Michael and I are not exactly on chatting terms, and haven't been since the fall of Da Hoss's 4 year old year, so I don't have any inside info. On the question of inexperience, I doubt that is the case here-- I don't know that a horse who has run 4 times and been in training this long would qualify as inexperienced in any case, but especially not with Michael. He has them away from the track, and he preps them an awful lot, the European way. Always possible, but not likely.

But I'll say this-- if it was any one but Michael, the horse would be an automatic toss for me. With him, UNLESS THE OWNER IS CALLING THE SHOTS (as they did in the Fla Derby), it's a gray area.



TGJB