Re: A dogmatic dilemma (382 Views)
Posted by:
HP (IP Logged)
Date: April 11, 2005 09:39AM
"If Nick Zito could get BIRDSTONE to win the Belmont at a 1 1/2 off of a 5 week layoff...."
Apples and oranges. The Derby ain't the Belmont. It's a totally different situation.
The Derby generally has about 20 entrants. They are on their toes and ready to go, pointed for the race. The best horses are in their best form, ideally after a few preps, before getting too chewed up.
The Belmont is a TOTALLY different story. Beating 8 horses in the Belmont, half of whom are whacked out from running tough races in the Derby and Preakness, is a lot different than winning the Derby.
Birdstone was ALL OUT to beat a horse that ran about the fastest spring campaign EVER (and danced every dance!). And he needed plenty of help to do it, as the pace experts can detail... Zito did a good job, but there were significant circumstances in his favor (weaker field, more tired horses).
Caveat emptor.
HP