Shanahan,

AA was awfully impressive. I would guess that his figure will come back better than Bandini's, which is a quandry. Everybody (myself included) felt the Bluegrass was the best and deepest prep. Well, Bandini blew it open, with his previous T-Graph top only 3.3, running a pretty mediocre time (albeit 3w, 3w). High Limit did not look good at all, but he still held 2nd by over 3 lengths, after bumping the rail in the stretch (did not affect outcome to Bandini at all, but should have allowed somebody to catch him for 2nd). Consolidator and Sun King didn't run a lick. Michael D, I know Sun King was wide, but I don't believe he will get the 2nd fastest figure in the race. Another gentelmen's bet :)

I was happy for Ritchey until the post race interview. I couldn't believe his answer when they asked him about Jeremy Rose. Ritchey has mistrained the horse this year by most people's view. I am not saying it is true, but most people seem to think it was a mistake the way he was over-working the horse, had him run another furlong after the 6 furlong race (in which he ran huge).

So, I think the question should be whether the owner removes Ritchey before the derby, not whether Ritchey removes Rose. That would be justice......