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#1
05-07-2007, 01:48 AM
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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.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020) Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine 
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#2
05-07-2007, 02:02 AM
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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.
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#3
05-07-2007, 04:24 AM
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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.
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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#4
05-07-2007, 04:40 AM
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Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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#5
05-07-2007, 07:23 AM
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Yeah, I think hes a very nice horse. Im saying if they knew there were going to the Preakness all along they could have freshened him and had a legitiment shot. Rather than get drilled, and bring him back.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g
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#7
05-07-2007, 01:00 PM
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Hybrid Mode
