Feb
4
Quick Thoughts
Filed Under Uncategorized
Quick thoughts on Saturday’s coast-to-coast racing:
Really liked the way RAVEL won the Sham Stakes, going 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.4, just a tick slower than 4-year-old ARSON SQUAD’s winning time in the Strub. RAVEL is a $950,000 son of Fusaichi Pegasus that has won both of his route races on the West Coast for Pletcher/McCarthy. He might be a serious Derby contender if he keeps moving forward.
SWEET RETURN ended a long losing streak by wiring his foes in the Thunder Road. He got things his own way and dug in gamely when it looked like BAYEUX was going by. By the way, what was Garrett Gomez doing on favorite CHARMO, moving way prematurely to press the winner into the far turn. I know ‘RETURN was walking on the front end but the leading reinsman completely took CHARMO out of his game.
ARSON SQUAD got the best trip and took the Strub against a very ordinary group of 4-year-olds. BROTHER DEREK again was well-bet but had no excuse when finishing in a photo for second, and MIDNIGHT LUTE flattened out after a wide trip. He doesn’t want to run nine furlongs. LAVA MAN has absolutely nothing to worry about if anything from this group is heading to the Big Cap.
Gomez won three, Gryder two. Trainer Doug O’Neill had two wins with cheapies but finished second in the big ones (LIQUIDITY and SPRING AT LAST).
At Gulfstream Park, INVASOR was awesome winning the Donn, overcoming traffic trouble and getting stopped at the top of stretch before rallying strongly along the rail to blow away his overmatched competition. He is one nice racehorse.
NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ won as expected in the Holy Bull but he still has a tendency to lug in through the lane. Shouldn’t he have outgrown that habit by now? This grand-looking colt looks the part but is his lugging in more than just a bad habit?
First post at 11:00 a.m. for Super Bowl Sunday card.
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