Quote from: stark on January 22, 2018, 08:41:54 AM
Just FYI.....BOLT has his own twitter account.

https://twitter.com/theboltshow

Well, I'm happy that Shelbe's life has again found meaning since I'm guessing that public stable of hers hasn't taken off. If she needs help, maybe their number one jock, Gary Stevens, can lend a hand on the dark days at Oaklawn.😉

Quote from: Raven on January 20, 2018, 07:06:36 AM
No Mourinho on any body's radar yet?

He looked good Monday, but then again he had a Lone F trip on a speed favoring track. I'll reserve judgement until I see him finish after facing some heat. It does make Greyvitos's injury lamentable though.

Quote from: stark on January 17, 2018, 10:18:26 AM
From DRF Jan 4th, never did see any update.

Bolt D'Oro will resume galloping this week after recovering from a pulled muscle that interrupted his training and ultimately postponed his 2018 debut.

Among the leading prospects for the 2018 Kentucky Derby, Bolt D'Oro underwent a nuclear scan this week that came back clean late Wednesday.

However, owner-trainer Mick Ruis said he will not make his first start of the season as scheduled Feb. 10 in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.

Full story will be posted soon at drf.com.



http://live.drf.com/nuggets/39907-bolt-d-oro-recovers-from-pulled-muscle-will-miss-san-vicente

Yeah, I had heard that and also that now the target is the San Felipe for the first race this year.  I'm not sold on Mick Ruis as a trainer yet, especially if he has to hit a curve ball which is what I'd consider the pulled muscle to be.  Nor does C Nak have a great record in the Classics.  I do think Bolt D'Oro is one of the top 12 though.  Until I see he has clearly been surpassed by the others, I'd put him in the top 3. 

I know Bolt D'Oro missed some training recently. Did I miss an announcement that he's out?  Seems that barn went from giving updates in great detail to saying almost nothing.

Ipray in the DMR opener this afternoon. After some tough beats the first couple of days, she sounds appropriately named.😉

Quote from: stark on July 19, 2017, 05:50:41 PM
Dead freakin last, complete mystery.
But he was bet down to a reasonable 7/1 so I wasn't alone tearing up tickets.

I had Grazen Sky last year on Opening Day, a race in which Karma King finished second.  Now Grazen Sky would have beat that field today for fun, so it wasn't the worst shot in the world.  Of my two baseball themed Del Mar specialists, Pedro Cerrano is probably still running, while Preacher Roe got beat a zop after running on the lead throughout on that heavy track.  If Ol' Preacher was gonna get beat, I was hoping he'd drop right out of it so maybe I'd get some odds next time.  Look out for Buymeabond, tomorrow.  He likes Del Mar too.

Quote from: afleetphil on July 06, 2017, 02:04:46 PM
Sad. I believe he is the last son of Secretariat.
Tinners Way   1990 - 2017 RIP
He was quite a race horse.

I think he was the last Secretariat foal of either gender. There aren't too many Secretariat's left.

Just like with Awesome Gem, I'm glad they didn't drop him down and instead decided to do something else with him.

There is a horse like this almost every year. Because he comes on late and picks up some pieces passing tired horses, people are convinced he'll love more distance. I think he's a one-turn horse whose max is 8f.  I suspect though he'll be in the gate for either the Haskell or the Travers, if not both. I think he'd be dangerous in the King's Bishop or whatever it's called now.

When I clicked on this thread, I expected to hear Dan Fogelberg. Good luck to all and may they all come back able to compete another day.

Quote from: Raven on April 12, 2017, 05:02:04 PM
My top three

Practical Joke
Irish War Cry
Classic Empire

I think your top pick is a great hunch bet based on the quality, thus far exhibited, of this crop.

Quote from: Man o Taz on April 12, 2017, 09:34:40 AM
1. McCraken (Ghostzapper by Awesome Again by Deputy Minister by Vice Regent by Northern Dancer and Ivory Empress by Seeking the Gold by Mr. Prospector)  30
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
3rd Blue Grass Stakes, 9 furlongs
Sam F. Davis, 8 furlongs
Kentucky Jockey Club, 8.5 furlongs 10 
Street Sense, 8 furlongs

I know he finished 3rd, but he needed the race. I think unless Classic Empire wins the Arkansas Derby very impressively, he is my top Derby horse.

2. Irish War Cry (Curlin by Smart Strike and Irish Sovereign by Polish Numbers by Danzig) 110
Trainer: H. Graham Motion
Marylander Stakes, 7 furlongs
Holy Bull, 8.5 furlongs
8th Fountain of Youth, 8.5 furlongs
Wood Memorial, 9 furlongs

I toss out the FOY. He bounced off the big performance in the Holy Bull. I expected a big performance next out and I got it.

