I\'ve liked this horse. You can\'t have looked at those races and not felt like he is a special horse. Currently he sits in spot number 2 of my top ten minus 5. He\'s rated way too highly with the way the race is shaping up and its time for a significant downgrade. I attribute part of this downgrade to the false bravado I\'m sensing from his trainer and the intuition that the pressure has already cracked Hendricks and is going to be sufficient considering the totality of circumstances to crack his horse. In fact Hendricks is so stressed out, he can\'t be good for his horse right now.
Plus theres the invalid factor. How many trainers have won a Derby from a wheelchair? I know that sounds cruel, but seriously, who has done it? Remember geldings couldn\'t win the Derby. What about cripples? O.k. Cripples isn\'t politically correct. What about the handicapped? Is that what they are saying now? Will someone please help me. What is the phrase I use to sound compassionate and empathetic even if I don\'t give a hoot and think Hendricks is a mean old coot buckling under the load?
\"I don\'t think Brother Derek can get in front of this guy,\" Sinister Minister trainer Bob Baffert said. \"I don\'t think he wants to.\"
Dan Hendricks, who trains Brother Derek, says his colt can settle in behind a speed duel up front. \"If a horse wants to be sent out there and be ridiculous, let him,\" he said. \"We\'ll be close. Everybody knows what our style is.\":
http://my.earthlink.net/article/spo?guid=20060416/4441c140_3421_13345200604162059015327
Excepting his Maiden start, Brother Derek has never settled in a race hes won. He pulled the 13 hole in the B.C.Juvenile and had nothing left for the lane.
He caught a bad break in his first Statebred Stakes attempt and was soundly defeated.
His kidney\'s sweat and he wants the lead a.k.a. Bellamy Road. What do you think that big crowd and a pace battle is going to do to him? And I\'ll tell you something else. I dont\' even think he\'s second quickest.
Yowsa
Current CtC Top Ten Derby Rankings
Tie for First
Sweetnorthernsaint and Sinister Minister
Lawyer Ron
Bob and John
Point Determined
Brother Derek
You\'re right on with SNS Chuck, but when I look at Sinister Minister...I see Keats all over again...
SNS proved in the Gotham that he can \"stay\" and run all day. His natural gait and hi rate of cruising speed are unmatched in this year\'s crop.
I think he\'s a 3 length winner Derby Day...No matter how wide Kent D takes him
Uncle Buck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You\'re right on with SNS Chuck, but when I look at
> Sinister Minister...I see Keats all over again...
>
> SNS proved in the Gotham that he can \"stay\" and
> run all day. His natural gait and hi rate of
> cruising speed are unmatched in this year\'s crop.
>
> I think he\'s a 3 length winner Derby Day...No
> matter how wide Kent D takes him
Keats had run a TFig 2 and won the Lexington by 3/4\'s of a length. Sinister Minister ran unmistakably fast fractions and won by 12 3/4 if i\'m not mistaken in 1.48.4 on a track that was not playing quick. Additionally he took himself out of the race in the loss to Cause to Believe. Its possible that Sinister could have beaten Cause to Believe by 6 lengths with a little more bottom and maturity. That puts him in SNS\'s ballpark. You have to remember SNS is liable to face ground loss. Barring Trouble S.M. is gonna get the golden trip. I think the figure for S.M. will probably be faster. I know Beyer has it faster. This Beyer, I\'m having trouble arguing with because the Bluegrass was clearly the lone exceptional race. But there is the two turn issue and bounce possibility to factor.
Theres still much to consider, but currently i\"m leaning towards the Monarchos/Point Given bet I made in 2001.