Belmont Weather

[girly]

Given the propensity of weekend rainstorms in NY. to make the track a sloppy mess, I would like to hear thoughts on if and how that may change the complexion of the Belmont- have either of the two favorites raced under those conditions? I can\'t remember-

[big18741]

Long range calling for high of 82 and a 20% chance of rain.

I make Casino Drive 50/50 to be toast before he gets into the starting gate.

Warm day,large noisy crowd,green excitable horse who acts up in the paddock.Doesn\'t matter if he\'s a 0 colt that\'s bred to run the distance.If he washes out bad he won\'t hit the board.

No idea on wet,but it shouldn\'t hurt the favorite.

[covelj70]

On Casino Drive, the same reasons why horses aren\'t suppossed to win the Derby off of 3 lifetime starts definitely apply to him and his two lifetime starts heading into the Belmont.

1) Not enough foundation
2) Never experienced 130,000 screaming people as he comes onto the track

These two things combined with the facts that he doesn\'t seem to be training too well and he\'s no faster than Denis of Cork, Macho Again and Tale of Ekati (in terms of figs to run back to) lead me to believe he\'s a throwout next Sat.

Everyone will have to decide what to do with BB but there should be some value in throwing out the 2nd choice.

[big18741]

It kind of looks like the same deal as the other two legs.

Favorite wins and exotics are good with the 2nd and 3rd choices out.I think I can get rid of Casino Drive and I\'d like to find a way to budge Dennis of Cork out of there.Not so sure he want\'s another 1/4 mile over this strip.Trip was perfect at CD over a track he loves.Albarado will figure a way to lose ground or move too soon somewhere in the race.

Icabad is slower,but the pattern is good and his rider will give him the best trip possible.Saving ground is always the first thought in that kids head and the connections think farther the better.

Gotta at least give the Zito\'s a look on past history.He\'s had some awful looking long odds horses on paper factor on the board in this race.

[covelj70]

The only thing about Denis of Cork in the Derby though is that he ccame into the race with only 1 race in the previous 7 weeks which is a tall order.  I think he can improve in the Belmont.

Tale of Ekati worked much much better today.  Maybe this brings him back into the mix but I am not sure he wants another 1/4 mile either.

[rob]

it looks like to me that BB can run on cement if he had to.

Posted by Paul Moran    
Labels: Belmont Stakes, Big Brown, Rick Dutrow
Friday, May 30, 2008
Triple Crown history is made in many shapes and forms. This interview of Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, was conducted on Friday morning at Belmont Park by Jill Rappaport, of the Today Show. and is now considered a candidate for worst interview of a trainer in Triple Crown history.

The transcript:

Jill Rappaport: Just watching him work out, walk, trot, was so exciting. Take us to the moment, coming down the finish line and your thoughts on how you think he's going to do.

Rick Dutrow: You mean in the upcoming race?

JR: (laughs) Very good.

RD: Well, I haven't looked at the race yet. I know it's available for me to go over and get all the pps from all the horses and see if there's speed, that kind of stuff. I haven't done that yet, so ...I mean ...

JR: Tell me your feeling about how you think he's going to do.

RD: Oh, I think he's going to impress the crowd again. Every time that he has run he's been impressive, in every one of his races. So why should he stop now? It's just, he's doing good, looks like a picture ... he looks better now than he did when he won the Derby. He's got all-time confidence ....

JR: Now, why does he look better now than the Derby?

RD: Because of his weight.

JR: Oh, he gained some weight from the Derby.

RD: I could see a little bit of ribbiness going into the Derby, it didn't bother me none, but now, he looks like an absolute picture of a racehorse.

JR: Now obviously, like a true athlete, it's all in the buildup, the momentum, getting them ready for the big day. Is there anything special that you're doing?

RD: No.

JR: Nothing?

RD: I don't feel that (stops) .... He is special. So I don't feel that human beings need to do anything special around him. I think you only have to play it the basic way. He doesn't need the extra thing that a person might think he would need going into a race. He doesn't need it. I think the safer that you play it around him, the better off.

JR: So just act like a normal day, business as usual.

RD: That's what it's been like with us so far.

JR: Right. No change in diet or anything like that? Same basic thing every day. You are very cool and calm. I think I'm more nervous than you. I mean, this is a big moment, come on [interrupts Dutrow] It doesn't get bigger than this.

RD: Not this moment that I'm going through right now ....

JR (interrupts): You mean not being with me this isn't the second high of your life? [Laughs]. Wait a minute, maybe the fourth. We have the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, your girlfriend, and then this [laughs].

RD: (pause) Yeah.

JR: Fourth. Well, hey, I'm still in the top five [laughs again] .... There's that smile I've been waiting for.

RD: Yeah. I don't have a problem with smiling.

JR: [laughs]

RD: And he's going to make me smile again, you know? Right now is not the time to get all excited about it. We've still got plenty more days to get through.

JR: Ok. But, as a trainer, you've been around this business long enough; you've been around a lot of champions, what sets this guy apart?

