Just curious. I am in Kentucky now and will probably not leave for a couple weeks so I am going to see some of these horses live. So far from what I have seen (not in person) Mor Spirit looks like a monster of a horse. Not so much in ability but in size. any horses catch any ones eye as to being pretty big or small? Just a small sniglet of data I like to have when reading my thorographs.
I\'ve seen a few of the preps in person as well as the BC Juvenile and don\'t really recall any extraordinarily big/massive Will Take Charge-type 3yos but have seen a few smaller than expected horses.
Mo Tom is tall and very leggy but fills out his size well. I believe he\'s a May foal and therefore still growing but he\'s one of the best looking 3yos I\'ve seen on the Derby trail. Exaggerator is also a striking colt, very elegant and racy with an attractive head. I think people who haven\'t seen him yet will really take a shine to him in Louisville just because he\'s a handsome, athletic horse.
Nyquist isn\'t a real flashy or big horse but tips his condition it seems as he was a specimen in the paddock pre-BC with blooming dapples and a cool demeanor like his Daddy. Likewise looked the part when arriving at GP pre FL Derby. Eager to see his workout Fri.
Gun Runner is a handy sort, like many Candy Rides, and his athleticism is impressive although he\'s not a large horse. Steve has trained him so well this winter and spring and he\'ll be sharp for the Derby. Remains to be seen if he\'s talented enough to win but I like that he\'s more than content racing inside of horses and can give you a few moves.
On the smaller side, he\'s not Derby-bound anymore but fwiw I was quite underwhelmed by Zulu last Sat, especially considering the $$ he brought at auction. Saying he\'s 16 hands would seem generous.
Brody\'s Cause is also rather small but he\'s striking and very attractive. My Man Sam is a bit plain with medium build but that doesn\'t hurt his late kick. Azar surprised me at the Spiral with his larger stature as did Airoforce.
I don\'t know how much that will help you in handicapping but just my two cents. Mohaymen is supposed to ship in early next wk so curious to check him out since I\'ve never seen him in person before.
\"Mohaymen is supposed to ship in early next wk so curious to check him out since I\'ve never seen him in person before\"
.....doubt you\'ll be impressed with him physically, no one is.Mohaymen biggest X factor going in, toss his last and he\'s one of the fastest and most accomplished.
KMG barn stone dead from Dubai until now.
Just another derby puzzle.
Yup on all counts.
Seen Mohayman in the paddock pre FOY nothing you would look twice at in a race horse that is for sure..
Appreciate the observations. I have only seen the two NYRA Derby preps (Gotham
and Wood) in person and no individual stood out to me. Seeing as each of these
races was nearly won by maidens shipping across country, someone from the
Gotham or Wood would have to put in an excellent few weeks of training to be on
any of my tickets.
Absolutely agree from watching the Blue Grass that Brody is nimble and
athletic. Also a plus that he won at CD as a 2YO (at a nifty mutuel after being
\"prepped\" on the Ellis Park turf course). Assuming he is not entered in a race
in Hong Kong on Derby weekend, will be on my tickets. (We are allowed to joke
about Derby entrants, right?)
Utilizing your link in another thread, I looked at the TGs for the Derby
contenders en masse. As an old and old fashioned handicapper, I still
value 2YO foundation and both of the top California contenders Nyquist (five
2YO starts) and Exaggerator (six 2YO starts) have that foundation.