Wed. Derby

Plecher's horses off the van.  The usual stall bunnies.  One wonders how Plecher ever wins a race--until we look at the competition.  Cascading close to rant.  Stifle.

Closer look at I'll Have Another--here's the handicapping scoop:

http://www.drf.com/horse/ill-have-another

This horse looks to be a larger slightly longer backed Rolling Rod.  Strength and size (Arch broodmares) is identical.

The "experts" r going to pass. Lol.  Now, let's be clear, can u 2 min gallop a horse every day and do anything except create an injury or developing injury?  By my experience unable to get away with this, and we leave it to the likes of Doug O'Neil, who I'd guess has absolutely zero experience with this sort of worker.  I am other than into vilifying O'Neil as with regard to his normal methods he's in plentiful company.  We do have to observe this trainer has the highest injury rate of any trainer I looked at, and so, in the vid above, the injury concern is legit, although the flashes show a sound horse at this point.  We also factor this in with Arch broodmare horses, of which I have a little experience, if there are any legs to stand this sort of workout, the Arch would be it.  Comparing all my horses I'd say Rodney's legs are at least 30% more stout than my next stoutest horse, whoever that was.

If the horse goes sound into the race, I'd say watch out.  You pay attention to that thus far low Beyer except you see IHA win his races without being pushed.  That horse is capable of an explosion due to his build--take it on good word--he's likely highly competitive as Rodney developed, and he's likely the fittest horse in the race.  Interesting work and race tab for an O'Neill trainee here:

http://www1.drf.com/workoutsForHorseAction.do?rNo=09012692

and so, in addition to likely being the fittest horse in the race (we'll see what O'Neil does Wed to Derby), IHA is the strongest, and inmo most likely (from what I have looked at so far) the one to run down the "perfectly handled" Bodemeister.

In other news--Union Rags today with a tongue tie for the first time.  Bled in his work possibly or showed another type of breathing problem that the tongue would be designed to correct. Only possible reason to intro that equipment at this time as horses initially fight the tie.

The Hollendorfer horse shows usual Hollendorfer training, that is/was (they're catching up) superior to most, and likely also the typical Hollendorfer obliviousness. Avoid.

We cross off the entire contingent from Florida for many reasons, and also note that their trainers chose to avoid training Fri. to Thurs., good grief.

Have yet to look at the Asmussen horses.  Better do that.  Lukas's Optimizer looks like a splendid horse at the glance.  Why is Lukas unable to compete these days?  I can only surmise that 1980s-90s training fails to cut it these days.