RD: Because of his ability. It sets him apart. He was born with it. He just has an amazing talent. So there's .... that's why I've always played it safe and easy around him because I'm not going to be able to make him faster than he is. And he's fast enough. So leave him alone, play it all safe, that's what it's been like. I mean I've never, ever, in the morning, asked him for run. It's all basic stuff. And if I were to have known that he were coming to a race and I felt that he needed a good breeze I certainly would have gave him one. But the way that things have been working out with him I just never have to ask him for run in the morning. So we're not going to ask him for run any more in the morning. It's just all basic stuff just keep him fresh, fit, happy ....

JR: You know, we talked about this, but because of what happened with ...

(During break to change tapes)

JR: He's so sweet. Can he come live with me in my house in Water Mill? I'd just love to ride one of these guys can you imagine?

RD: Yeah.

JR: I'm gonna take you to Saturday. The race is over and he has come through brilliantly. Tell me your feelings. What are you going to be feeling? Try to in ... visualize it. They say if you visualize it, it will happen.

RD: Well, um, you know, I dunno, I got so many of my friends and family that's gonna be there. When we run in big races and win, you know, we show our emotions. So we're going to be very happy. It's just going to be a wild scene, as far as we know, we're not going to be able to control ourselves...

JR: Kind of like this?

RD: No, not this.

JR: A little bit more?

RD: A lot more.

JR: [Laughs] A little bubbly, have some fun, right?

RD: No, I don't like champagne

JR: No?

RD: No, I won't do that.

JR: I can just imagine. I mean I can't. But it would just be overwhelming.

RD: Well, that's the way it's supposed to be.
JR: Yeah, but the nerves leading up. I mean, for everybody. It's just a lot of pressure because there are so many expectations put on this guy. Because of what he's done over the last two races.

RD: Yeah, but he doesn't know that. When he's walking over, he's gonna size up the competition. And he's going be looking at the other horses. He's going to be figuring he's in a horse race and he's not going to feel any pressure, like 'Hey this is the Triple Crown.' He's not gonna know that. He's just going to go out there and deal with what's happening in front of him. That's all he's gotta do.

JR: And what about the, uh, horse they could possibly give him a run for his money? Do you feel he has any competition in this race?

RD: No.

JR: A piece of cake.

RD: A walk in the park. I just don't see the competition that's going to come up and beat Big Brown on Saturday. I just don't see it. I know it's possible, that if maybe our horse doesn't run his race, some other horse runs a big, big race, it's possible. But I see our horse running his race and I don't see the other ones beating him.

JR: I love that determination, that confidence. You gotta be that way, believe in him.

RD: He's given me the confidence. It's not me going out there and running against him, you know?

JR: Thank God.

RD: yeah.

JR: OK now to reiterate, because I explained our audience, with the concern for his well-being, being that he does have these steel sutures, in his hoof to hold it together, are you at all that he can't hold up to really what is the most difficult race he will ever run?

RD: No concerns whatsoever. It's all basic procedure that Ian's been doing for 15 years.

JR: Ian's his vet?

RD: Well, he's not a vet; he's a hoof specialist ....

JR: A hoof specialist.

RD: Yes, he's not a vet or a blacksmith. He's done it with our horses numerous amounts of times...

JR: But it sounds very serious. You hear about steel sutures holding a hoof together. The average person thinks, "Wow. Is that horse going to be able to live up to the task?"

RD: Without a doubt. Um, it's not an issue. It's part of mending it back together. I mean if someone had their arm cut open and needed to stitch it up, it's not going to have effect on him writing a letter. It's something that has nothing to do with his talent, his ability of getting there. It's non-issue.

JR: It just seems logically, the hoof, he is running a mile and a half, pounding at that. Logically you would think it would affect him.

RD: I wouldn't think it.

JR: Well, you're an expert. The average person would, right?

RD: What I'm trying to tell you is that it's not going to affect him.

JR: Now, let me ask you this, from, just an animal standpoint and loving animals, what do you think about... We look at these magnificent, majestic creatures, average weight 1200 pounds, balancing on hoof that are...

And here, the tape ends.

[girly]

I was looking at Anak Nakal

[Uncle Buck]

Girly. If Anak-Nakal beats Big Brown to the wire I will personally drive to New York from San Francisco and hand deliver ten dozen roses to your porch. Pinky Promise

[girly]

Oh, No! I wasn\'t talking about the win spot, I was talking about in a super spot- I should have been more clear- I thought we were talking about constructing profitable wagers despite the 2 favs in the race.
  If he gets in the super, I\'ll take one dozen roses! And you can send them FTD Uncle Buck!

[TGJB]

Unc-- Does that mean you will give me, oh, 20-1 head to head? It\'s not for the win, it\'s who gets to the wire first, as you put it.

[Uncle Buck]

TGJB. If Brownie gets beat TO THE WIRE by Anak Nakal, I will send you a gift cert for dinner at Carmine\'s at 99th & Broadway. That\'s my best offer

[TGJB]

Against a $25 credit for data. Done.

[ronwar]

JB, I guess you didn\'t hear what Dutrow said...lol :-)

[ajkreider]

Anak Nakal\'s best beyer is an 87, the worst in the field. And he has finished no better than 5th this year (in the Wood, when the race nearly collapsed after a brutal pace).  

Other than pedigree (and price), what makes you think this is a horse to factor at all?  He reminds me of Court Vision.  Everyone keeps expecting this run from off the pace, but it never shows up.

[RICH]

90-95 degrees sat