FWIW, I just watched the local weather report here in Jersey. Rain tonight with scattered showers throughout the day tomorrow. Thursday looks partly cloudy (I guess that also means partly sunny?), then clouds and more showers slowly moving in for Friday. The picture for Saturday was all rain.
I don't know about you guys, but my turf analysis will be based on "non-firm" turf. The dirt is still a question mark.
I think this impacts the turf races more with Noshaba's Key having never ran on anything other than a concrete CA turf course and Wait A While not liking the soft going at all. Two horse race here with Passage of Time and Honey Rider.
Should move the Euros up in the Turf.
After Market apparently doesn't like the soft going either so are his chances dramatically hindered in the Mile?
I know someone in another discussion really liked the chances of Miraculous Miss in the F&M Sprint but she's 0 for 4 on the off going. Conversely Maryfield is 3 of 4.
Hard to say regarding the Juvy Fillies but Phantom Income and Izarra seem to have the pedigree to handle it. Same with Dixie Chatter and War Pass in the Juvy (would think the running style of War Pass helps here as well).
Already commented on the F&M Turf, although I am begining to think beware of Danzon as a bomber firm or yielding (see the Woodford Reserve on Derby Day).
Commentator loves a wet track and Smokey Stover never off the board on off going but not sure about any one else in the Sprint.
As mentioned above, think Excellent Art should get a course he likes having ran 7 of his lifetime 9 starts on soft turf. Now if he can overcome the post?
Distaff, no clue how it affects the race.
In the Turf, Better Talk now has 8 of his 14 lifetime wins on the soft ground. The other side of that story, in 15 starts on the soft going he either wins or is completely off the board.
As for the Classic, if I remember my Derby handicapping, Hard Spun has a huge T # on the off track, with Any Given Saturday right behind him. Don't see any off-track starts but I thought I read where Diamond Stripes was entered here instead of the Dirt Mile on the chance we'd have an off track?
Of course, that's just a quick glance at some very ordinary PPs and just my two cents. Anyone else have any feelings as to a toss on an off-track or soft going?
For those who watched Monmouth today, was that Rutgers Stakes race held on "firm" turf as listed in Equibase? It rained pretty hard in my neck of the woods last night and has been drizzling all day. My front lawn is far from firm. I guess the Jersey Shore didn't get much rain then?
Monmouth site labeled it "good" turf with a muddy main. Haven't checked any charts yet. Expecting it on the "soft" side by Saturday in my analysis. Still got 2 turf races to look at. You Jersey guys, please keep us posted. Thanks!
dont worry....forego's gonna get out in his back yard in a grass skirt & coconut brassiere & do the ol' polynesian stop the rain dance friday nite....right bud?
Greg, if it's the same weather front that came through here beginning Monday night, it never stopped for about 18 hours. I think we got a "Bobbitt" out of it!
FYI, as of 5am ET, local NJ weather report says to expect heavy rains to roll in about midday and stay with us through the evening. I guess Wanderin' Boy is close to becoming a must include...
Yesterday, I watched every race outside under cover. It was nasty and the turf will be soft and by the forecast main will be sloppy. Great weather for Ducks and I really like Oregon over the Trojans ! I know Mr. Yount, wrong forum. Good luck everybody ---------
Hey Greg, I'm sure you remember the winds and cold at Belmont in 2005 but at least it wasn't wet. All the best to the UIC contingent heading to the track tomorrow. Stay warm and most importantly, "drink plenty of fluids"!
