Not sure how many on here have had access to watching this show, but I find it to be an invaluable handicapping tool. For those that don't know about the program, it shows all the morning workouts for BC contenders working on that day. I'm going to add a couple of my thoughts for those that haven't been able to see the programs at all. If anyone has anything to add, please do.
Three Valleys: Worked in company with Intercontinental and looked horrible. Stayed on his left lead throughtout the stretch and was held off by Intercontinental fairly easily.
Adieu: Seeing this work just got her kicked off any pick 3 and pick 4 tickets I plan on playing. She's just didn't look good. She's another one that wouldn't switch leads at the top of the stretch. Cordero tugged on the right rein, trying to get her to switch. She wouldn't and finally he just kept her on her left lead.
Flower Alley: Very rank and headstrong throughout the work. Not what I wanted to see from one of my Classic contenders.
Stellar Jayne: I hated this work. I have a very open mind about the Distaff due to the fact that I'm looking for some horses to use underneath Ashado. Well this won't be one of them after seeing this work. Started off fine with Bailey having her under a nice hold down the backstretch. Approaching the top of the lane he loosened the reins then got after her a bit. After that you'd expect some acceleration and imo there was none. Slow time as well compared to how the track was playing and how much she was asked in her work imo.
In The Gold: Leveled off beautifully at the end of her work. Nice work.
Superfly: Very professional work. Started a few lengths off of his workmate then went by him with ease. One to keep an eye on.
Stevie Wonderboy: He was a bit fresh in the beginning of his work, but has a beautiful stride and made it look easy out there. He likes Belmont.
First Samurai: He worked in the slop over the weekend. Looked very good, but I have a problem with this whole lugging in deal. Bailey kept a tight hold on his left rein to keep him from lugging in, yet he still did a bit. The horse did look good other than that though.
Ashado: Looks to be in peak physical condition. Kept her head down and motored through her work. The champ worked like a champ. Enough said.
Leroy: Worked with Ay Caramba and leveled off nicely at the end. He did work in a bar shoe for those that hadn't seen that.
Saint Liam: Galloped along doing it nice and easy. Looked good for those that favor his chances.
Borrego: Solid maintenace work. Looks to be doing good right now.
Shakespeare: If the BC was a beauty pageant he'd be your winner hands down. Beautiful stride and seemed to enjoy some give in the ground.
Wend: I never realized how big she is. She was moving real nice through the lane and it was a typical Bill Mott work.
Riskaverse: Her coat looked good(I sound like Haskin now) and she seemed to like how the turf course was. If you like her then you have to be happy with this work as she looked good out there.
Wonder Again: Another one that motored through her work very well. I'd use her if Edgar wasn't on her.
Wildcat Heir: He did it nice and easy and is a welcome addition aboard my tickets. If my name was Reggie I'd be grinning from ear to ear.
For the most part, everyone looked good with the few notable exceptions. If anyone has anything to add on a particular horse please do. For me this is invaluable handicapping information. It's nice to see how they look rather than just looking at a final time.
This message has been edited by Boozer_1 on Oct 25, 2005 3:16 PM This message has been edited by Boozer_1 on Oct 25, 2005 1:41 PM
Mike, I posted on this elsewhere. Love the show and you get a lot out of seeing the horses work (agree completely on Adieu and Stellar Jayne), in addition to knowing what the workout times were. Plus, Lyons is a trip. This is a staple for me at BC every year. It can be especially useful when the Euros work.
Sorry I didn't see your post Gooch or I just would have posted in there. Lyons is an absolute pisser and Amoss brings some nice opinions to the program. Excellent point about the Europeans and they are a must see to get a feel for how they've acclimated.
This message has been edited by Boozer_1 on Oct 25, 2005 2:51 PM
I forgot to add some of those. I only saw a few, but here they are:
RHT: He worked on Friday and Simon Bray on TVG couldn't stop raving about him. He looked unbelievable and this is coming from someone that is on the fence about RHT. As perfect a work as Mandella probably could have wanted.
Wild Fit: She's a nice looking horse and her work was kinda ho hum imo. I like her, but I like to see some acceleration in a work and she seemed to just kinda grind through it. Frank Lyons liked it though and called her the Juvy Fillies winner.
Leprechaun Kid: Not sure anyone even is considering this horse, but he worked excellent and is looking strong. Game horse, but why is Mitchell doing this to him?
Taste Of Paradise: Very impressive as he was kept a bit wide in his work, wasn't asked much, yet still worked fast. He was a good 4 or 5 paths off the rail which makes the work even better imo.
Back on the east I forgot to add Society Selection. Edgar got after her pretty good through the lane. Kinda another ho hum work for me.
Anything else I see I'll post, but these are the only ones I can remember off memory.
I love the show, too, but be careful about taking those guys' judgments as gospel. They were adamant about Sakhee's action being all wrong for the dirt in '01. In '02, they watched Orientate's last work and all but called for the vet and the track ambulance.
But I pay extra attention to Lyons' info on the Euros -- the Irish horses, especially. He's pretty tight with the Ballydoyle crowd. And he made a killing on Johannesburg.
You should be feeling good about her Steve. She was a horse that I was kinda so so on, but she was cooking at the end of her work and looked beautiful imo.
Without a doubt you cannot take there comments as gospel. I do however like hearing the opinion of a trainer and former trainer while comparing it to my opinion of how a horse looks and works. It doesn't change my opinion, but I do like to hear someone else's perspective while watching the show.
I wasn't that smart. I let them steer me off Orientate. Who am I to question two current/former trainers? Or so I thought then.
I didn't like Sakhee anyway, so I won't blame anyone for that.
I've gotten way more good info than bad out of that show, and that's the bottom line. Plus, it's just a damn interesting show to watch. And Lyons is a hoot. Hell of a nice guy in person, too. Straight shooter. Loved Johannesburg in the Juvenile, absolutely hated him in the Derby. He was dead right both times.
A couple thoughts from today's show that I watched off and on. They were basically catching up with some works from yesterday that they didn't show. There wasn't that much action on track today due to the weather.
Bago: He went out to gallop and looked to be feeling good. This was the closest I've ever seen him before and he definitely has a presence about himself.
Dr. Pleasure: I believe Reggie mentioned him as a potential winner of this race. His work was awesome imo. He's a beautiful looking horse with a strong looking hind end. Great stride. He's light on experience, but with the juveniles who isn't? We might be hearing some big noise from this one as a three year old. That noise may start on Saturday as he may have just worked his way on to my tickets.
Sand Springs: Great work for her on the dirt and she physically looks tremendous. Unfortunately she's in a tough race to say the least. One thing I find funny is that Bill Mott, who is normally a very reserved guy as witnessed by his comments on Shakespeare and Wend, said that she'll run huge. Interesting, but huge may only be good enough for 5th or 6th in this race.
Sundrop: She started off of her stablemate in the beginning of her work which was on the dirt. Approaching the top of the stretch she coasted on by while being taken a bit wide. Wasn't really asked for much other than what seemed to be a typical maintenance work.
A Bit O Gold: He went out for a gallop. Nice looking horse, but not physically imposing by any means.
Not much else that I saw. I missed Imperialism's work, but I did see him licking the hell out of Kristin Mulhall's face. Cute, but not gonna make any of us money on BC day lol.