I always find it exceedingly amusing watching people knock themselves out looking for reasons NOT to support a horse for the Derby. Whatever BS what if they can invent ...

Memo to those who do that in regards to California Chrome ... if you've got to try so hard to find reasons not to back him ... you, in reality, know he's the one. If he weren't, you wouldn't have to work so hard to make him a "play against".

I've not seen it here ... but I have elsewhere.

And those vaulting Danza ahead of him off his last race alone are REALLY stretching. Cali Chrome has romped in hand rides 4 straight. Danza has done practically nothing in comparison.

Back to back 108 and 107 in hand rides ... not too shabby for a young 3 year old!

Quote from: Senator L on April 06, 2014, 07:42:55 AM
Thanks for sharing your pics and stories. 107 beyer
Wow what a race

You're welcome Senator ... and thanks for the Beyer update! I was actually thinking 106 ... so pretty close! 


(I need to make a signature noting that Dance With Gable and The Tin Man are one and the same)

I see the order of finish being ...

Cali Chrome
Rprettyboyfloyd
Candy Boy

Cali Chrome Day! Bring your purple and see you in the winner's circle!

Can't imagine his not winning if he runs even halfway decently.

I only saw Bayern and Indianapolis as serious threats to him and since they're not here, he should get this.

(Dance With Gable aka The Tin Man)

Are there any Derby points awarded for this race or is Kobe's Back officially off the Derby trail?

You go Stevie Baby!!!

Too bad he's obviously got concerns as to whether Bayern is headed there and Indianapolis definitely isn't ... or SoCal may have had his Top 5 slots ... As I, personally, think they're better than Candy Boy and Hoppertunity.

But I'm happy with the Top 3. 

I, personally, would love to see him try once more in SoCal ... but that's just me being greedy.

Then, if it doesn't go well, station on the East Coast again. He really blossomed once he went out there and obviously, thus far, prefers that circuit.

Baffert better watch out ... he's one of the most frequent druggers of all.

You know for whom I'll be pulling Taz!   

Quote from: Man o Taz on March 18, 2014, 08:43:06 AM
Well, we know what Steve Haskin is going to do - the same thing I am - add Hopperunity to my list.

He looked great in the Rebel.

We'll see how he stretches out, but he seemed to want at least 9 furlongs. Haskin's hype was correct. He said all along that this horse was his top horse in Mr. Baffert's barn.

MY top horse in Baffert's barn is Indianapolis ... Derby trail or not ...

So I've gotta disagree with Haskin. 

Quote from: Dusty on March 15, 2014, 06:56:47 PM
What a race - did not think Hoppertunity had the guts - I was wrong

Nice to see our 10th best 3 year old win the big race today! That bodes well for the SoCal 3 year old male crop this year!

But then again ... maybe he's just a good mudder ...

Quote from: BaroqueAgain1 on March 14, 2014, 12:14:30 PM
  I've read that Cali Chrome's trainer has compared him to Swaps. Maybe, to his connections, he's a "junior" Swaps?

Hmmmmmm ... could be. I'll have to see.

Another side note ... His owner loves him very passionately. He's definitely FAR more than just a horse to him. I love that.

Quote from: peeptoad on March 09, 2014, 10:51:35 AM
I thought Dude would either win or be nowhere... did not trust him off that last race, but it looks like the Dude got some of his old mojo back. I like him, and it's nice to see him in the winner's circle again.

My thoughts exactly on every point Peep!

As long as they let him free on the lead and didn't look him in the eye, he had a great shot. Once Hear The Ghost backed off, I knew The Dude had it
IMO, if someone would have run toe to toe with him into the final turn, he would have spit the bit and been off the board.

But they didn't ... so hence the result ... and I'm happy!  The crowd was too! Huge applause for him coming through the stretch and again when Mike brought him by the stands for the crowd.Seems most people understood the import for both The Dude and history.

Quote from: Senator L on March 09, 2014, 09:35:15 AM
0 for 3 for me
Suprised at how dull za approval ran though

You're too tough on your boy.

That was a fantastic field and a blazing time. Za Approval nearly ran his best speed figure ever and only lost by 1 1/2 lengths.

He ran great ... he just ran into a great field that ran a great race.

I know it still doesn't get you paid ... but sometimes you just have to tip your cap to competition.