Graham Motion really has to be asking himself now: Who can run early with Irish Way Cry in the Belmont?
probably a better spot for CMM though
Pretty sure he knows Meantime will be out there. CB was considering Take Your Guns for the Belmont, has anyone heard anything on that front? The Peter Pan TGs going to make for an interesting read if they come back competitive, the winner of that Feb 18 GP Maiden race becomes a live long shot to me.
Well, we know from the Preakness that Classic Empire has the early speed, when asked, to stay right on the lead.
If IWC runs and IF he hooks up relatively early with CE, then it COULD set up for a longer priced horse.
Of course, that would require Frenchie to ride aggressively two races in a row, which seems highly unlikely, especially in light of the fact that the race is 1 1/2 miles and he got a bit of criticism for moving too early in the Preakness (none from me - thought that was monday morning QBing and that Frenchie rode perfectly in the Preakness, but he will never be popular with the gamblers, a poor man\'s Pat Day)
Jim
I forgot about Meantime. Doh!
Since jockeys, like generals, tend to fight the last war, my guess would be that Leparoux would not press IWC for 12 furlongs. Especially (as I\'ve been reminded) since Meantime is in the race.
Agree that Leparoux should not be criticized for the Preakness ride, any more than Jerry Bailey should have been criticized for pressing Siphon with Cigar in the Pacific Classic. Sometimes you be damned if you do and you be damned if you don\'t.
CE did not have a workout between Derby and Preakness, and last I read Casse has no
plans to work him between the Preakness and the Belmont. As such he should be a very
fresh animal and based on his Preakness effort would expect him to be on or very
close to the lead.
That is an opinion (supported by the fact that he has been in light training between
races).
Jimbo taking a conciliatory tone towards The Leper aka Frenchy? What\'s next? Peace
in the Middle East?
Unless Casse changed his mind they were leaning toward taking the blinkers off CE for the Belmont.
Richie,
Gotta try to be fair. First off, statute of limitations on the disgusting ride he gave Union Rags in the Derby is almost up.
And Frenchie has been riding better in the last year. For whatever reason, he always rides OK in Kentucky, but has been better elsewhere.
That said, I would \"sell him short\" at Saratoga. He has saved some of his most disgusting rides/meets for Saratoga. Wasn\'t he 3 for the meet a few years ago. Something like that.
Classic Empire is supposed to work this weekend.
He worked this morning at CD.
1/2 mile in .50, galloped out 5f in 1.04
Apparently out with an injury.
Good Luck,
Joe B
Report seemed somewhat vague, \"soft tissue\" injury? Is this indicative of something along the lines of a bruise or a pulled muscle? It doesn\'t sound serious, hopefully we see him later in the summer. Hopefully back east as well.
A Soft tissue injury (STI) is the damage of muscles, ligaments and tendons throughout the body. Common soft tissue injuries usually occur from a sprain, strain, a one off blow resulting in a contusion or overuse of a particular part of the body.