At the DRF online site, they\'ve got a \"who will win the Derby poll.\"
Right now SoS is favored marginally.
Pletcher tried to speed pop the Wood field and it didn\'t work. Did he select the 3 hole in the Derby to take it to the speed horses from the opening bell? Or does he intend to put a little gate burst on and press the pacers from the rail or 2 wide? If he\'s trying to win, the latter needs to be the strategy, as was done in the Gotham. Could make all the difference in the world to the outcome.
Pletchers best horse didn\'t get in. Sunriver would have been a must use.
Gonna be interesting, so many horses being asked to do what they have never done before and I\'m not talking about getting 10 poles.
Some tidbits, Sinister Minister training in a Z Bar shoe and running in a 3 quarter bar. Apparently one of his heels is higher than the other.
SoS looking lethargic yesterday, (per Welsch), same for Point Determined despite that one tearing up the place Tuesday.
The biggest sappy story is the Matz/Barbaro plane incident. I don\'t know why but I\'m suddenly swayed. Barbaro will be a minimal use with my favorites:
http://opinions.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=33222
That\'s not a sappy story. What a great guy. Sometimes the worst brings out the best in people.
CtC / Tabitha -
In terms of post position selection strategy for Keyed Entry, he didn\'t have one. Only 1 and 3 were left when he selected. My guess is that they would have preferred to be outside, trying to get a repeat of the Gotham trip.
What Keyed Entry does from the 3 hole is more interesting. It could present a problem for Sinister Minister. SM broke a bit slow in the Blue Grass. If he does that here and P Val breaks well (which has been known to happen), it seems unlikely that P Val is going to leave running room for SM. You\'d have a whole new ballgame. On the plus side, SM does have a stablemate (Point Determined) on his immediate outside to run interference out of the gate.
BitPlayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CtC / Tabitha -
>
> In terms of post position selection strategy for
> Keyed Entry, he didn\'t have one. Only 1 and 3
> were left when he selected. My guess is that they
> would have preferred to be outside, trying to get
> a repeat of the Gotham trip.
>
> What Keyed Entry does from the 3 hole is more
> interesting. It could present a problem for
> Sinister Minister. SM broke a bit slow in the
> Blue Grass. If he does that here and P Val breaks
> well (which has been known to happen), it seems
> unlikely that P Val is going to leave running room
> for SM. You\'d have a whole new ballgame. On the
> plus side, SM does have a stablemate (Point
> Determined) on his immediate outside to run
> interference out of the gate.
Bad Breaks for a speed pop horse are killer. Only Derby winner to overcome a break like that was Seattle Slew.
I still think Pletcher understands hes got to rate Keyed Entry into the winners circle or exotics a la the Gotham run. The Wood run will get him humbled.
I\'ve looked all over for your picks, Chuckles. Have you posted them?
I\'m still making up my mind.
SoS will be in my bets and Baffert looks strong and will be in them. My key is still up in the air.