Impressions from CD backside this am

[TGJB]

I\'m not asking about numbers, just a list of names. Someone somewhere presumably has looked at tapes or chart comments, and if I can get a list I can pull sheets for them.

[covelj70]

Union Rags was another steam horse that could be eliminated by what he was physically and running style wise (i.e. big, long striding horse that couldn\'t afford to get stopped and restart).  

I truly believe Revoltionary is the same.  He\'s a really nice horse but overcoming traffic trouble in the Gotham in a relatively small field and doing it in the Derby against these types are two completely different things.  He stayed out of trouble in the La. Derby by taking the overland route and that\'s not a viable option in this race against these horses.

He\'s a tall, light framed long striding horse, not the type I see Calvin doing his thing with.

Again, could be wrong and he could win but we have to make choices in this race and I am happy to live with that choice.  Other issue as I mentioned is that he was blowing pretty hard yesterday after a relatively pedestrian 4f breeze so that\'s another mark against him in my book.

Archarcharch from down on the rail got bounced around pretty good and was eliminated by traffic trouble after the bumping caused his saddle to slip and then he had the unfortunate injury in the middle of all that.

for this race, give me the faster horses on the TG with tactical speed and I will live with that choice anytime.

Barbaro
Smarty
Big Brown
Super Saver
I\'ll Have Another

What do they all have in common?  All were fast on the TG (not necessarily the fastest mind you but with a figure(s) that put them right there) and they all had tactical speed.

This approach won\'t win you every Derby (and I certainly didn\'t have all of these) but that\'s going to give you the best chance to win this race

[miff]

There may have been, but I do not recall any derby winner getting roughed up out of the gate and winning.

Anyone?

[justwin]

Jim,
thanks for this info on revolutionary. Mike Welsch gave him the work of the day yesterday. I don\'t think he was on the backside after the work so your info is always valuable. i wish I could find a horse with tactical speed that I like at the price. I know you are a big Orb fan but from what I am gathering he could end up favored over Verrazzano assuming posts are not a factor.
George

[miff]

\"i.e. big, long striding horse\"



Hi Jim,

Nice win the other day,a wire no less. Did you just take a secret swipe at the big long striding Verranzano. For a big horse he left the gate like a shot in the Wood,though stumbled slightly in TAMPA, seems tactical but the break can be very unkind.

Me hears concern about the draw for this one who reportedly may not thrive inside or in and among horses.

Good luck

Mike

[phil23]

\"i wish I could find a horse with tactical speed that I like at the price.\"

What about Lucky? fast, tractable, and twice (at least...maybe closer to three times) the price of O & V. Yes pattern a concern but think in this case number power trumps pattern. Certainly does for me at the price anyway. Also...5 weeks coming in and pointed to this (missed FoY by design) and if you squint he\'s only had 2 preps as a 3yo.

[Niall]

If my memory serves me correctly wasnt it Gemologist who won the pretty parade last year and also looked like he could run around twice based on a workout?? Yes it was...great pattern too... Barely beat home Trinniberg... Again as our host says, its all relative. One of the reasons Maggie Wolfendale is great paddock analyst, she keeps meticulous notes on how horses she has seen before look comparatively. I enjoy everyones sharing their opinion because it helps in other races aside from the derby. Its a rodeo...

[covelj70]

Hah,

thanks Mike

couple interesting points you make here.

First of all, a funny story that the only bet I won on Tampa Bay Derby day was that I bet my racing manager that Verazzano would break poorly.

There\'s been alot of discussion on the board over the years about how it seems as if horses coming off huge numbers almost always break very badly and Verazzano was the lastest in a long line of examples.

BTW, can I get some action now on how Dreaming of Julia will break in the Oaks?  She may win by 10 anyway but I don\'t like her chances of breaking well.

Anyway, the issue with Verazzano though is that he\'s got such terrific tactical speed and he\'s so dam big that I don\'t think a half a step out of the gate is going to make anywhere near the difference for him that it would for some of the others.  If someone bumps him, they are more likely to fall over than they are knock him off stirde.

Other than Orb, I don\'t know who else I like just yet but I am having a harder time dismissing Verazzano than some other folks.

[miff]

Was not overly impressed with Verranzano\'s work yesterday, nor was Welch, not that it was bad.Would love to hear what Gary Stevens felt yesterday working V(Is GS the backup rider for Verranzano, should Johhny V not make it?)

[miff]

For the blowhards trumpeting clean racing overseas, poor Shik Mo!
 
 
22 Apr 2013 13:20
11 Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained horses suspended following positive test results

As part of the \'testing in training\' sampling programme conducted by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), on 9th April 2013 samples were obtained from 45 horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni at Moulton Paddocks Stables. This afternoon the BHA has received written advice from the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory that upon analysis 11 of these samples had present in them prohibited substances as laid out below:

Ethylestranol:
Desert Blossom
Certify
Fair Hill
Ghostflower
Orkney Island
Sweet Rose
Valley Of Queens

Stanozolol:
Artigiano
Bathrat Amal
Opinion Poll
Restraint Of Trade

Adam Brickell, Director of Integrity, Legal and Risk for the BHA, said:

\"Ethylestranol and stanozolol are anabolic steroids and therefore Prohibited Substances under British Rules of Racing, at any time - either in training or racing. Mahmood Al Zarooni has been advised of the analysts\' findings and has been visited by an Investigating Officer.

\"A Disciplinary Panel enquiry into the analysts\' findings will take place at the first available opportunity, confirmed details of which will follow when available. The horses which have produced positive tests will also not be permitted to race with immediate effect and for an extended period of time. As part of the ongoing process a decision will be made as to what period this suspension will be imposed for.

\"The BHA understand the importance of this process being carried out as quickly as possible because of implications for betting markets

[phil23]

Regarding Verrazano\'s and Revolutionary\'s works yesterday. The workmate of the former had run a top of a 0.00. The workmate of the latter had run a top of 6.50. Now obviously no one is running their tops in workouts but I think TAP knew exactly what he was doing in pair up each horse with it\'s respective workmates. Everyone getting so excited by her keeping up with him...well she ought to. She\'s fast. Which R\'s workmate is not.

[miff]

Good point Phil, but should Verranzano work ugly next week and Orb wow,look for groundswell for Orb with the Shug factor in play.Orb could go fav.

[phil23]

Definitely agree there Mike. And I\'m by no means saying he\'s a lock or anywhere close. Just something I had noticed. All the sounds coming from Shug seem super positive...but of course they almost all sound super positive leading up to the big day don\'t they.

[justwin]

Phil,

Good info. As far as IMLD. The 2 big numbers may have set him back although the last number is still a winning derby number. Just can\'t see him moving forward for the derby.
George

[TGJB]

Wow. I guess that means they went to his yard-- OOC testing.

It\'s funny, not 20 minutes ago I was talking to someone and mentioned how absolutely nobody knows what kind of testing is going on in Dubai, and whether it\'s a level playing field.