Compiling Off Turf Contenders

[scottv]

A soft or yielding turf course is very probable.  It makes sense to get a
firm grip of which grass horses either love or hate the expected soft going.
Singletary won last year on a  yielding course, but does anyone know how \"soft\" it really was?  
Also, Megahertz ran well at AP earlier this year on yielding, but her history seems to show she likes firm.  Has anyone ever seen quotes from trainers that may give light into which horses we need to move up or down?  I hit Starine back in 2001 after finding out she was a soft turf horse.  This kind of research really could pay off.

Getting a firm list together now is important.  Their are several favorites on Turf cards that, if beaten, could mean huge payouts.

responses welcome

[manning]

This re: Azamour from trainer John Oxx last Oct.:

\"I am very glad we ran him because we know now for certain that he does not like the soft.\"

Trainer Jonathan Pease re: Bago as an excuse last Oct:

\"Nashwans like good ground and it was soft at York.\"

O\'Brien on Ace last month:

\"He has run another very good race and deserves to win a big one, but he really does need fast ground.\"

Connections of Motivator say he likes soft; jock Murtagh over the summer:

\"The ground has dried out since yesterday. It\'s genuinely good to firm and it\'s just too fast for this horse.\"

If I remember right from last year, Mile entrant Whipper was said to like a little cut in the ground, as well.

Of course, the Euros idea of good, soft, etc. is a bit different from ours...

[scottv]

This is great.  If you read something new please post.   I think this is the most important aspect of the turf races at Belmont.

[HP]

In my observation, and this is very general...rain produces the opposite effect on turf than it does on dirt.  On dirt, a wet surface will generally help horses on or near the lead (except when it starts drying out).  On turf, the wetter it is, the more it hurts horses on or near the lead.  

Last year\'s BC was a great example, where Soaring Free/Soaring Softly (can\'t remember the name?) was taking money and I thought the horse had no chance going wire to wire (he was always on the lead in his PPs) given the soft/good turf.  

I\'m going to stop before I get into trouble...but that\'s my two cents.  HP

[scottv]

Observations can be deceiving.  Remember the 1995 Rain soaked BCup at Belmont?  Turf was really, really wet.  Both turf races were won by horses on or near lead throughout.  but, they liked the soft going too.  Depending on the nature of the actual ground condition, a front running horse who tolerates soft going is dangerous.  Of course, these types can save ground and can position themselves ahead of the closers.  

Being a front runner has its advantages in some cases.

If anyone can find comments on actually how \"soft\" the Beverly D. race was at AP this summer, that would be nice.  Angara looked good on it as did Megahertz.  They both beat Wonder Again, who is the wise guy \"soft\" horse that everyone looks to on yielding or soft ground.

[Silver Charm]

Jerry Bailey may have summed it up best once. \"The bigger the horse the more soft ground hurts\".

Simple he sinks deeper than the lighter animal.

[NoCarolinaTony]

Here is what I got off the Bloodhorse Website on Monday:

\"Everything is beautiful,\" trainer Jim Toner said of Wonder Again\'s work. \"The course had a lot of give in it. Edgar said he started out along the inside which was good, but then down the backside it was getting kind of boggy. He took her outside around mid-turn and she was comfortable. It was just a maintenance breeze and she did everything well within herself. She galloped out really good.\"


Wonder Again is a soft course specialist.

NC Tony

[JAKE]

Prado needs a BC win - He is 0-41.

[NoCarolinaTony]

Yes he sure does. He\'s won most everything else except a Kentucky Derby and a BC Race. This is his best track for riding races. So no excuses for him.

NC Tony

\"Prado needs a BC win - He is 0-41.\"

That\'s almost as bad as Frankel. Maybe they only test him on BC day.