That was not the normal Better Talk Now congaree. He was wearing front wraps when they brought him out, which is an automatic toss for me every time.

Could the reason for Too Much Bling crapping out today be more due to them trying to rate him going a mile when he is really a front running sprinter?

Jimbo, you are one heck of a poster and analyzer. A few things.

Take the 13-1 on Wend. Everything I read or hear from a so-called expert has been tabbing both Wend and Wonder Again.
I am no expert on workouts, but according to DRF workout analysis today (have yet to watch the WORKS from TVG earlier today) Wend did not handle the softish turf as well as Wonder Again. Than again, who does?

I have not had this much trouble identifying pace in big races as I have when looking at the pre-entries. Where is the pace in the Sprint?! I guess Battle Won could go to the front if nobody else wants it, but it sure seems like Lost in the Fog to the front in :22 and :44 again (depending on souped up track or not) and seeing if someone can look him in the eye and pass him coming off the turn. He has already shown heart shrugging off EggHead at 7 furlongs which I believe is 1 furlong beyond his optimum, so whoever wins, as has been said, will have to EARN it. How about Elusive Jazz as usable?
Speaking of no pace, how about the Classic? There is zero pace in here. After reading of Flower Alley\'s rank workout today going faster early than late, he could be your pacesetter. If I were Dutrow, with the absense of pace, wouldnt Saint Liams chances be best either on the lead or right off of it? How about this possible pedestrian early speed benefitting a sneaky stalker, ala Suave?

A note on Artie Schiller to all. I talked with a reporter from the local paper (I live in the Saratoga/Albany NY area) who talks with Migliore very often, and he asked why Artie has been so keen early and on the pace this year instead of closing from the back with his old electrifying rush. Richards answer was that Artie had been much tougher to handle in all aspects this year and has been very headstrong and studdish all around. So maybe taking him further off the pace has not been an option to Richie. Will Garret make a difference?

I agree Class, Kitten who? I am going overboard there, but what a horse, and what acceleration from the turn to the front. Did he make his big burst into that 23:1 4th quarter? Jerry just had to make sure he held onto the handlebars and didnt fall off.

Chuckles, to say you are missing saddle\'s and twoshoes point is beyond obvious. What Dutrow did was the exact same sort of thing you were the 1st to post, scream, and rant about when the article was written about Ramsey and Frankel talking about the pace scenario between Roses In May and Ghostzapper in last year\'s Classic, and yet this time you don\'t agree? This is just as bad. It is not the fact that they were rabbits, it was the fact that Rodriguez on Crafty Player clearly was strangling his horse back to stay to the outside of Commentator, and when Commentator ran up inside of him, Rodriguez shook him up and sent him hard, not to be sure Commentator was gassed out, but to harass him. Who knows if he was chirping and doing anything else to harass Commentator. This is what everybody has a problem with, and it is high time Dutrow is told that he does not own racing like he thinks at the moment.
I also like your accusing Zito of juicing while defending a known juicer. Now that is a good one. lol

I am new here but have been reading these boards faithfully for the past year or so. I agree with HP and others that if you have working eyeballs and an active brain, you can rather easily deduce which trainers have the magic juice available and at the ready.
Class, I understand what you are saying about hot and cold streaks and I can see where it can be read into a kind of defense of TP, but you have to at least admit that him having 3 horses die within a week I believe it was did raise some eyebrows, especially considering they all just ran ridiculous new top (possible?) efforts.

As an aside, would anybody else be surprised besides me to see Lava Man run well if he does come for the JCGC? I am not buying this heat exhaustion excuse and I am expecting an announcement within a week or two that something was found, however minute, that will cause him to be laid off for the next, oh, 8 months until his return where he runs another ridiculous effort. $50K claimer to superstar? I don\'t think so. I just hope the horse doesnt have a severe reaction to his latest big effort where he held on very well off that hot pace. The last 3 have been a ton of stress on this horse.