I have always like Mucho Macho Man. And I also have a lot of respect for Ms. Ritvo, but I try and keep my picks consistent from year to year.

To me, Mucho Macho Man looks a lot like Fort Larned last year. Actually, Fort Larned had many more wins last year, but just two G1 wins like Mucho Macho Man, and he did not win champion older male.

So, while he bested Game On Dude in one race, it was just one race - and while the competition in this one race was superior to the competition which Game On Dude may have faced in his other races all year, Game On Dude did put a six race schedule together where he was 3 for 4 in G1 races whereas as MMM was just 2 for 3. Plus, I do not believe that the caliber of Game On Dude's competition was that much worse than what Much Macho Man faced in his other efforts as some have suggested.

God was sharing the wealth.

And he had the last laugh on Blame by giving Zenyatta Horse of the Year.

Quote from: Dave in TJ Mex on November 07, 2013, 05:11:32 PM

Quote from: Vic in Chicago on November 07, 2013, 01:10:48 PM

Quote from: Dave in TJ Mex on November 07, 2013, 12:15:14 AM

What they show is that GOD is nowhere as consistent, solid, or tough-minded as lots of us thought he was.

Dave...please leave your personal religious beliefs out of this.  This is a horse-racing board.   

Given my advanced age and the fact I will one day meet my maker, I hope that God, the creator of the Universe, does not monitor my posts on this Board!   

If God does happen to monitor our posts, I am certain she has a sense of humor.

Just to carry that a step further...if you enjoy The Daily Show you may also enjoy his former head writer and producer David Javerbaum's The Tweet of God...following up on his The Last Testament A Memoir by God.

https://twitter.com/TheTweetOfGod

Very happy.

Another excuse to head to the race track if she runs at all this year in NY.

duplicate post

Quote from: Zenyatta on November 05, 2013, 08:24:22 PM
Considering he retired sound, Orb's connections must have weighed his lackluster efforts of late against the probability of getting another G1 win (I would have entered him in the Clark), and decided to simply retire him and not risk his stallion value.

A good possibility. The Clark is an interesting choice since that was the scene of his last win. I liked the Cigar Mile because I hope to be there.

Glad you all enjoyed. A gift from the Mrs. who sent me an e-mail with the Bloodhorse headline in the subject heading and I thought...what? (SMILE)

Quote from: Islandgirl45 on November 05, 2013, 09:10:00 AM
I read one article in which Baffert said he knew GoD was in trouble when they were going too fast on the backstretch, yet isn't GoD's signature a high cruising speed?
It seems as if he just doesn't like to be challenged by another horse, and he folds if that happens.

Yes. I thought this was strange.

If you look at the fractions he has one with before where he has been on the lead - these fractions did not appear too quick.

I used to think that Game On Dude was challenged if the splits were faster than 24 second furlongs, but his Santa Anita Derby this year and his 2011 one suggest that's false.

Here are his splits from past Santa Anita Handicaps he won and this year's BC Classic.

2011 - Final time - 1:59.47

22.95, 46.73, 1;10.73, 1:34.80

2013 Final Time - 2:00.14

23.64, 47.19 (in front by 2 1/2 lengths after a half-mile), 1:10.97, 1:35.24

2013 BC Classic Final Time - 2:00.72

23.39, 46.36, 1:10.23, 1:34.84

This year's Classic was a touch faster than those other efforts where he won the races. But the final time was a half to a full second more. And he was not on the lead.

I still think the notion of getting the horse to rate in training screwed up his effort.

This and Mr. Baffert indicating that he needed a clear view and Mr. Smith had him behind horses.

If this is what the Catholic Church is doing with my money now, I think I am going to increase my giving.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/81896/pope-purchases-groupie-doll-for-31m

Quote from: Islandgirl45 on November 05, 2013, 08:47:00 AM
They said he's retiring sound. Have to wonder if Shug didn't think Orb would do that well in the Cigar Mile. Seems like this definitely moves up WTC's contention for best 3-year-old.

Well, I am glad he is retiring sound.

He did just have a work last week where he went 5 furlongs in 59.12 which one would think is right on the money for what he usually does in training.

I was looking forward to seeing him in the Cigar Mile.

Will look forward to seeing him at stud.

Quote from: Ballerina on November 02, 2013, 07:37:10 PM
I don't get it.  I just don't get it.  Game on Dude was touted as a monster, a shoe-in for HOY, bitter fans because he didn't win HOY last year.  He loses a race, and instantaneously he's a bum.  Why is it people build pedestals for what they want to be their heroes and then kick it out from inunder them when they prove to be imperfect?@!  One day you're a star; the next day it gets ripped off the door.

I just don't get it.

Exactly.

He showed up in tough races.

Ron The Greek was coming off his career high Beyer Speed Figure of 115 in his Sunshine Millions victory and he was bested by Game On Dude.

In this year's Charles Town Classic he faced the previous year's winner Caixa Eletronica and Ron The Greek again and bested him.

He also won in the Pacific Classic impressively this year after missing it two previous years.

Mr. Baffert said before the race that Game On Dude needed to have no one immediately in front of him and Mike Smith did not follow those instructions. I think he should have been allowed to go to the lead. He was not. He was held back. In training it appeared that they were trying to get him to rate during the works - working with other horses - but Jerry Bailey said if you take a horse out of his natural comfort zone sometimes you do not get the best result. The connections over thought the race and paid the price.

Personally, I did not think Game On Dude would win because I thought he needed a race before the Classic like the Awesome Again. I would have skipped the Pacific Classic rather than the Awesome Again.

Then again, so many stellar performances by him throughout the year might have taken their toll.

And there is likely a reason why no six year old horse or older has ever won the Classic...but it does not mean that the six year olds competing were not quality horses.

There is no route horse this year who had a more dominant season in the US. He is a deserving Older Male Eclipse Award winner.

You  and me both.

What a shame.

Did they mention that he suffered an injury in training or something?

Heck, they were moving toward the Cigar Mile - if healthy why not run in it and retire?

I guess this cements the three year old eclipse.

My feelings are starting to waffle a little bit on champion three year old filly.

The three year old fillies this year were very strong.

Granted Beholder won twice against older horses and those races included a number of the best Eastern horses in them.

However, Princess of Sylmar had the top three year old filly in the bag when her connections chose to race her in the championship race which made that race one of the stronger ones at the BC this year. Is she to be penalized by this?

And the races that POS won are among the most prestigious in the country.

Though, it was a championship race. What is a championship race if it does not stand for the championship among two equally matched horses in every other respect.

And Beholder traveled out East to Churchill and Princess traveled out West to the BC.

Beholder finished second in the Kentucky Oaks - but POS finished last in the Distaff.

So its a very tough call.   

They are both very deserving.   

Well, I got second. Congrats to Fiorente and his connections.

As stated in the Eclipse thread - its Dan all the way.