Thought I'd start a thread for what will probably be the most interesting Gr II of the summer. So far the only two probables listed at HRN are Chrome and Dortmund. I suppose they'll find at least a couple of other horses whose connections will think they are running for third money, but wouldn't it be a kick if this turned out to be a match race?
Dortmund returning from a long layoff has a steady work tab:
07/10/2016 SA 6F 1:13.20 Dirt Fast H G
07/05/2016 SA 6F 1:11.20 Dirt Fast H
06/28/2016 LA 5F :59.80 Dirt Fast H
06/23/2016 LA 5F :59.20 Dirt Fast H
06/18/2016 LA 5F 1:00.60 Dirt Fast H
06/13/2016 LA 4F :48.00 Dirt Fast H
06/08/2016 LA 4F :48.00 Dirt Fast H
06/03/2016 LA 4F :49.60 Dirt Fast H
05/29/2016 LA 3F :37.60 Dirt Fast H
05/24/2016 LA 3F :39.20 Dirt Fast H
Chrome's tab since he returned from the farm:
07/09/2016 LA 8F 1:39.60 Dirt Fast H
07/02/2016 LA 7F 1:26.40 Dirt Fast H
06/25/2016 LA 6F 1:12.40 Dirt Fast H
06/18/2016 LA 6F 1:12.40 Dirt Fast H
06/11/2016 LA 5F 1:01.00 Dirt Fast H
06/04/2016 LA 5F 1:01.40 Dirt Fast H
05/28/2016 LA 4F :48.80 Dirt Fast H
05/21/2016 LA 4F :49.80 Dirt Fast H
05/14/2016 LA 3F :36.20 Dirt Fast H
It wouldn't be a gr.2 without Imperative. That horse of Vlad Cerin, Follow Me Crev, that won the race right before the San Pasqual which was run in almost identical time but with a considerably lower Beyer, might go. Dorf might run someone and Sadler might run Hard Aces if he thinks he needs the race. You're right though, they're probably running for third.
I just hope both CC and Dortzilla run well and set up a really classic PC with Beholder. Any other entries, gravy.
Quote from: Diver52 on July 11, 2016, 10:35:54 PM
I just hope both CC and Dortzilla run well and set up a really classic PC with Beholder. Any other entries, gravy.
I do as well. I'll be arriving for a week in Del Mar early on the afternoon on August 20 and will be staying across the street from the track. My first stop will be Del Mar about 90 minutes before the PC. Bring 'em on!
I will NEVER go to opening day again, but a "girlfriend" and I (we're both far past girlhood!) make the PC trip each year. She's a big fan of CC.
Quote from: Diver52 on July 12, 2016, 09:35:43 AM
I will NEVER go to opening day again, but a "girlfriend" and I (we're both far past girlhood!) make the PC trip each year. She's a big fan of CC.
Growing up and living down that way until 2009, I went to Opening Day almost every year, but I stopped around 2006. It was just too hard to get there and too hard to get out. One year, 2003 I think, my wife, daughter and I went to a family wedding in the Midwest. They stayed for a week, while I had to come back to do some work. I got free just before Opening Day so I got a room and stayed through Saturday--Opening Day was on a Wednesday back then. That was nice as I could wait out the chaos, and then attend the next three normal days after the craziness of the Opener. I've really come to love the Fall Meet. My wife and I fly down the weekend before Thanksgiving and have a great time. The races are over by 4:30 or 5:00 and there is no wait at a restaurant. The weather is nice as well, especially coming from the Seattle area where the weather has turned damp and chilly by then.
Quote from: Diver52 on July 12, 2016, 09:35:43 AM
I will NEVER go to opening day again, but a "girlfriend" and I (we're both far past girlhood!) make the PC trip each year. She's a big fan of CC.
I took the train on opening day from L.A. once. Never again, too many drunk people on board, and Amtrak had no control whatsoever. One guy puked on the arm of the poor man sitting next to me.
It was fun betting my friend Dave as to how many drunk young ladies would fall in their spiky heels during the course of the day.
