No idea on the Lane's End, I haven't seen P.P's yet. I'm sure you understand that 1st race on FOY day was pedestrian. Not to say that means anything, but it was slow. Dashboard Drummer came out of that race (I take that back, he came out of the Champagne against Birdstone) and finished 3rd in the Swale beaten 5 lengths I believe. I bet Caiman in the Swale who finished gamely behind Birdstone in the FOY day race thinking he could get third or better. He didn't..lol Another horse that came out of that Birdstone FOY day race ran in the Florida Derby, Farnum Alley. He was beaten four lengths after going widest on the second turn. I thought he was moving best at the end, whether he could sustain it another eighth is the question.

I got a chance to watch the Florida Derby again. TCE never gave up and though he lost some ground to Friends Lake, I thought he was coming back at the very end. He was slightly steadied on the first turn, found room to the inside somewhere on the second turn, Bumped with Tapit, was momentarily not persevered with when Friends Lake angled in front of him and then finished well. Have to see if he progresses in his next race. A good Derby showing is gonna be an issue of the trip for him it seems.

Value Plus was impeded out of the gate. He may have been the pace setter but for the interference.

RTF had the bounce factor and he ran on the rail the whole way. It saved him ground, but I'm really not certain the rail was the best place to be. I'll check into that later.

Friends Lake does have a greyhound build and I noticed he runs with his head lower than most. I know Chief's Crown did, I think His daddy A.p. did too. TCE ain't bad looking either. I never got a good isolation on Tapit, but from what I did see he was a little blocky with a big rump. He looked like Rubiano to me. He was steadied a bit, not enough to make a difference but it cost him a length or so.



Post Edited (03-17-04 13:49)