Originally Posted by
str
I went through the race and here is what I see early on.
1. Arcangelo -Scratched but allow me a plug please. Last horse that ever beat Arcangelo was... wait for it.... Kingsbarns !
2. Zandon- Very consistent and has always been passing horses from the 3/8ths pole to the 1/8th pole. No reason to think that does not continue.
3. White Abarrio- His last race is what this is all about. He was a different horse. The question is, was that just a perfect day for him somehow or has he taken the next step with the new connections? We won't know until it's too late but we have to take a side and
I take great pleasure in saying I will watch the entire race run but my eyes will never stray far from this horse.
If you look at his form, he is the classic, great effort, flat effort horse. I used to call those every other race horses. It is a tremendous angle to find prices when coming off a bad effort as well as throwing favorites without a second thought.
You see it more in mares than in the boys but you do see it in both. Nothing better than throwing out a horse off a big race. And I have been doing that forever. But because of the trainer change and two solid efforts back to back making it three straight, you find yourself at a crossroad.
He runs great, Or, he runs flat. I won't be shocked if either one happens. But if he ever has a chance to get out of that pattern and start stringing big efforts in a row, this is the time.
Ricky has done absolutely everything you can do to have this horse sitting on ready. And I am sure he is. But will that every other race pattern show up? That is all up to the horse. My money will say no whereas it might normally say yes and I would fish for some big prices. But not this time. My personnel feelings towards that family allows me to see it only one way. Those feelings run about as deep as they can be.
When I left home in D.C. for the track I left everything behind. Sports, my girlfriend who became my wife 7 years later, all my friends, parties,... everything.
The Dutrow family, once they got to know me and I them, basically became my 2nd family. Heck, I lived with them for a short while. Everything I learned about horses until the day I became a trainer , I learned from Dickie, the boys, and those barns. There mom was so darn kind to me. I love her to death.
So I look at this race from an odd spot. But now you folks can see both sides of how I might size this horse up if it was just another race.
4.Missed The Cut- Seems a cut below these but his last race was a nice one, albeit at 3-5 odds.
5. Derma Sotogake- I'm right back to where I was at the Derby. Who knows? Not me. The Derby was a disaster for him at the gate if I'm not mistaken. I have nothing that gives me reason to think that won't happen again. I know he ran big figures and Beyer liked him in the Derby. I assume, maybe they like him this time as well but for me, with nothing to really go on, I don't see any path towards saying I like him. Honestly, I just don't know.
6. Saudi Crown- Nice speed, nice horse. If form holds he will be up front with Arabian Knight. Do they try and slow things down or run too fast early and change the whole race ? No clue, but I can't say that I could use this horse assuming Arabian Knight and he tangle early and middle.
7. Clapton- Don't know about the horse but LOVE the name !Looks like he is a cut below the best ones in here but maybe he has had some Strange Brew, in a White Room, and is looking to Change The World. This one has me at a Crossroads for using on the bottom of the tickets.
8. Ushba Tesoro- I honestly have no idea. Can't imagine I use him especially if he is bet.
9. Senor Buscador- I cannot see him winning and with only 2 thirds and zero 2nds in 14 starts, he will not be on my tickets in all probability.
10.Dreamlike- He is worth a second look. Seems to be getting better . I'll continue to look at this one . Seems eligible to get a share in here on a top effort.
11. Bright future- I will need to look more at this Pletcher horse as well. Both he and the ten I will need to do a little work on before commenting in full.
12. Arabian Knight- Speed, what I see as a favorable post being he has a long run to the clubhouse turn. He will dictate the pace. I do wonder if the same race setup occurs for him as it did at Monmouth where he had to lay just off the lead in second early, and if that will compromise him as it looks like it did back in July. Bob doesn't like laying 2nd so a hot pace could certainly happen. I think that is more up to Saudi Crown though. more later on this one.
13. Proxy- Hard trying horse that should be somewhat of a price. I will learn more about this one as the week goes on and make more of a commitment, or not.
Hope that helps for the early thoughts Mr. GandT.