You can't be tuning in to the various Thoroughbred news sources without getting the distinct impression that A.P.Warrior is highly regarded for the Derby and that he will be high enough odds to be the proverbial "Wise Guy's Horse".

Handicappers here have called him. Steve Haskin is high on him. Theres others as well who slip my mind. Why is that? What has this horse really done to get so many otherwise rational minds going gaga over him?

Does it have something to do with the fact that his new trainer is last years Derby winning conditioner? That must be part of it.

Well he is by A.p. Indy out of a Quiet American mare. Thats pretty impressive, but how many A.p. Indy colts have won a Derby or a Triple Crown race for that matter? Granting his 3YO fillies have faired a little better.

The fact is the A.p. Indy colts have done better at 4 or 5 than 3. They also tend to want to run close to the pace, which isnt ideal for a maturing horse.

Apparently, there are those that are having Silver Charm Sugar Plum visions in their heads off the Santa Anita Derby. They say that Brother Derek had it all his own way and that some horse had to press him and that horse by default became A.P.Warrior. They say that A.P.Warrior gamely closed to a length and then hung and will be that much better for the effort next time in a manner similar to Silver Charms Santa Anita Derby. Is anyone else highly skeptical about that?

If my memory serves, Silver Charm went after a filly named Sharp Cat carving out blazing fractions. He caught her and he put that loose on the lead filly away. Thereafter he battled very gamely when a fresh and off the pace Free House came to him in the stretch. That was a gut check effort and Silver Charm did not disgrace himself in the grit he demonstrated in a close defeat.

Does anyone really think that A.P. Warrior demonstrated any of that grit in the Santa Anita Derby by spitting the bit after 6 poles? What about in consideration of the pace he hung upon late?

I'll tell you what I think. I think Point Determined was gonna grind him down in the 8.5 San Felipe with a little more ground and I think Point Determined ground him down in the Santa Anita Derby at 9 panels and unless you believe that Shireffs has the impeccable timing to get a career top out of A.P. Warrior on Derby Day I think Point Determined is going to mow him down at 10 poles.

It wasn't Shireffs timing that got Giacomo up last year and where in A.P.Warriors past performances does anyone see him dominating at 8.5 marks or looking like he wants more?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2006 11:10PM by Chuckles_the_Clown2.