I will never go to opening day - ever again 0 the place is on OVERLOAD = how they think they can handle the Breeders Cup is beyond me ... it is TOO small =
Quote from: Dusty on July 15, 2016, 11:03:33 PM
I will never go to opening day - ever again 0 the place is on OVERLOAD = how they think they can handle the Breeders Cup is beyond me ... it is TOO small =
I'm baffled by the choice of Del Mar for the BC too. Very small, getting folks shuttled to and from the track will be a nightmare, let alone the bathroom lines, lol! Forget about grabbing a nite there either, for that matter.
Quote from: Dusty on July 15, 2016, 11:03:33 PM
I will never go to opening day - ever again 0 the place is on OVERLOAD = how they think they can handle the Breeders Cup is beyond me ... it is TOO small =
A VERY large percentage of the opening day regulars have absolutely NO idea what the BreedersCup even is, so there will be a completely different kind of crowd, but crowd nonetheless.
As for bathrooms.....well I remember the KyDerby and having to make a choice, stand in line to make a bet or the portapotty, but couldn't do both.
Very little doubt in my mind that Yogi Berra said it best, "nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded".
TVG just put up a list of 'probables' for the San Diego...more horses than I thought might be probable...and a couple names caught my eye; Arrogate and Dalmore.
I thought Baffert was thinking of sending Arrogate back East for one of the sophomore stakes, but if he actually goes here, IMO he might be a bigger threat than Dortzilla. Not literally, of course. ;)
Some of those "probables" are not likely to run, especially after Chrome's excellent work this morning. Here's a fun story that describes Chrome's arrival at Del Mar last Wednesday. He sounds full of vim and vigor, feeling good and the boss of the barn: http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/17083290/california-chrome-brings-shine-del-mar (http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/17083290/california-chrome-brings-shine-del-mar)
Weights for those that might attend...
CALIFORNIA CHROME 126 Art Sherman
DORTMUND 121 Bob Baffert
HOPPERTUNITY 119 Bob Baffert
NYQUIST 119 Doug O'Neill
HARD ACES 118 John Sadler
IMPERATIVE 117 Richard Baltas
VYJACK 117 Philip D' Amato
FOLLOW ME CREV 116 Vladimir Cerin
WIN THE SPACE 116 George Papaprodromou
SOI PHET 115 Leonard Powell
CRITTENDEN 114 E. G. Harty
DALMORE 113 J. Keith Desormeaux
ARROGATE 111 Bob Baffert
Quote from: stark on July 17, 2016, 09:10:20 PM
Weights for those that might attend...
CALIFORNIA CHROME 126 Art Sherman
DORTMUND 121 Bob Baffert
HOPPERTUNITY 119 Bob Baffert
NYQUIST 119 Doug O'Neill
HARD ACES 118 John Sadler
IMPERATIVE 117 Richard Baltas
VYJACK 117 Philip D' Amato
FOLLOW ME CREV 116 Vladimir Cerin
WIN THE SPACE 116 George Papaprodromou
SOI PHET 115 Leonard Powell
CRITTENDEN 114 E. G. Harty
DALMORE 113 J. Keith Desormeaux
ARROGATE 111 Bob Baffert
Well can take Nyquist off the list of course.
Well, that is a nice field even without Firing Line.
A G1 field definitely.
4 G1 winners - 2 multiple - no. 1 ranked dirt horse in the world. Wow.
Am I the only one not impressed with Dortmund's last work? Didn't he come home kind of slow?
that list is just for weight assignments of everybody who was nominated, not all are expected to show up.
Baffert said highly promising up-and-comer Arrogate missed a few days with a minor illness, back training, next start TBD
I would think that counts him definitely out of the San Diego and makes the Jim Dandy or Curlin a more likely target at the earliest.
Heck, if he was seriously considering the San Diego for him, then why not try the Whitney?
Looks like a small field: Dortmund, Crittenden, Follow Me Crev, and Win the Space are the only likely challengers to Chrome.
I hope Dortmund wins.
