Re: Kentucky Derby, Oaks 2003 Figures (642 Views)
Posted by:
alm (IP Logged)
Date: May 08, 2003 11:22AM
The figures suggest that Empire Maker should have come out of the Derby a very tired horse, which may be why Frankel is waffeling about running him in Baltimore. His races haven't been spaced very well.
Funny Cide may need a real break to win in Baltimore unless he has a move forward from here. A bad post, especially at Pimlico, could do him in.
Peace Rules could be the best shot in the next race, if he moves forward, which is a real possibility...the Derby could prove to have been a 'tightener' for him. If he draws near the rail, watch out.
Baffert switching jockeys on Indian Express is interesting. He seems to be suggesting that Baze was at fault for the bad start. But Baze is every bit as good a gate jockey as Valenzuela. He may not be as strong, but they are both speed freaks.
Bringing Senor Swinger over tells me that Baffert wants to hedge his bet by sending IE out aggressively, at least softening the pacesetters if he can't take the field the entire way, and having the option set for SS to close. But SS may not be good enough anyway.
By the way, the unusually consistent string of numbers for EM and Atswhat brings me back to my original question on this site: what effect does blood doping have on the numbers and the patterns? Could this be it?