Lion Heart

[cozzene]

Joe B

Their was a very nice article written by Andy Belfiore in Saturday\'s Newark Star Ledger.  Maybe you should read the article.  It describes the exploits of this year\'s Travers winner Lion Heart.

Your Friend

Cozzene

[jbelfior]

Cozzene--

Good Luck at 5-2.


Joe B.

[jimbo66]

If the Travers was at 1 1/8 at Monmouth park, Lionheart could be the winner.  Good luck at 1 1/4 miles, prepping for the Travers at Monmouth.  The only horse I remember doing that successfully was Point Given and he was far superior to his competitors.  The way to win the Travers is to get a race over the track in the Jim Dandy.

As for Lionheart, I will be curious to see JB\'s take on the Travers.  I know LH has run some big TG figures and is a fast horse on their numbers.  But this will be an example of \"other\" handicapping angles superseding speed figures.  What I mean is:

1.   Lionheart doesn\'t want 1 1/4 miles.  I know he ran well in the Derby, but that was over a sea of slop and most CD racegoers know that speed is golden in the slop there.  He didn\'t run well at 1 3/16 in the Preakness and didn\'t show me anything in the Haskell to make me think he wants 1 1/4 miles.

2.  He ran in the Haskell over a racetrack he figured to love (monmouth plays to speed and smaller agile colts) and his only \"fast\" opponent, didn\'t fire.  He made the lead in 46.4 and by all rights should have pulled away and won by 5.  He held Snookie\'s Boy clear by a length, after getting things all his own way.  To me, whatever the figure is, it needs to be discounted.

3.  As previously mentioned, he will be spotting Purge and TCE a race over the track.  And Birdstone ran huge there breaking his maiden last year, showing an affinity.

jimbo,

I agree with you 100%. IMO, Lion Heart is the \"bet against\" in there.

[Silver Charm]

nt

[jimbo66]

You are right, I did forget about 49er, but from what I remember (it was a few years ago), the two fastest horses that year during the summer were 49er and Seeking the Gold.  They BOTH ran in the Haskell, with 49er winning by a nose, then they were the top choices in the Travers.  

But you are right, I did forget about 49er.

[Silver Charm]

I think Brians Time was the favorite in the Travers that year but I could be wrong, I have a very short memory.

Also who rode Forty Niner in the Haskel and then in the Travers.

[colt]

Not that it matters anyway...but Coronado\'s Quest also won both the Haskell & Travers...Who will be the likely winner of this year\'s Travers??...I will wait for the sheets form JB & company to justify my selections...but I imagine that Birdstone will be a strong contender...JB, do you recall the Belmont # for Birdstone??...Also, will you be putting together a race package for the TVG/NTRA online contest for this weekend (10 race card)??...Whatever happened to CtC??...I always look forward to his postings....

[Lucy]

chuckles was probably banned along w/steve and jerry jr.

[jbelfior]

I believe it was Chris McCarron. Day\'s ride on SEEKING THE GOLD was not one he would like to tell his grandkids about.


Good Luck,
Joe B.

[jbelfior]

Colt---


I believe that, as crazy as this may sound, Zito is using the Travers as a stepping stone to the fall races at Belmont for BIRDSTONE.

This is obviously a talented horse, but who really believes he can win the Travers off of a 12 week layoff?? He\'s running because it\'s Mary Lou\'s track (or at least she thinks it is).

This is a tough task for a horse without a recent race. The Saratoga track going a mile and a quarter is very demanding. This is not going to be a race that\'s won by mile and an eight speed.


Good Luck,
Joe B.

[jimbo66]

Zito isn\'t using the Travers as a prep.  He has never won the Travers and has said it is his #1 goal in racing.  That is why he entered 3 horses in the race.  To take his best shot.  

He said Birdstone is small and doesn\'t run well with his races tightly spaced, so he didn\'t think he could run in the Jim Dandy or HAskell and come back in 20 days and get his best effort in the Travers.  

I agree with you that Birdstone won\'t win the Travers off of a layoff, but Zito is doing what he thinks is best to win the race.

[Michael D.]

also coronado\'s quest, a son of forty niner..... interesting that a daughter of cq pulled off a similar feat when society selection won the test then the 10f alabama.
i think pace will be an important factor in the travers. if LH and Purge lope along early, i\'m not sure the jocks on the closers are sharp enough to get their mounts there on time. if they run fast early, it could be an interesting race.