Re: Derby Talk - Number of Preps (395 Views)
Posted by:
TGJB (IP Logged)
Date: March 01, 2005 04:04PM
Real Quiet ran 3 times as a 3yo before the Derby, but Lion Heart ran only twice. So did Victory Gallop a couple of years earlier.
This is Mike Watchmaker's baby, same guy who thinks that ALL horses go forward second off a layoff-- that a minute and a half of excercise once in 3 weeks will make all the difference in the world to a horse which is excercising every day.
Here's the question, which I raised last week-- the idea of needing three preps (or any preps) is based on the idea that without them the horse is less fit. If that's true, the horses should perform better in their next start after the Derby. Well, go down your list (and take it back further),and see how many came back to run an improved race in the next 4 weeks.
I think you will find it's more a question of ability and soundness limitations that compromised those horses.
TGJB