jimbo,

I think you made a great point about the fillies.

People tend to focus on one factor or another, but it's probably a little bit of everything. Some of the early retirements are soundness issues, but at the margin if I have a top horse and he has a setback the economics change the thought process.

Many owners sit down and figure out how much they can make if they send a mildly injured horse to a farm for a few months and start all over vs. what they are being offered to retire him immediately vs the risks of either action. At one price you might take a shot at running him some more because you love the game and aren't giving up too much etc... At another price you'd have to be a madman, extremely wealthy, or think the horse can increase his value very significantly if he's given another shot on the track etc... to not retire the horse and cash in immediately.

I think it's a miracle that we may see more of Afleet Alex (or even Belamy Road)because pretty much every other colt with a setback has been retired.

No matter, that filly race is looking great and don't forget we did a lose a few of the tough 3YOs like Smuggler and a few others that might have developed some more.







Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2005 02:01PM by classhandicapper.