Thanks Dudley. Just downloaded them to get an early start on Saturday's handicapping. One horse that caught my eye was Wallstreet Scandal. Saw him run on the turf 2 weeks ago and he looked pretty good. Seems like he can run on the dirt and this field is wide open. He was good enough to run second in the Futurity in his second start, beating Sapling winner Evil Minister. Might have been in a little deep in the Champagne in only his third lifetime start. Has subsequently run two nice races on the turf and if he can translate that form to the dirt, I think he can be a factor at a price. Plus he gets Bejarano up, which is a plus.
Steve L.
I was looking at Wall Street. Violette shipping with Bejarano up, turf to dirt is interesting. Competition is a cut below his Champagne flop. So, how about we toss Scipion, KCB and High Limit run each other into the ground, leving us with a Sort it Out/Wall Street/Real Dandy box.
Good spot for Frankels horse-not a ton of pace-KC Boy will try to sit a little.I don't like chalk,but I think High Limit is tough in here.Frankel won't have him short and I expect the normal improvement from 2-3
and with the barn change.Throw in my boy Ramon and I can't try to beat him.
After reviewing the pps again, I think a theft is in order here. Even with the long stretch helping the closers, there just isn't any pace in here other than High Limit, if Frankel's instructions are to send, and maybe Storm Surge and KC Boy, who McPeek wants to rate a bit from the outside. Could be a 1-2-3 indian file race, with the closers too far behind to be effective. Comments?
Sort it Out has the less travelled trip and it appears he's going to move forward off his last. He has the best jock for the track and minimally I don't see him out of the money.
>>there just isn't any pace in here other than High Limit, if Frankel's instructions are to send, and maybe Storm Surge and KC Boy, who McPeek wants to rate a bit from the outside.
I dont know. Sort it Out and Vicarage have been faster to the half and the 3/4 in both real time and Bris fig wise than High Limit and neither of them are front runners.
Sort It Out should have no problem tracking these and his pedigree and past perf says 8.5 is at least what he wants. Storm Surge hasnt impressed past a mile and while Bris gave KC Boy a big number for the Holy Bull, the Beyers and his PF are substantially lower (and consistent with each other which makes me question the Bris fig).
(FWIW, for all the "long-stretch-helps-closers" talk, 8.5s are getting wired over 30% of the time from 68 races this meet.)
For my money (and Im sorry to do this to you ski), Sort it Out looks like the wager here. Tactical speed and a pedigree that will relish the longer distances. I havent been paying much attention up to this point, but Im really start to think I found my Derby horse. I guess should wait until after tomorrow to say that though.
I also see High Limit winning on the lead. However, I am basing his ability to win this more on seeing such big improvement on other first time Frankel starters.
I see others with a fair amount of early speed here, Storm Surge, Vicarage on the stretch out, and Kansas City Boy. Of the 3, I see High Limit on the lead and Kasas City Boy 3 wide into the first turn.
Anyone with a thought on longshot Indy Storm? Here is a 3/4 of a million dollar A. P Indy yearling purchase who could do no better than 4th and 5th at the 1st allowance condition, being entered in a grade 2 race by a trainer (Zito) who won 19% of 452 races last year. Zito did not win at a 19% rate by not spotting his horses where they would be competitive. Deservedly the longest price at 20-1 based on what we see in his speed figures, I often take a stab at horses like this one with high rewards on the once in a while they come in. I will use in the exotics.
Stevens said that Scipion had more to give. He only needs a little more to get up here. I think there is plenty enough speed to set him up. Need this combo for my RTTR. I don't like the fact that he traveled back to Cali between races. If he drifts up to 6 or 7-1, I'll make a token wager. He's a damn good lookin' horse also.
"I said before his last race, 'I know how good he is, but he doesn't know how good he is,' " Biancone said.
Since the Risen Star, though, "he has improved," he said. "He's maturing now, which is a good time."
Lots to like about Sort it Out.More to like about High Limit.
Storm Surge,Vicarage,and KC Boy are the only others capable of going for the lead.The rest are stone closers.High Limit could try to wire the field,but if he breaks a little slow or if someone else is really set on having it I see no problem with him sitting a couple of lengths back and still winning the race(I have no doubt Frankel has trained him in company where he sits behind horses).Not so sure about Sort it Out having tactical speed unless 3 weeks in the Baffert program has him charged up,but he still should get a decent trip behind the pace and stalkers and in front of the closers.
3/1 exactas
3/1/all tris
3/9/1 tri saver
3/1/9/all supers
The varied opinions in this thread confirm that it is indeed a good bettting race. There will be plenty of pace to run at down the long FG stretch. I really see several that could win this but will stick with KC Boy on the improve and blinks off tracking the pace should do the job. Bafferts new charge should get a nice ground saver from that inside spot. I don't really like the Frankel horse off that long a layoff stepping up to meet these foes especially as the ML favorite at 5/2.
Note that Robbie Albarado jumps off the 2 to take the mount on the. 1 Sort it Out- and Bailey inherits his defection and rides the 2. Why didn't JD take Frankels mount? Hmmmm....
If you held a gun to my head, I'd box the 1,2,9. But many spoilers in the mix. I don't care for the Vicar or the Indy much, but a piece by any of the others would not surpirse.
My play: 9/1.2,3, 4,6,7 and some extra on the 1,9/1,9/2,3,4,6,7 that s $40 total for $1 tri plays
and maybe a little tri box 1,2,9 since I brought it up..
Good luck everyone. The TC trail takes a turn today.
My play will be to put Sort It Out and High Limit on top, followed by Real Dandy and hoping Storm Surge and Scipion can fill out the tri.
1,3/1,3,4/1,2,3,4,7
Good luck everyone!
Edit to add: I ended up doubling up on Sort It Out, keying him up top on one Exacta ticket as well. All my eggs in one basket...we'll see how it all "sort's out".
This message has been edited by ski_ on Mar 12, 2005 1:01 PM