3. Classic Empire (Pioneer of the Nile by Empire Maker and Sambuca Classic by Cat Thief by Storm Cat) 32
Next Race: Arkansas Derby, 9 furlongs
Trainer: Mark Casse
G3 Bashford Manor,  6 furlongs
G1 Breeders Futurity, 8.5 furlongs 10
BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 20
3rd G2 Holy Bull, 8.5 furlongs2

We shall see how much he has recovered temperament, etc. If he finishes a close 2nd he stays here.

4. Gormley (Malibu Moon by A.P. Indy and Race To Urca by Bernstein by Storm Cat) 128
Next Race:
Trainer: John Shirreffs
G1 Frontrunner Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 10
G3 Sham Stakes, 8 furlongs 10
4th G2 San Felipe, 8.5 furlongs 4

5. Always Dreaming (Bodemeister by Empire Maker and In Excess by Siberian Express) 100
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Florida Derby, 9 furlongs

6. Gunnevera (Dialed In by Mineshaft by A.P. Indy and Unbirdled Rage by Unbridled) 84
Next Race: Fountain of Youth
Trainer: Anthony Sano
G3 Delta Jackpot Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 10
2nd G2 Holy Bull, 8.5 furlongs 4
G2 Fountain of Youth, 8.5 furlongs 50
3rd Florida Derby, 9 furlongs

He bounced.

6. Malagacy (Shackleford by Forestry by Strom Cat and Classiest Gem by Dehere by Deputy Minister) 50
Next race: Arkansas Derby?, 9 furlongs
Rebel Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 50

Not as good as Always Dreaming, but still a gamer/

7. Practical Joke (Into Mischief by Harlan's Holiday and by Halo Humor by Distorted Humor) 74
Trainer: Chad Brown
G1 Hopeful, 7 furlongs
G1 Champagne, 8 furlongs 10
3rd BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 4
2nd Fountain of Youth, 20
2nd Blue Grass Stakes, 9 furlongs 40

8. J. Boys Echo (Mineshaft by A.P. Indy and Letgomyecho by Menifee by Harlan by Storm Cat) 53
Next Race: 4th Bluegrass Stakes, 9 furlongs
Trainer: Dale Romans
4th Delta Downs Jackpot, 8.5 furlongs 1
3rd G3 Withers Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 2
Gotham Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 50

9. Royal Mo (Uncle Mo and Royal Irish Lass by Saint Ballado by by Halo by Hail To Reason) 10
Next race: Sunland Derby?
Robert B. Lewis Stakes, 8.5 furlongs  10
8th Rebel Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
3rd Santa Anita Derby, 9 furlongs

So I know a Baker's Dozen is 13.  Is a Derby Dozen 10 with two 6's?

Quote from: stark on April 03, 2017, 09:39:18 AM
Our newest member, CatherineC

Nobody bites, its safe to dip your toe in waters here, looking forward to your maiden breaking post, enjoy!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been known to bite but I have had all my shots.😉

Quote from: afleetphil on March 28, 2017, 09:42:06 AM
I may get torched here but here goes. Afleet Alex would have given Arrogate a run for his money in my opinion. He doesn't get the credit he deserves.

It's just an opinion, you shouldn't be torched or taken to the woodshed for it.  While I do think Afleet Alex was a top three-year old, I don't think his best gets close enough to Arrogate to bother him.  Afleet Alex is underrated, to me, because his two classic wins didn't include the Derby--which was won by a huge long shot. Not that it's fair, but it is what it is.  Alex's Preakness ranks with Alysheba's Derby, for me, as one of the more courageous wins I've seen.  I've believed for awhile now, that Arrogate is on another plane from the best of the last many, many years.  Which is why I advocated for him to win Horse of the Year in 2016 in spite of a truncated campaign and an excellent campaign by Chromie.  Multi-generational greats are rare as the adjective suggests.  You had Man O' War in the late teens of the 20th Century, Citation in the late '40's-early '50's (the '47-'48 model is the special one, he wasn't the same in '50-'51 after the injury though he gets points for surviving the training of the Jones boys), Secretariat in the early '70's and now, in my opinion, Arrogate is showing evidence he very well could be considered that kind.  I need a few years to gain perspective after he retires but he shows the signs that he very well could be that kind of horse. 

I think that they're pretty closed minded about Arrogate's future. They want to win another BCC. I think if the Pegasus is officially announced to move to Santa Anita and lengthened to 10f, that would be doable. Dubai would be out because it would keep him from another breeding season.

And yes I remember most all of Charlie's witticisms--including that about mushrooms and owners. I'm confidant enough that if Baffert detects any mold on the strawberries, he'll pull the plug.