I continue to find it very interesting how Larry Jones is treating Old Fashioned and Friesan Fire this year compared to how he handles Eight Belles and Hard Spun the last two years.
JB, I know you tried to get those guys to slow down with the filly and give her a break early in the year last year. Unfortunately, that didn\'t work out.
The good news though (in my opinion) is that he\'s taking is alot easier with OF and FF. Not only is he not racing them too much and spacing the races out better but he is also taking is easier with the breezes this year. Note Haskin\'s comments today about how he is only breezing OF once between the Southwest and the Rebel and that he has skipped a breeze for FF ahead of the Lou Derby.
I think it\'s great that trainers can learn from their mistakes and I think that Jones and Porter will come into the big dance this year with two live, fresh horses. Obviously he knows how to get them ready given how well that Hard Spun and Eight Belles ran but Hard Spun was spent after the Derby and ran poorly in the Preakness and Belmont and the tragedy with Eight Belles was such ashame I don\' even want to think about it anymore.
Good stuff from Jones. Have to be rooting for him this year.
The Hennegan brothers (\"First Saturday in May\") are filming a movie following Jones. Something about it in the DRF today.