Sandreadis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHONY? That's a little harsh. 3.5 million
> lifetime. Winner of the Blue Grass,Derby and
> beaten a fast closing head by Hansel in the
> Belmont.
> He did run 13 times as a 4 year old which may have
> contributed to his less than stellar 4YO campaign
> but I can note wins over Fly So Free,Pleasant
> Tap,Twighlight Agenda and Sultry Song as a 4YO.
> Sorry, I gotta stick up for one of boys.

/Sandreadis...

I used Strike the Gold only as an example to compare running styles.... If you are Zito or if you are one of the owners ...Then I salute your Derby win in 1991.....

Since we are focused on Strike the Gold...This was the horse that pretty much blew up the whole Dosage System.. They had to reclassified some sires to fit Strike the Gold into the system....

From Strike the Gold's Blue Grass running line, this horse had the top sustained energy from that year... Hansel' record Jim Beam stakes win was the other top sustained line from that year. Hansel ran the 1 1/8 in a time of 1:46 and change.....

In hindsight( which is always 20-20), analysing Hansel running lines, the Jim Beam race was the highest energy rating race for the prep races leading up to the 1991 Derby.. This race made Hansel the standout choice, hands down.... But from a form cycle analysis....Hansel had the classic pattern of

Big race!!! ( O ) Jim Beam
Subpar race (2) 1 1/16 race
Bounce!!!!! XXXXXXXX ( Bounce in the Derby )
Bounce back ( 0 ) Preakness Win

I have always used Hansel for this pattern......and when analysing the matchup or the energy rating of horses...9 times out of 10...I will always go with Hansel.....race after race....

Best Wishes.....