I bet and follow South American racing.  I love to see a future import who may have success in America I know at the highest levels it is often a stretch but such horses as  Robert Bruce and Wow Cat still have me searching.  The winner of the El Derby on Sunday was impressive.  Prepante out of Ivan Denosivich.  Will probably run in 2nd leg of their triple crown at Club Hipico in Santiago on Turf amd may win) and then the 3rd leg on dirt at Hipodromo (which he will probably lose due to surface).  Then off to America.   I will be waiting with dinero in hand.

I read long ago in either Quinn or Quiren that 1st step should be that sire gets 10% 1x starters and trainer gets same.  Qualifies for second look.  After this qualifier I look at workout pattern (not times).   Is spacing of works logical? Then I look at the dam side to find class with a cursory glance at sales price.

Classic Empire\'s aura is that Breeders Cup race.  Has not come close to duplicating it.  The Arkansas Derby was nice but it was not in the Breeders cup league.  Add his quirkiness and you have a very chancy type.  Always Dreaming can one say bounce;  Massive move forward; the prototype T. Plethcher 3 year old.  IWC gets more love.  Good race, bad race, good race line.  Not sure what excuse for bad race; but like the good races.

There are some KDs that taking the top speed numbers make sense, but most depend on where and when those numbers are made.  Gormsley\'s Santa Anita was subpar for that race historically.  He had a perfect trip.  Midway, American, and Royal ran lights out. And it set up perfectly for Gormley who ran a nice race.  And won a Grade 1.  But it was not lights out. It may not have been as impressive as his two prior races.  Which says to me he was not overextended and could move forward.

My question about this horse is whether it is a horse that has immense talent but will only unleash that talent if needed or is he a horse that just hit his peak and is ready for a reality check.

Mohaymens biggest problem in the FD was his post position.

The separate windows would have drove me crazy.  My entire complaint is that they don\'t seem to give a ____ about the bettor.  There handle was somewhere between phenomenal and poor; I am not sure.  But I know it could be better if they paid attention to it.  Maybe they do in the high dollar suites.

I finally got my first derby trip this year.  We arrived on Thursday and played in the grandstands; on Friday it was the Oaks and it was the infield as was Saturday. It was an experience; as a horse racing handicapping aficiando (sic) it was a disappointment.  Where were the betting machines?  The untrained tellers were frustrating and clearly a distraction. The long lines were surely a restraint to last minute betting.  I know orchestrating an event that has 170 thousand is a daunting task; but if your employees cant lead to where to buy the form or other handicapping tools there is a problem.  Overall, it was a worthwhile experience; but a plebian I think maybe my place is at Lone Star or Louisiana Downs; which seem to have a better understanding of the fact that you have to please the average bettor.  But then I realize it is ultimately a show.

I might disagree about the best of the Derby Preps as to me the Santa Anita and Arkansas Derby may be slighty better or on par.  My question would be who did they beat.  And secondly will the travel be a factor.  If the field was weak I would look for a Euro or mideast or Japanese interloper.  Not with these.

This is a perfect example of a horse that has been better than his pedigree.  And in the KD what do you do we these types.  Not many delievoer;  But he ran twice within a head to Dortmund.  That is impressive.  I am not sure what to do with him.  Will have him in the place and show  postion heavily; but a small win as a saver seems logical.

I watched the race on simulcast from Lone Star; then revisited the race on line.  As to the race being a pace meltdown I would agree; it was not.  But it was a pace duel as Tavasco indicates.  Sometimes pace pressure from several horses can impact horses despite the internal times not being blazing.  I once read an old time writer note that 20% of all races don\'t make sense.  When I approach a race I always keep this adage in mind.  Most races make sense; a % dont.  Now the question is how many are because of trainer manipulation of various sorts or just because a particular horse was feeling his oats and out ran his capability or a horse was stuck on a performance plateau and voila put it together. Those are some of the nuances that make this game great.

1st--it was the perfect pace scenario; 2nd I have seen horses stuck on a plateau of performance and for some unknown reason put it together.  Some of these horses have been trained by trainers who do training right.  I think that sometimes stuff happens.  As to the innuendoes about drugs; yes that happens but it does not explain everything; everytime.

It seems to me that Vicar\'s in Trouble is in trouble.  He is a dist challenged front runner with Cal. Chrome and Wildcat Red set to go.  Both of those are dist challenged but are more impressive at the shorter distances.

Would appreciate any comments on Stay Put.  The dudes seem to be the speed of the race and I like neither.  So who can be close enough to take advantage? It seems to me that Stay Put might fit bill.  His pedigree does not scream the distance, but really neither does the others.  Have not seen the figs but from his Beyers he seems ready to move forward.