News and Notes - Sept 2

- That was quite a disappointing effort by Brother Derek at Del Mar on Saturday. Especially to anyone who had him at 2-5. 2-5! Nick had Cindago and he wrote of the beaten favorite: route speed and a heavy headed horses are going to get hung out to dry in a mile and he did. This was confirmed by the chart caller, who wrote that he tugged his rider along three deep on the first turn. In truth, it looked like he was closer to being four wide. And he had a similar problem in the Derby and Preakness, not being quite fast enough to get a lead, and getting hung out wide on the turn. It's almost like he's a speed horse who's not that speedy; at least in the first half mile.

You have to feel for Dan Hendricks, whose fall from grace with this horse has come rather quickly, and you know a trainer is searching for answers when he gives the standard line of "We're going to scope him to see if there's any blood." [Bloodhorse] (I imagine we'll be hearing that about Flower Alley too.)

It was quite an eventful stretch run for Bob and John. He first bore in, and actually gave Cindago a nice little bump. I suppose it was no big deal, but I wonder if there would have been a look-see by the stewards had Baffert's horses won. Espinoza hit him right-handed just before the bump. After he straightened out, he continued with the right hand with no ill effect. But he still trailed, so Espinoza went to the left hand, and that's when he bore out. I disagree that it cost him the race. I don't think he would have caught Cindago anyway; he was behind when he bore out, and I don't see him gaining at the end when I watch the replay.

Nick had to be thinking he was a loser at the top of the stretch; I was thinking that we were finally going to see the Bob and John I thought we'd see on Derby day, when I had him. Cindago was making his first start since the day after Xmas, and went from maiden winner to stakes winner.

- Check this out: Showing Up is going to take on older horses in the mile and three eights Grade 1 Man O'War at Belmont next Saturday. Among those pointing to the race are Cacique, Cosmonaut, Go Deputy, Musketier, Ramazutti, and Relaxed Gesture. Silver Whistle and Sky Conqueror are possible. [Daily Racing Form]