So wasn't the reason Vyjack scratched from the overnight turf stake on Saturday, they wanted to run him on dirt? I didn't think he would fit an allowance condition--at least one that would fill. It would be fun to see him up here in the LGA Mile.
Entries, post positions and weights:
1 Hard Aces, 115 lbs
2 Dortmund, 121 lbs
3 Soi Phet, 115 lbs
4 Crittenden, 114 lbs
5 Follow Me Crev, 116 lbs
6 California Chrome, 126 lbs
7 Win the Space, 116 lbs
Nice to see Hard Aces in there. Thought he was going in the Sunday race. CA Chrome will trounce these unless Dortmund returns in best form.
TVG showed Dortzilla schooling in the Del Mar paddock earlier and the big chestnut looked good. However, IMHO he didn't look as 'cut' as I would expect for a horse just a few days out from a race.
I'm thinking he may need a race to help get him back in top form, and I suspect that 'Chrome, who has already run a few times this year, will be sharper.
I would expect him to need one... I would love to see him win since that would mean more strength in the "handicap" (older male, whatever) division. We already know Chrome (and a handful of others like Frosted) is good, but some more depth to this division would be nice.
Don't forget Melatonin...:-)
This is going to be a Chrome romp - or a sleeper like Soi Phet or Follow Me Crev surprises - Sorry but I am not seeing Dort rule
Hard Aces will scratch from G2 San Diego on Sat at Del Mar, run Sun in G3 Cougar, per trainer John Sadler.
Quote from: Man o Taz on July 21, 2016, 07:56:20 AM
Don't forget Melatonin...:-)
Dave Hofmans, trainer of
Melatonin, said the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita will start a workout series in preparation for the TVG Pacific Classic "around August 1."
Quote from: stark on July 22, 2016, 08:30:05 AM
Dave Hofmans, trainer of Melatonin, said the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita will start a workout series in preparation for the TVG Pacific Classic "around August 1."
Great, I thought they were going to avoid the really big guns until the fall at Santa Anita. I might have trouble getting some R in the SRO section for the Pacific Classic. Given that there was only 6k there yesterday, though.....maybe not so much. Maybe Harper & Co. need to lower the prices some more.
California Chrome, as expected, back on Lasix for San Diego tomorrow. Field of 5. Hard Aces and Soi Phet scratched for spots Sunday
Quote from: stark on July 22, 2016, 07:24:00 PM
California Chrome, as expected, back on Lasix for San Diego tomorrow. Field of 5. Hard Aces and Soi Phet scratched for spots Sunday
Well....Chrome should romp - HOPE HE DOES
Quote from: Dusty on July 22, 2016, 08:28:10 PM
Well....Chrome should romp - HOPE HE DOES
I think he should too. Perhaps we should take wagers on by how many lengths? I say 6 1/2.
I say 4 = Victor will gear him down
Wow! OK, it was more like 6 1/2 inches. Good time, that final 5/16 must have been FAST!
WHEW! That was a RACE :thumbsup:
Dortmund made it a bit closer than I thought he would after that long layoff. He should improve off this race and, unless 'Chrome also improves, it's possible that Dortzilla could get his Kaiju-sized nose in front next time.
Dang, the Pacific Classic is looking like it could be the best race of the year...until the BC, at least. ;)
It's possible that Stevens and Espinoza will be caught up with each other stalking and Dortzilla could sneak away. Right now my strategy might be to put the pedal to the metal on D. A slowish pace just let CC stay close. But mostly I just hope they both show up in the PC with Beholder. Great race by both.
Both horses were coming off layoffs, although Dortmund's was longer.
Neither horse was geared up 100% for this race.
Chrome was giving Dortmund 5 pounds.
Many think Dortmund is best between 1 mile and 1 1/8ths.
Chrome has been running classic distances and had to shorten up from 1 1/4 to 1 1/16th.
Dortmund did get even with Chrome in the stretch, but Chrome was pulling away at the end which tells me the longer they would have gone, the more Chrome would have won by.
