Preakness Thoughts

The above horse is by Sunday Break (Forty Niner)--Regal Classic.  Looks the part, eh?  Regal Classic one of my favorite horses, and Forty Niner certainly was game and has sired some stout one's.  This is Ponzi Scheme that just won a $150,000 stakes race at Monmouth and was bought as a yearling for $3500.00.  Let's recall that the Derby winner sold for $11,000 as a yearling, equivalent, likely to $5000.00 when I got into the game in the mid 1980s.  It is/was any easy game in terms of buying the horse.  Wondering how the reduced foal crops will affect, and also, of course, the baying hounds with the deep pockets trying to shrink the game for themselves (see Barry Irwin).

As to the Preakness, Gemologist--report was hoof problem.  Abscess, bruise, who knows.  It happens.  However, color myself (highly) skeptical.  When a horse does run the first 6f then backs up 6f this is sign of something other than a hoof.  And then we have Todd Plecher's (horrendous) injury record. Educated guess that Gemologist has more problems than a hoof.  I'm still trying to fathom Super Saver winning the Derby for Plecher, an e.g. possibly of horses outrunning their training.

And, they're declining to work I'll Have Another purportedly on the advice of Jack Van Berg.  That's it.  Read Preston Burch's book, kind of, sort of, adopt the training, and then forget all about it and take the advice of a pure conventional trainer such as Jack Van Berg.  Doug O'Neill is obviously a smart educated fellow.  He sounds like he has a higher IQ than yours truly.  Go figure.

At any rate, the way they gallop I'll Have Another one can understand the lack of a formal breeze.  Let's mark it down though.  These trainers that we have typically can prepare a performance.  It's in keeping it going after that first win that they always seem to back off from what got 'em there.  Will see about IHA.

Training the week into the race is very important to performance.  Preakness is putting out daily barn notes.  Intend to have a look and some conclusions, next week.

Sat training:
55 minutes  3.25 miles Av. speed 3.5 mph Top Speed 3.7 mph Heart Rate 92. Weather related soreness in injured area today.