She got a set up but that was special
That\'s a bad girl..
That was every bit as easy and dominant as American Pharoah\'s Haskell.
So if you are Baffert, do you want to come to the Travers and then because of the nine weeks between the Travers and Classic, still need another race. Awesome Again is now a big problem since Wayne Hughes said after the race that he welcomed a match race against AP so he might just go ahead and enter her in the Awesome Again.
From the Haskell forward, it always made more sense to go to the Penn Derby and then have six weeks to the Classic. Now, more than ever.
It might make sense to go to the Pennsylvania Derby and call it a career.
A couple points:
1. I hate to react / over react, right after a race, but that was an explosive turn of foot, sitting behind a wicked pace, running against a number of horses who run in the 0 or better range on TG. I haven\'t seen a filly take my breath away like that since the 5 month window where Rachel was wickedly fast.
2. The posts about this affecting Bafferts decision on what to do with AP are silly/stupid. Baffert isn\'t going to retire Pharaoh early to avoid Beholder. Maybe u have Baffert confused with the Zenyatta connections from a few years back? Shireffs and Moss.
Boy, should AP and Beholder race somewhere that would be a helluva publicity bonanza. Have to see the figures for today, but off of what my eyes saw today, I wouldn\'t bet anybody against Beholder right now. (Yes, that is a post race opinion, count me amongst those that had major doubts a put her going 1 1/4 against relatively fast horses.)
Rob
ringato3 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A couple points:
>
> 1. I hate to react / over react, right after a
> race, but that was an explosive turn of foot,
> sitting behind a wicked pace, running against a
> number of horses who run in the 0 or better range
> on TG. I haven\'t seen a filly take my breath
> away like that since the 5 month window where
> Rachel was wickedly fast.
Queen B was Brilliant! but possible that the other Mandella was the only one
of these \"0 or better\" performers who fired a shot yesterday?
> 2. The posts about this affecting Bafferts
> decision on what to do with AP are silly/stupid.
> Baffert isn\'t going to retire Pharaoh early to
> avoid Beholder. Maybe u have Baffert confused
> with the Zenyatta connections from a few years
> back? Shireffs and Moss.
All I seem to remember about Zen/Shireffs/Moss is that they came within
about a nose of winning two consecutive BC Classics. Although the way they
campaigned Zenyatta did not make many (mostly East Coast) fans happy, it seems
the ends justified the means.
> Boy, should AP and Beholder race somewhere that
> would be a helluva publicity bonanza. Have to
> see the figures for today, but off of what my eyes
> saw today, I wouldn\'t bet anybody against Beholder
> right now. (Yes, that is a post race opinion,
> count me amongst those that had major doubts a put
> her going 1 1/4 against relatively fast horses.)
I wasn\'t sure about 10 furlongs, but I was certain I didn\'t like her at 2/1.
Thankfully, Xpressbet was down and I was spared the indignity of being a
shareholder in a badly beaten also ran.
It was 8 weeks between the Belmont and the Haskell and he looked as sharp as ever,including the circus show they put on with him for the first couple of weeks after winning the Belmont.
He really has not had a tough race since the Derby,his #\'s show no bounce,with a good chance of moving forward. If he is good run him. He\'s is done after the BCC.
Richie,
You are probably right that not many fired yesterday in the Pacific Classic. That said, how many times in a distance race on dirt, let alone in Grade 1 company, have you seen a horse make a move like that? I have watched it again a few times and I really can\'t remember too many moves like that. Arazi in the 2 year old BC race?
As for the Zenyatta comment, I probably shouldn\'t have made it. She was wonderful, great and a model of consistency. And the trainer deserves a lot of credit for keeping a mare that size together for the period they did, without having physical issues. All that said, IMO Shireffs/Moss blew one of the most interesting racing periods potentially of the last 25 years. The whole \"Rachel vs Zenyatta\" thing, who is better, etc. was a rare high publicity moment. Instead of shipping, as Rachel did regularly, Shirreffs/Moss stayed in California and beat the same horses again and again outside of the Breeder\'s Cup races (and one of them was on the plastic crap in CAlifornia). As I recall, many of my west coast friends and Zenyatta fans, were also frustrated with that. Ironically enough, the time period where that mostly likely could have happened, Rachel\'s 4 year old year, Zenyatta would likely have won as Rachel wasn\'t quite the same (in a lot of people\'s eyes). But during that 5 months in her 3 year old year, Rachel was a monster.
Oh well. Maybe we get Queen B as you call her, vs AP.
Rob
Wow is right...but:
1.The set up in front of Beholder(fast contested pace Bayern/Mid-Storm) was optimal for her explosive run yesterday,best race she ever ran notwithstanding the \"perfect storm\" set up
2.New Del Mar dirt surface never as fast as yesterday,check all raw times re her 1.59+
3.Beholder fig Sat looks in the TG neg -3.75 range, lifetime top and somewhat incongruous with any fig she has run in a few years.A sudden new horse at 5?...doubtful.
Beholder talk of going to BC Classic vs AP,Honor Code, Tonalist et al very ambitious imo off one big race (0-2 outside of Cali vs females)Hopefully she goes and makes that race much better if they all get there in good form.Mandella/Shug/Baffert/Clement top shelf trainers with the fastest classic horses right now.
P.S. Beyer of 114 highest fig of year.
agree
We have the good graces from some higher power to be blessed 3 great horses this year Queen B AP Honor Code.
Enjoy the next 90 days because after that
They next they will meet is in the breeding Shed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JB
Side question
Was Beholders Pacific Classic as good as Candy Ride.Just curious?
Thank You in advance.