something that I might have second thoughts about...so many TC horses disappear into the shed before the end of their 3yo season.

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

As a fan, I would too...but as a horseperson, I understand, especially with today's thoroughbred, that running back in two weeks off the most grueling race of a young horse's life is something that I might have second thoughts about...so many TC horses disappear into the shed before the end of their 3yo season.

my thinking, the belmont is the one to skip because of the distance? and tougher to recover from?

[AeWingnut]

I don't understand why they are going to run Hard Spun in 2 weeks. They thought he needed 6 weeks to ge ready for the Derby now they want what?

Hey, if the horse is 100% go for it.

just saying for someone that thought they needed 6 weeks now thinking 2 weeks is do-able?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I expect Hard Spun to run but if I was his trainer I'd sure watch him closely...that was a gut-wrenching performance yesterday off a blazing work...I'd be looking for any sign of regression. At this point, if your horse isn't named Street Sense, the Preakness is another grade one race with a nice purse...winning it would be nice but doesn't mean any more than winning say the Travers later in the year, coming back in two weeks for either Hard Spun or Curlin is something to consider very carefully!

Took the words right off of my fingers.

[whodey17]

At least SS will have a nice pace to run at if Flying First Class, Teuf and Hard Spun are all in the race. Heck, fractions could be faster in the Preakness than the Derby.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Jamie Sanders isn't really going to run that horse in the Preakness...is she?

[The Bid]

Sadly I dont think Tberg is going to get a break. Looks like hes going to run in the Preakness. Probably would have made sense to not run in the Derby and take a shot in the Preakness.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Sadly I dont think Tberg is going to get a break. Looks like hes going to run in the Preakness. Probably would have made sense to not run in the Derby and take a shot in the Preakness.

Didn't you say that he was one of the 4 best horses in the Derby?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Sadly I dont think Tberg is going to get a break. Looks like hes going to run in the Preakness. Probably would have made sense to not run in the Derby and take a shot in the Preakness.

I actually don't think he needs a break. He's not running too much in my opinion. I actually don't even have a problem with where he's been placed in this year. He won the Southwest and earned a shot at the Blue Grass. But I thought the result of that race was very clear that he shouldn't have been in the Derby. And the result of the Derby should make it crystal clear that he shouldn't be in the Preakness.

[King Glorious]

Just looking over something and I noticed something that struck me as interesting. Should Hard Spun and Curlin run back in the Preakness? I don't think so. Not because I don't think they can both run well but at what long term cost to the horses? I feel that once u lose the Derby, especially if u run 2nd or 3rd, there is no incentive to come back in the Preakness or Belmont. Consider these horses that have run 2-3 in the Derby and come back in one of the other TC races and how they have fared recently:

2006
Bluegrass Cat (2nd...Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Steppenwolfer (3rd....Belmont)......I believe was knocked out for the rest of the year.

2005
Closing Argument (2nd...Preakness)....I don't think he's ever raced again.
Afleet Alex (3rd...Preakness/Belmont).........never raced again.

2004
Lion Heart (2nd...Preakness)........didn't make it past the summer.
Imperialism (3rd....Preakness)....continued on with his career.

2003
Empire Maker (2nd....Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Peace Rules (3rd...Preakness).....continued on with his career.

So over the last four years, u have eight horses/
-three never raced again that year (37.5%)
-three more raced again but didn't make it past the summer (37.5%)
-two continued racing and even went into the next year (25%)

Is there something to this? Maybe, maybe not. I realize it's a very small sample size but it's still worth noting.

Also, it's a different game now. There are many huge purses out there after the TC now. U have the WV Derby, the Super Derby, the Travers, the Penn Derby, the Haskell, the Jim Dandy. The way the game is now, TC race winners are hardly around after the TC races anymore so these races become a lot easier to win than they were when the best horses of the TC were racing in them. Is it worth it to ask your horse to peak for the Derby and then ask him to come back and do it again two weeks later? I'm not so sure with today's horses and training.

[ultracapper]

a couple of those that didn't race or cut their career short could have continued on with some patience if the breeding shed wasn't so lucrative. the connections of a horse like empire maker were just waiting for any excuse to retire him to stud. a hangnail would have sent him to the shad.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

2006
Bluegrass Cat (2nd...Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Steppenwolfer (3rd....Belmont)......I believe was knocked out for the rest of the year.

2005
Closing Argument (2nd...Preakness)....I don't think he's ever raced again.
Afleet Alex (3rd...Preakness/Belmont).........never raced again.

2004
Lion Heart (2nd...Preakness)........didn't make it past the summer.
Imperialism (3rd....Preakness)....continued on with his career.

2003
Empire Maker (2nd....Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Peace Rules (3rd...Preakness).....continued on with his career.

So over the last four years, u have eight horses/
-three never raced again that year (37.5%)
-three more raced again but didn't make it past the summer (37.5%)
-two continued racing and even went into the next year (25%)

KG,

I don't what you can conclude... Bluegrass Cat was less than sound all along. Afleet Alex sustained a fracture in the Preakness incident. Empire Maker nursed a bad hoof much of his career.

Closing Argument barely even made it to the Derby having been kept together with spit and glue by McLaughlin. I'm sure if KMc had it to do over again, he'd have passed the Preakness.

But honestly, isn't the idea is to race 'em while you got 'em? They're just as liable to have their careers ended any morning training, or in their stalls any time, as in a race. Agree the stress adds to the scenarios, but they aren't developed to be museum displays.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Just looking over something and I noticed something that struck me as interesting. Should Hard Spun and Curlin run back in the Preakness? I don't think so. Not because I don't think they can both run well but at what long term cost to the horses? I feel that once u lose the Derby, especially if u run 2nd or 3rd, there is no incentive to come back in the Preakness or Belmont. Consider these horses that have run 2-3 in the Derby and come back in one of the other TC races and how they have fared recently:

2006
Bluegrass Cat (2nd...Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Steppenwolfer (3rd....Belmont)......I believe was knocked out for the rest of the year.

2005
Closing Argument (2nd...Preakness)....I don't think he's ever raced again.
Afleet Alex (3rd...Preakness/Belmont).........never raced again.

2004
Lion Heart (2nd...Preakness)........didn't make it past the summer.
Imperialism (3rd....Preakness)....continued on with his career.

2003
Empire Maker (2nd....Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Peace Rules (3rd...Preakness).....continued on with his career.

So over the last four years, u have eight horses/
-three never raced again that year (37.5%)
-three more raced again but didn't make it past the summer (37.5%)
-two continued racing and even went into the next year (25%)

Is there something to this? Maybe, maybe not. I realize it's a very small sample size but it's still worth noting.

Also, it's a different game now. There are many huge purses out there after the TC now. U have the WV Derby, the Super Derby, the Travers, the Penn Derby, the Haskell, the Jim Dandy. The way the game is now, TC race winners are hardly around after the TC races anymore so these races become a lot easier to win than they were when the best horses of the TC were racing in them. Is it worth it to ask your horse to peak for the Derby and then ask him to come back and do it again two weeks later? I'm not so sure with today's horses and training.

you also have to take into consideration which of these horses were desirable for stud duty, both by owners, or potential future owners....