Rockport Tender Hooved

[richiebee]

New York Post reporting Rockport Harbor re- aggravated his hoof bruise, could miss Rebel Stakes (and of course, KY Derby).

The annual war of attrition continues.

I\'m starting to like Wilko, and anything Nick Zito puts a saddle on.

La Derby:
 
 Sort It Out: Congratulations, McNairs, you paid huge $$ for an Inner Dirt specialist.

 KC Boy: As I said previously, McPeek + Blanc + Affirmed mare = TURF.

 Storm Surge: Awful JD Bailey ride may have cost him 2nd.

I remain the world\'s worst handicapper. My throw outs won 3 legs of the P4, and the key won the other leg.

[gvido]

\'New York Post reporting Rockport Harbor re- aggravated his hoof bruise, could miss Rebel Stakes (and of course, KY Derby).\'

John Servis has Derby fever big time. According to Bloodhorse, he\'ll make a decision on the Rebel Stakes some time today. He should declare the horse off the Derby Trail and ready him for a late summer campaign. [Traverse etc]

[richiebee]

Bloodhorse Mag, 3/12/05, profiles Rockport owner Rick Porter, and it may be Mr. Porter, not Mr. Servis, who is really pushing for Kentucky in May.

I felt bad for John Servis last year. I don\'t think he could really enjoy the ride day to day because Smarty seemed to be a handful to train... almost every day he went to the track he dragged a 180 lb exercise rider and was accompanied by a lead pony. SJ wanted it all every morning. The man did a very good job of keeping this hard pounder sound for the 21 weeks of his 3Y0 season.

Having heaped proper praise on Servis, and he was nearly perfect with SJ, is it possible to wonder that Pletcher or Frankel might have been able to get a SJ type horse to be more tractable in the morning, to relax? Part of the downside of rampant speculation is that Frankel and Pletcher will never get credit for their horse skills, which they both own in abundance.

I just feel badly that olden days, if Whittingham or Woody brought a horse back like High Limit, we wouldn\'t be talking about the White Mercedes.