tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post116040490457791201..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Super Saturday for Henny and PletcherAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1160432418311526782006-10-09T18:20:00.000-04:002006-10-09T18:20:00.000-04:00All East Coast, All The Time, huh??? Sheesh!Let's ...All East Coast, All The Time, huh??? Sheesh!<BR/><BR/>Let's talk about my favorite 2yo (at least while EZ Warrior is out of action), Christopher Paasch's Principle Secret. I walked into the book yesterday with about 15 minutes to post, and lo-and-behold, Principle Secret was 2/1 while Horse Greeley was getting pounded down to even-money. Not that 2/1 is a big price or anything (especially in a two-turn debut), but considering i felt Principle Secret was the best 2yo in training (at least until we get another look @ Nobiz Like Shobiz next weekend), i thought it was a pretty good price. He certainly deserved to be favored over Horse Greeley, i thought. So i made my bet, and was happy to see Principle Secret break well and assume command fromn the rail. I was even happier when i saw Horse Greeley blow the first turn, so much for him. Principle Secret seemed to be moving just fine down the backstretch, ears pricked and well within himself, though looking at the fractions he appeared to be moving a little fast. He was also being pressured a little bit, though i was confident he'd turn them all back. Turning for home, he shook loose and opened up a couple of lengths. Looked like he was on his way to another fine win, when all of a sudden, about mid-stretch, i saw it. You know, "It". That thing we've all seen a million times, when your horse is on the lead but seems to be having trouble changing leads, and you can tell that he's starting to tire. And right then, Stormello, who had broken from the extreme outside but mananged to procure a nice stalking position from 3rd, started coming at him. I looked at his legs, and Stormello had changed leads and was striding out noticeably well. He looked damned determined, also. But Principle Secret had yet to give in, and dug in as best he could. You could tell it was gonna be real close. In the end, Stormello got there by the smallest of margins. I thought both horses ran extremely well, especially for their two-turn debuts. Despite getting "pipped" on the wire, Principle Secret had done all the dirty work up front through some pretty fast route fractions. I don't think the layoff did him any favors either, as Stormello's participation in the Del Mar Futurity probably had him a bit more ready for a stretch throwdown than Principle Secret was. They got the final sixteenth in 6 4/5 for a final time of 1:43 flat, probably not as quick as you'd like, but again, i think the earlier fractions took their toll, particularly on Principle Secret. He should be much tighter for the next one, and ready to move forward. Stormello certainly appreciated the stretchout in distance, as he was no match for Principle Secret in the Best Pal (nor Horse Greeley/Great Hunter in the Futurity), and i think you can expect him to move forward as well. Both horses look like prime contenders in the two-turn Juvenile. Incidentally, i think perhaps Principle Secret was compromised by his rail draw. That forced him to gun right away and set the pace, something he's definitely capable of, but it's certainly possible he would've finished out a little better if he had been able to take it a little easier in the early going, and had a target to run at. He certainly proved in the Best Pal that he can fire big from off the pace. And i think he's also proven over his three races that he can adapt to whatever running style the situation calls for (much like Bernardini). Not a lot of horses can say that. Hopefully he'll lose some luster with the loss, and go off at a good price on Breeders Cup Day. Not sure he'll be my pick for the race, but he's definitely in the mix. Stormello too. As for Horse Greeley, reportedly he's heading for the Breeders Cup as well. Ugh. Hard to like him off this rank performance, but on the other hand, he's a very fine animal and now figures to go off at a big price. Stranger things have happened.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com