Hard To Dispute They Deserve To Be In The Field

[Tavasco]

As of Sunday night we have two new qualifiers for the Kentucky Derby. Both looked very very good.

My primary question about Dubai Sky is of course the surface. He is not a deep closer (which I was looking for), on Saturday he was a pace presser with a late burst like the turf horse he is.  He may be overlaid in May because of the surface question and many will discount the Spiral. Looks a big jump up # also but now an interesting horse.

I don\'t think Firing Line could have been any more impressive. No there were no other serious race horses in his race. But the raw time looks good even for New Mexico. It may have been a knock out # TGJB will opine at some point, I guess Gary Stevens was trying to convince Miff he is a strong finisher. Why not just canter home late?

The race that left me wanting to comment but not knowing what to say was the 9th @ Sunland. So Callback the Baffert trained filly did not make the lead (due to a :22 something 1st quarter). Then struggles by the pace setter down the stretch. Certainly she crowded the pace setter too much as she went by and I was just about to add her to the list with Christmas Day when she was disqualified @ 1/5!

Now the incident ruined my Trifecta, (I had the #3 third) but it seems over dramatized by the offended jockey. Technically, I guess that is the issue, the #3 could/would have finished third without the incident.

Stewards, the show prices were eye popping but damn the money you cost the players is wrong some perspective please!

[miff]

Tavasco,

Gary Stevens still better than 90% of jocks,just don\'t want him with an equal horse last 1/8th.

Firing Line ran a 97 Beyer,certainly not a knockout number. One other service had it faster, but both in the TG 1.5 to 0 range. Sunland it\'s usual glib surface producing fast raw times most of the day.

FL very nice horse, has never run a bad race, wonder how far a Line Of David wants to go. A nice hard fought early 6f should have FL with an ok bottom.Not a fan of 6 weeks spacing for him given that he was shock waved twice in between his last start and yesterday.

With the main contenders basically spread out and kinda ducking each other, it appears this derby will be the best one in memory if they all get there in good shape.

Mike

[Agastache]

If I recall correctly from Derby seminars past, a horse with 5 weeks or more rest has a better chance of running a new top in the Derby than horses with 4 weeks or less.  If Firing Line did indeed run a 1.5 or better (no ground loss), then you could make a case that this guy can make a jump to a 0 or better in the Derby.

However, that Line of David-Hold for Gold cross doesn\'t lend much confidence to those thinking he\'ll stay the entire 10 furlong journey.

[miff]

FL won off 6 weeks spacing yesterday. Beyer actually had FL going back yesterday, 7 points from his previous 104.FL received a pace adjusted top yesterday from another figure maker,so there you go.

[ajkreider]

Gonna have be the \"or better\".  I don\'t think a zero is going to get it done this year. Too many zeros already out there.

[TGJB]

Won\'t see the day for a while but I suspect the Beyer relationship was due more to pars/inflated Cal figures than anything else. That\'s a lot of lengths.

That\'s a news story about the shock waves.

[shanahan]

For the uneducated, can you explain/ define \"shock waved\"?   Thank you.

[miff]

Shock wave therapy is a legal non invasive procedure used on horses to enhance healing/treating of tendons and many other things.

A horse that receives this therapy cannot race for 10 days and must go on the vets list for that time.In Cali, you can go to the published vets list and see any horse on it.

Today, some outfits use it as sort of in between maintenance. Would not read too much into this except FL was reportedly treated twice in the 6 weeks between starts.If I was going to gamble on him I would not let that stop me. I\'ll bet many top derby prospects are being given preventive type maintenance.


Mike

[mjellish]

I\'ll Have Another received Shock Wave therapy before the Derby, to name at least one.

[Flighted Iron]

Miff,

Re: ESWT

Do you know when FL received ESWT therapy?

Thanks,
flighted iron

[TGJB]

...and lasted two more starts...

[miff]

Iron,

Don\'t know dates FL was treated but had to be in time to get off the vets list. Since he will train up to Derby in Cali, anyone interested can check the vets list because he\'ll be on it if he\'s treated again.

Connections called it matter of fact maintenance which is probably bullspit as most lie about their horses issues. Been that way forever.

Mike

[Flighted Iron]

Miff,

 RCI referred to the list as an \"ineligible\" list. No racing or training within 10 days of treatment. FL workout tab since Feb 7 race.

Horse Name Date Track Dist Time Surf Cond. B/H  
Firing Line 03/15/2015  SA   5F  :59.80  Dirt  Fast  H    
 03/08/2015  SA   5F  1:00.80  Dirt  Fast  H    
 02/27/2015  SA   5F  :59.60  Dirt  Fast  H    
 02/21/2015  SA   4F  :48.20  Dirt  Fast  H  

Looks like they \"E-Waved\" him immediately after Feb 7th.

[Flighted Iron]

TGJB,

  They stated ESWT used for \"back\" problems. Scratched from Belmont due to tendonitis in front left. Sounds a bit opaque??


Flighted iron

[phil23]

Privman had something on this in the Form, says it was Feb 27th and Mar 9th.  

http://www.drf.com/news/firing-line-gets-play-big-dog-sunland-derby

Did Orb receive this as well or was that just an oxygen chamber?