Re: Reading Too Much Into Things? (1036 Views)
Posted by:
Dana666 (IP Logged)
Date: April 24, 2018 11:33PM
I personally wouldn't spend two seconds second guessing Baffert. He's just too good, and shipping horses all over the country and the world is really one of his greatest talents. If you want to play against Justify, the price is the biggest negative amid his relative lack of seasoning. Looking at Justify from a raw, physical standpoint, I wouldn't be one bit surprised if he won the Triple Crown. He's simply a freak of nature, downright scary. As far as Bolt D'Oro, my thought is he doesn't have much chance. He's peaked in my estimation; he had matured early enough to get the jump on his rivals and that advantage in maturity no longer exists. I feel like Ruis has been trying to rush him back into some sort of forward move, and I don't think it's happening. Just a guess of course. The Irish horse intrigues me the most. When you study how the horses he beat, esp. in the Breeder's Cup last year, have fared, it's truly incredible. That race was like the greatest key race in BC history. The hurdles he has to overcome are formidable though. Will the price justify the intangibles? I don't know. Obviously, this is the best shot a foreign horse (well, really a foreign Keeneland grad) will ever have to win the Derby. Gronkowski is a joke, but Men. is something very, very special. This is one of the deepest derbies I can ever remember. And really I think just about any one of Pletcher's runners can win--when is the last time a trainer won 6 derby prep races with four different horses??? How about never. Pletcher never ceases to amaze me. This is one where you really need to do all the little things a great handicapper/gambler does to make a good score--look at the numbers, post positions, race scenarios and, of course, the odds and make smart plays. I think there is much value here for the person willing to put all the puzzle pieces together.