Perhaps Borel\'s surprise is testimony to your theory, because I thought he was going to jump out of his stirrups when he saw that piece outside him.

Borel tipped out off the stretch turn but, sneaked inside of Albarado, and went by him pretty easily, and I really don\'t think that he expected to see him again later in the stretch. Cal was getting into his horse pretty good with the stick inside the 1/16th pole, and SS was really just running evenly, but evenly may have been enough,it is when he turned to his right to see Curlin that he stopped driving and pumping for about a stride or so, and I really think it may have cost him. I think theat SS is a horse that needs to be kept to a drive , and he may have a tendancy to loaf on the lead. I don\'t think this horse was late, nor do I think he is knocked out.

I believe Borel couldn\'t get in immediately, I think he dropped back then edged in to about the 1 and a half path, and I think that is where he stood until he tipped out into the stretch so He wasn\'t sitting completely in, but very close to it. The guy is an automatic ground saver. Personally I think he thought he had the race won, but when he saw the piece outside of him he freaked, and his horse lost his action because of it.

I agree with you. I really dislike Albarado, but I feel that Borel\'s may come at an especially critical point.(no time to recover). I felt that HS ran on well when Borel got back in rhythm.

Borel was inside early in the Preakness as well. I don\'t think the rail was bad at all

I don\'t see how HS can get that loose in the Belmont. It seems to me that Curlin can show speed if he has to, and as much as I dislike Albarado, he ain\'t gonna let Pino run loose in that race.

I haven\'t been here in awhile, but I really feel a need to say that: Borel is a great rider, but I think he may have blown it when he turned his head to see Curlin next to him. It just seems to me that SS lost some of his action when he did that; pumping and driving forward is the best way to the wire in my opinion. Looking to your right at that point made absolutely no sense. The rider lost his rhythm , and the horse seemed to skip a beat as a result. Borel gets full credit for saving ground in the Derby, and he gets full credit for cutting the corner just inside of Curlin yesterday, but he loses it for that boneheaded, sophmoric look to his right. Sorry folks but that was a tight race and there is no room for such stupid antics at that crucial point of a stretch duel.It really pains me for having to criticize Borel, who I cashed many a ticket with throughout the years, but maybe this is why Gomez and Prado, and in years past Bailey were reached out for in these classic races.

He drew the far outside that day in Cali off an effort, and at even money he was the biggest toss of all time;he was wide both turns, but even if he had a dream trip he was getting beat that day;This horse needs time between effots. I think that Bailey tried to save some last time(I have no idea what he ran that day # wise), but if it was an effort i\'m not sure seven weeks is enough for him to recover and run well at a distance he is suspect at. The other thing to consider in this race is that it isn\'t around two turns, and i think that changes things considerably;I think they will go fast early.

I always thought Shoe was a strong finsher. I know very little about European racing, But in this country there have been a few guys that seemed to excel  at long distances; Shoe was one, Jorge Velasquez another, and I really like Edgar Prado, or even Santos at the longer routes.

It Will be interesting to see where Edgar Prado goes, is he locked in to ride either NC or SK ? Will Day be back? Anybody know out there?

I love you guys , thanks for the comments. NYRA tracks are souped up on stakes days, in fact it seems like all tracks are souped up on stakes days lately. Easy Goer ran some big ones on tracks that could have been viewed as artificially fast, but he went on to be a pretty exceptional horse.(no disrespect to the person who signs ezgoer1989, i really liked \"Goer\" too)

okay neg 4 sounds better than a pair up , truth of the matter is i don,t know who i\'ll bet @ CD. Saturday\'s race will offer more info, perhaps it was a premature assessment on my part. You have to admit though horses that run numbers like this do not riccochet as often as they used to. Last year i played SJ to bounce , and he did, but not enough to lose. Nothing surprises me anymore. Zito seems loaded (is it because all the good horses gravitated to him? or did they gravitate toward the guy with the best chemist?) more will be revealed.  Frankel\'s horses don\'t bounce, but i don\'t think Zito\'s do either; not this year.

At the 3/16th\'s pole Durkin said \"under a hand ride\" then Castellano was waving his whip at the grandstand just above the 1/16th pole if that isn\'t wrapped up i don\'t know what is. I just think that Castellano was a little pumped up because he can\'t believe how fast this horse is. Thid horse seems to be of the push button variety, very quick acceleration, it will come in handy in a packed field, i just hope Castellano can stay in the saddle.



Post Edited (04-14-05 21:50)

I have posted here before, and i am not a chalk eater, so if it makes you feel good to make snide comments about my selection then fine. I will wait for the numbers, but i thought he ran faster than a pair up; even if he paired he did it real easy, and i think you may end up getting better than 5/2 in the Derby; many thought Empire Maker would be about even money and that was not the case.

I was really impressed with the ease with which this horse won, and regardless of how fast Frankel\'s horse runs Saturday i think BR wins the Kentucky Derby. BR had to have gotten a significant new top, but the clincher is that he was not really asked. He will have to face faster horses @ CD, but i feel this horse has much more in the tank( it was ridiculous how wrapped up this horse was through the lane). I think Zito\'s second best may prove to be Noble Causeway, i think he wants to run all day, in fact I think you could key BR on top with NC in the 2,3,4 slots with the rest of Zito\'s horses and maybe even throw Frankel\'s horse in between and catch the super.