Sun. Misc.

And so, dust settling after yesterday's Derby preps. Watching those highly entertaining races on streaming video, the thought came again how this sport is just made for the Internet, and maybe the most interesting bet is the over and under on the days/weeks/months/years before racing's business execs begin to fully appreciate. Some rumblings of this already at Twin Spires, but we're still waiting for those first horse racing video adds on ESPN or SI main page--a visually enthralling race with a list of today's pick six pots, perhaps, or a "Let's Go To The Races" game showing a post parade at Gulfstream with a challenge to Sport's Illustrated's jock wanna be's to "pick the winner" by judging the horses by their appearance and warm ups.

So many issues as the sport churns forward. And, way too many for one post.

KEENLAND.

Where the heck did General Quarters come from, and how would yours truly miscalculate so badly? Sticking with my excuse that I glossed over GQ and was careless in the handicapping process. I handicap each bottom feeder against the other and GQ lost to Cliffy in this process based on training. So, with his but 5 breezes for the year, out goes GQ.

But the perils of less than thorough work. Should have looked closer at recent GQ conditioning-- 4 speed works since 3/7, AND-- a :58.1 5f 7 days out. How many times have we seen a good horse ignited by that sort of work. Add to this the subconscious nagged a bit recalling GQ looked good in that Tampa. Should have gone back to watch his win-- pure oversight.

What to expect of GQ in the Derby. My thoughts--very little. Will depend, of course, on handling here out. The history indicates the horse will be lucky to get another work into the Derby. Good horse, great story, but, keeping my money in my wallet on this one.

Horses that did perform to their training:

GQ--as I've revised it.
Hold Me Back-- #2 in most recent speed work. #2 in race. looked weak, as expected, in the stretch.
Massone
Loch Dub--right in the middle of recent speed work--right in the middle of the race.
Cliffy--at bottom,recent speedwork, and last in the race.

Horses that failed to perform to their training:

Theregosjojo--last post, Blue Grass, explains.
Terrain-- only 4 running at the end including him, small deal there.

OAKLAWN

As I'm watching the Blue Grass considering that polytrack seems by leaps and bounds a kinder surface, there's Old Fashioned fracturing a carpal in the Arkansas Derby. Trouble seems to develop around the 4f pole with a deepening head bob, then zero acceleration around the turn. The horse continued gamely and holds together just long enough to dodge the bullet (A-bomb).

In succeeding years:

Barbarao
Rags To Riches fracturing a hind as she crosses the line in the Belmont.
War Pass fracturing his sesamoids after he crosses the line in the Wood.
8 Belles.
Old Fashioned

and now Friesan Fire entered in the Derby off unprecedented 7 week layoff and zero breezing since his last race to 23 days before the Derby, oh my!

Common thread: questionable training in terms of injury prevention. The Oaklawn post here refers to the superior training of Old Fashion. Clarify this to note: the post was put together rapidly and should have distinguished performance training from injury prevention. Big difference!

My blog policy declines comment (except in cases of extreme negligence such as 8 Belles) on horses that might be injured due to their training. Read here and know who's on my list, and including Larry Jones . Nice guy-but there is no explanation of what he's doing with his stock. Is this the sort of "stuff" that needs to be institutionally reigned in?

Papa Clem was described on here 1/17/09 post as "live long shot".

Somebody made a comment, KH, possibly, about the training. Would Papa, suffering from a less than graceful stride and genetic slowness, have stayed ahead of a healthy Old Fashioned? Some evidence in Papa of what can be done with a less talented horse. Congratuations to Stute!

Horses that performed to training:

Papa Clem--#1 in training volume, finished #1.
Old Fashioned
Win Willy
Flying Private--finished same order as recent training--Lukas maybe unhappy with ride, but horse looks injured, weak compared to last race.

Horses that failed to perform to training:

Summer Bird--what can be done possibly when you run your own race separate from the field.
Danger To Society
Captain Cherokee-- bleeding or breathing problem?

Training:
Sat. 4/11 Mud all over the place with 5 of next 7 days scheduled as heavy rain. Great. BUT just enough grass now that on a 2f section we can gallop back and forth and the grass holds together.
Art: about 1 1/4 mile gallop with some short accelerations.
Rod: been awhile for tack work--about 3/4 mile trot-canter.