"An inexperienced jockey on a horse who has to come from far behind is not what you want. Rose certainly didnt distinguish himself in the Breeders' Cup. I think the owners and trainer would probably have replaced him if a big star had been available."

Andy what makes you think Alex will be "far" behind. Are you aware he layed 3.75 lengths behind the Ark pace and had iffectively seized the lead at the 6 furlong mark?

"A lot of people have asked about the legitimacy of the fig, (Bellamania's Wood) and we of course took a hard look at it. It was ambiguous in the sense that there was only one 1 1/8-mile race on the Aqueduct card. Nevertheless, while he ran his big race, none of the horses behind him improved on any of their recent figures, and you'd expect them to do so in a big race for which all the trainers have been pointing. So I would say, if the figure is at all off, it is off by being too low."

Beyersese: Ambiguous = He could have run really, really fast.

Andy certainly got the "failure of the (Wood) competition to improve" part right. But how does that equate to a proposition that "If the figure is off, it is off by being too slow?" What about this Andy, What if the horses behind Bellamania ran horribly? Still Think Bellamania may have run a 125?.

"The track was super-fast, but being fast doesn't necessarily make it speed-biased. I think the race was completely legit."

Andy, you just called it "ambiguous". Theres people here about to wager money, some significantly. Was the Wood Completely Legit or was it Ambiguous?

"If you're a class-oriented handicapper, you'd say he'd (Wilko) already won at this level in the Breeders' Cup. He's got a solid pedigree for the distance and the right style."

Andrew, assuming his style is right for the race, did you realize he was 3.75 lengths behind the pace at the first call in the Santa Anita Derby? Thats the same distance Afleet Alex rated yet you called that one too far back? Additionally, what makes you think his pedigree is solid for the distance?

"When I watched the Blue Grass I thought--as most people surely did--that it looked like an impressive race. But when you analyze it closely it wasn't. The race was loaded with front-running types, and Bandini was able to stalk them. When the leaders collapsed, he went past, but the final eighth of a mile was run in 13 2/5 seconds, so he wasn't exactly flying."

Andini, the speed in the Bluegrass was foreseeable. Are you aware that by all appearances a significant anti inside bias existed and that High limit, though already beaten, was down inside and jumping tracks during the stretch run? Granted the finishing fraction wasn't scalding, but aren't factoring slow surfaces what speed figures are all about? Additionally, how did Peace Rules come home in the 2003 Bluegrass?

" Sun King is an interesting longshot on a number of grounds. He's got the proper profile for the Derby--a solid foundation at 2 and 3 prep races this year. He can finish. He's got Zito. And his disappointing effort in the Blue Grass could be part of the long tradition of horses running lousy in the Blue Grass and then coming to Churchill and running big."

"He can finish" Andrewella? What makes you think that? The Breeders Cup Juvenile? The Bluegrass or the one turn Hallandale race?

"Despite his solid Illinois Derby number, no. I still put a lot of stock in the lessons of history about the overall preparation a horse needs, and Greeley's Galaxy has two strikes against him: he didn't start as a 2-year-old, and he has only 4 career starts. Moreover, he had a fairly soft trip beating a weak field in Illinois."

Andy, but for the two year old start voodoo, I would have sworn you were almost talking about Bellamania. Would you concede that whatever foundation Greeley has its recent, honest and progressive?

"I think Bellamy Road is going to confirm the legitimacy of that 120 figure, that he has going to deliver an overpowering performance, and that by Saturday night he will be hailed as the sport's new superstar."

Andy, if Bellamania does "confirm" the legitimacy of a 120 Beyer, who will he be confirming it with?

"I would be against any of the speed horses who are going to be vying with Bellamy Road, and would emphasize horses who can finish. You can't knock Afleet Alex. Sun King has a shot. I'd be looking at the clunker-uppers like Noble Causeway or Wilko rather than more highly regarded speed types like Bandini and High Lmit."

Andy, you already have knocked Afleet Alex, but if its bad for the speed horses to run with Bellamania, why isn't it bad for Bellamania to run with the speed horses? Especially in consideration of Bellamania's need for the lead in his past performances and his problems with losing it?

Andy walking, andy tired
Andy take a little snooze
Tie him up when hes fast asleep
Send him on a pleasant cruise
When he wakes up on the sea
He sure to think of me and you
He'll think about paint and he'll think about glue
What a jolly boring thing to do

Andy Beyer looks a scream
Hang him on my wall
Andy Beyer, silver screen
Can't tell them apart at all

p.s. Thanx for the additional Hype.