tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post5174674464965373017..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: A Post Preakness PostAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-85064719989375605442007-05-23T08:04:00.000-04:002007-05-23T08:04:00.000-04:00Pino had no control over HARD SPUN. I believe thi...Pino had no control over HARD SPUN. I believe this regardless of what the man might say in interviews after the race. HARD SPUN likes to cruise at too high a speed when he has a target to run at. As the front two began to tire on the backstretch HARD SPUN moved to them on his own. He's a talented pent up dummy, IMO.<BR/>__________________________<BR/>rotopro.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-45245536952029036402007-05-23T00:26:00.000-04:002007-05-23T00:26:00.000-04:00I think Pino made a huge error, but I agree that e...I think Pino made a huge error, but I agree that even if he waited, he would not have finished better than 3rd. Of all the rides, I was most impressed with Prado's ride of C P West. In fact, they spoiled my superfecta, so my eye was pretty much glued to that #9 the whole race. Edgar Prado is brilliant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-90585906458441883252007-05-22T15:33:00.000-04:002007-05-22T15:33:00.000-04:00James, no doubt he moved too soon. Pino said some...James, no doubt he moved too soon. Pino said something about being worried about getting boxed in by CP West, but looking at the replay, I think that's bull. My opinion however is that the horse isn't has good as the top two, and that while it may have been closer, it wouldn't have changed the outcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-38189690117231026692007-05-22T15:22:00.000-04:002007-05-22T15:22:00.000-04:00Anyone think Hard Spun made his move too early?He ...Anyone think Hard Spun made his move too early?<BR/>He started to fly well before the 2nd turn, then just gassed out with 1.5f left. If he were to break later, any difference in the result?jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10721471633775376328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-41766184455472476472007-05-22T09:25:00.000-04:002007-05-22T09:25:00.000-04:00I made the dirt track about one second fast early ...I made the dirt track about one second fast early in the card, alw horses were beating their lifetime best.<BR/><BR/>Mid- card the horses were mostly consistant with their best times so the track seemed fair.<BR/><BR/>Could the rain have sped it up, or could they have scraped the rail in the 75 minutes before the Preakness? Very possible.<BR/><BR/>All in all the fig seems fine as is, Flashy Bull and Hesanold salt ran similar numbers in their prior starts. SS and Curlin likely moved forward off the Derby, but not to 120 range.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-27243741595399204172007-05-22T09:01:00.000-04:002007-05-22T09:01:00.000-04:00Isn't it possible the rain that took place between...Isn't it possible the rain that took place between the Shaeffer and the Preakness effected the speed of the track? Not to take away anything from the top two.<BR/>__________________________<BR/>rotopro.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-92033303386949460172007-05-21T23:03:00.000-04:002007-05-21T23:03:00.000-04:00I thought it was a monster performance by both col...I thought it was a monster performance by both colts. The track was not running particularly fast earlier on the card; i know because i was eye-balling a prop on the running time all day. It did seem to speed up a little bit after the rain started, as Flashy Bull/Hesanoldsalt ran a 1:47 4/5 in the race preceeding the Preakness. Not sure if they brought the dozers out at any point and sealed the track, though it seems to make some sense. But going back a few races from the Preakness, the highly-regarded Chelokee had clocked a 1:43 2/5. If you add 12 seconds to Chelokee's time for the additional furlong (and that's being extremely generous), it puts Chelokee at 1:55 2/5 for the Preakness distance. Curlin/Street Sense ran a 1:53 2/5, which is TWO FULL SECONDS faster. That's a difference of roughly 10-12 lengths. Also note that it was several lengths back to Hard Spun in third, who has proven himself to be a very good horse (note: Just like in the Derby, Hard Spun finished light-years ahead of the other pace combatants). Let's also compare the Preakness to the time of the older stakes horses in the previous race. Add 6 seconds to Flashy Bull's time (again, very generous), and you get a 1:53 4/5. So Curlin/Street Sense not only bombed Chelokee, they also beat the older horses by no less than 2 lengths. It also happened to tie the Preakness record, so throw that in there too. Last i checked, they've been running that race a very long time, and lots of good horses have gone through there. I really thought the Beyer would come back huge, like maybe 120 or something close. I guess the Beyer Boys were less impressed than i was, because Curlin was given a 111. I assume Street Sense was given a 111 also, though he may have recived a 110 (matching the figure from the Derby win). Speaking for myself, i believe Street Sense ran better in the Preakness than he did in the Derby. He just happened to lose. Incidentally, Chelokee got a 95 and Flashy Bull got a 107.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com