Quote from: Diver52 on July 23, 2016, 11:00:31 PM
It's possible that Stevens and Espinoza will be caught up with each other stalking and Dortzilla could sneak away. Right now my strategy might be to put the pedal to the metal on D. A slowish pace just let CC stay close. But mostly I just hope they both show up in the PC with Beholder. Great race by both.
Dortmund will need to find another rider, because there's no way Stevens is going to opt for him over Beholder.
Quote from: CA_Chrome on July 24, 2016, 05:02:12 AM
Both horses were coming off layoffs, although Dortmund's was longer.
Neither horse was geared up 100% for this race.
Chrome was giving Dortmund 5 pounds.
Many think Dortmund is best between 1 mile and 1 1/8ths.
Chrome has been running classic distances and had to shorten up from 1 1/4 to 1 1/16th.
Dortmund did get even with Chrome in the stretch, but Chrome was pulling away at the end which tells me the longer they would have gone, the more Chrome would have won by.
Completely agree with everything you say. When you look at the final 16th, you can see Dortmund's ears are pinned during the stretch duel while CC is not being pushed as much after the initial "uh-oh, he's not going to cave" moment, when Victor calls for an extra burst from Chrome.
If I were his connections, I'd place Dortmund in the BC Dirt Mile. He'd be hard to beat there. Or if he's lucky he'll draw an outside post like Bayern, take out half the field coming out of the gate, win, and not be taken down. Meow.
Just watched the replay... excellent race by both horses. Chrome the expected winner didn't disappoint and props to Dortmund putting in a great run off the shelf. I agree that, had the race been 10F, Chrome wins by a larger margin. Dort's best might cap out around 9F, but we'll see. He's got room for improvement; hopefully they can keep him healthy.
Let's see if the Dubai Bounce theory can be laid to rest. Between Frosted, Chrome, Lady Shipman, etc... I think it's on the road to being debunked. If a particular horse can run well of a layoff, then there's no real reason why that particular layoff should be an issue.
Quote from: Zenyatta on July 24, 2016, 06:14:42 AM
Dortmund will need to find another rider, because there's no way Stevens is going to opt for him over Beholder.
Has Baffert ever said anything concrete about Dortmund running back in the Pacific Classic? If so, why even use Gary yesterday? He had to know there would be a conflict upcoming. He's usually a little more calculating than that.
California Chrome earned 111 Beyer Figure in thrilling G2 San Diego on Saturday at Del Mar. Dortmund, runner-up by half-length, earned 110.
Quote from: Zenyatta on July 24, 2016, 06:21:48 AM
Completely agree with everything you say. When you look at the final 16th, you can see Dortmund's ears are pinned during the stretch duel while CC is not being pushed as much after the initial "uh-oh, he's not going to cave" moment, when Victor calls for an extra burst from Chrome.
If I were his connections, I'd place Dortmund in the BC Dirt Mile. He'd be hard to beat there. Or if he's lucky he'll draw an outside post like Bayern, take out half the field coming out of the gate, win, and not be taken down. Meow.
Bayern was the best horse that day, but I digress....
With all the left-handed compliments that are being directed at Dortmund, I'm wondering just how many horsepeople are really on here? Don't you guys know that horses are more comfortable being approached from the left with the right hand?😉
Oops, I forgot that Gary rides Beholder! :-[ I also agree he may not want 10 furlongs and CC is comfortable at the distance, but I'm not ready to say he can't turn the tables given his long layoff.
Good question why Baffert used Stevens rather than Bejarano.
Quote from: stark on July 24, 2016, 08:07:40 AM
California Chrome earned 111 Beyer Figure in thrilling G2 San Diego on Saturday at Del Mar. Dortmund, runner-up by half-length, earned 110.
Well deserved high number for these two game horses.
Dortmund really is one BIG horse, small wonder Baffert wanted him to take off 20 lbs prior to this race.
Chrome is already back at his Los Alamitos base: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/213568/chrome-back-to-los-al-after-san-diego-win (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/213568/chrome-back-to-los-al-after-san-diego-win)
The article also says that the final time for the San Diego was 0.84 seconds off the Del Mar track record for 1 1/16 miles.