Do you have an opinion as to whether a big, rangy horse like SV would get over the \"big sandy\" better, as opposed to a lighter, smaller \"scatback\" type? Also what about mjellish\'s note about \"high, hard, poly/turf striking action\", relating to the \"big sandy\" surface? Have there been any notable poly \"explosions\" at Belmont? Comments from all would be appreciated. Thanks.
well, for my two cents, I think it\'s alot harder for horses that are more \"turfy\" to run on a deep track like Belmont than at a track like Churchill which isn\'t as deep of a track and has proven over the years to agree with horses that have more of a turf pedigree/action (Barbaro, Big Brown and Super Saver come to mind off the bat).
All other issues aside that many on this board have with this point (including me), Dutrow and others believe to this day that it was the deep surface at the Belmont that did Big Brown in on Belmont day as he has that same kind of turfy action.
There\'s alot more that could be said but all else equal, I think Big Sandy is a negative if we are trying to get horses who have turf action/pedigree to run their number on a dirt track.
that\'s my two cents, interested to hear other views
They call Belmont Big Sandy for a reason. IMO, I don\'t thnk it is any tougher or easier for a true turfer to transfer form over the Belmont surface than anywhere else. But I guess I\'ve never really looked at that closely.
The wide sweeping turns do tend to help the bigger, cruising runners though. A horse like Drosselmeyer should be really helped because he has shown that he has trouble negotiating the turns but seems to want to run all day. The Belmont configuration and distance should really suite him well. Just wish he had shown a little more talent/heart this year so far.
I don\'t figure SV to win. He\'s pretty big, but I think his future is on grass or poly.
SV worked well on the dirt at CD training center.SV is unproven on dirt and therefore an easy toss for me, especially with his running style which is anti-Belmont-stakes profile.
I would guess they may try to use lighter shoes and mini bends on SV to try to compensate for his pronounced up front action.
Belmont can be quick in spite of being dry/cuppy on hot days. Much will depend on how much the track super fools with the cushion on Belmont day. Worth noting that NYRA tracks carry up to 1/2inch more cushion since Glen Kozak arrived.
Mike
As much as I liked SV\'s Blue Grass win, he ran a moderate 6f split and then blasted home in ~35-3. I think he\'s a turf/poly horse.
FWIW, Alan Garcia said he did not handle the sloppy CD strip.
Looking through his PP\'s at the dirt efforts, there is the positive debut on Saratoga dirt, and two subpar efforts at CD, one on fast dirt and one on slop.
He\'s a reluctant toss for me in the Belmont.
Its most likely he ran his best dirt effort because of the softer sloppy dirt. He clearly doesnt like the fast dirt surface compared to Poly. Imo Id wait for him to toss some bad or ok dirt efforts in line with each other and try to get a price on him next time he runs on the poly.