Well, there's always speculation as to what a horse will go off at. Battaglia isn't gonna make a morning line favorite at more than 3-1. Smarty Jones will be the favorite at 5-2 post time, maybe less because of the unbeaten factor, the public sentiment hoping he wins a $5Million bonus.

The Cliffs Edge will be 7-2 based on the "Zito popularity factor" and his "impressive" race at KEE and the fact he like CD.

Tapit is gonna be bet because he won the Wood (3 of the last 4 winners were 1st or 2nd in that race) and because Dickenson is no secret anymore. People think he's a genius (could be) and a miracle worker.Dominguez was the leading rider in the country (in wins) last year.

After that, people will look for an edge and there are many who still believe in the dual qualifier system. Lion Heart is a Dual Qualifier. In fact he's rated higher than any other entrant save Action This Day (who is too slow).

I began this thread with the comment "I don't see anyone who can run with LH early" and many of the subsequent posts have agreed, which means, any novice can see that LH is gonna be loose on the lead, unless a gate mishap or a horrible draw happens.

There are enough heavy hitters out there who know that Speed Unchallanged Invariably Wins.

I'll post my morning line after the draw (I did this professionally for a year at Delaware Park)and we can see how close I come.

If you like LH as much as I do, I sincerely hope we both get 10-1!! But Martin Luther King had a dream too............



Post Edited (04-23-04 17:44)