It is difficult for me to address all of the responses over multiple posts, so I will just lump it all into one.

Tavasco: I tend to agree with you. This could also be towards bobphilo and rhagood, but I tend to think that:

1- The suicide pace was likely the reason for not finishing.

2- If memory serves me correctly, Irad is not the best of jocks when riding speed horses. I could be wrong (and if I am, please correct me) but on the lead types is not his forte (this is of course holding him to a higher standard than most jocks given his ability).

3- I’ve been reading the sheets for a little over 3 years now, so clearly not the expert level like others, but I’m curious to see what some of the elder statesmen around here say about horses say for horses that were a victim of hot paces last out. I know the sheets note slow paces, but curious for the opposite. This may fly in the face of the “sheet theory”, but still something I wonder. Maybe TGAB can drop some knowledge in this department. I guess this is what Jerry means when he says "you have to make distinctions"


Rhagood: you make an excellent observation on the fractions between a 6F and a 10F race. Thanks for this insight. As a Mendy fan, I am of the theory that AOB was sharpening his horse.


Dana666: Personally, I thought the pace would be hot as I figured someone (Mendy) would challenge Diversify. Did not expect those fractions! Also, what I did not have was the winner. I had Thunder Snow as a C (that ticket blew up in the turf race) and with that, I figured Thunder Snow would be much closer to the pace, so even that logic wasn’t correct. (not a redboard, just as saying a had a horse as a C is not an accomplishment in my book.) I went back and looked at Discreet Lovers (Image?) and the best thing I could come with was that the 0 followed by the 3 was indicating declining form. In retrospect, I suppose the 0 fit if the two pace setters faded, but even at that, I would’ve been more into other closers. (Patch? Gronk?) Hindsight always 20/20. I had the Looch horse as a B, and that was a poor idea. I’ve told people to remind me to look for his name before clicking “submit bet” in the future.


Bobphilo: Interesting insight on Catholic Boy. To me at the moment, the horse is something special. Didn’t have him in the travers. But looking back, you toss the race where he bled and the Tampa track, he has quite the resume.


It’s going to be a fun month around here and I look forward to the discussion leading up to the BC!