tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post3170881963437786845..comments2024-02-01T00:37:24.768-05:00Comments on PTP: North America Cup Elims in the Books; On Track RecapPull the Pockethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05082676049275768769noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-62962412882961593182009-06-23T16:24:26.577-04:002009-06-23T16:24:26.577-04:00The other thing was they had to be 1,2,3 in the el...The other thing was they had to be 1,2,3 in the elim to ensure they made the final. Finishing fourth put you on the bubble and in a "luck of the draw" scene. So if you are sitting 4 or 5 and letting those frations go, it makes it very hard to make up ground and get even the 2 or 3 place finish that ensures you make the final. so yes I still believe it was crazy to let him have that much leeway on the front.<br />Regards, RebeccaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-53393919231852336922009-06-23T16:19:57.443-04:002009-06-23T16:19:57.443-04:00I well understood that they were "just elims&...I well understood that they were "just elims", however, anytime a horse gets that kind of breather well.Not to mention there are other ways of keeping pressure on a leader, and ones that are allowed all the time at WEG. Namely the #2 horse setting half in, that will keep double J guessing what is up behind him and help keep the pace honest. Because lets be honest the easier he (Federal Flex)gets things on elim night the fresher he will be for the final. As a finalist that will be racing against him the last thing you want is a very talented horse that is coming into the final feeling extra fresh, because he cakewalked his elim. That was the point I was thinking of.<br />Regards, RebeccaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-88101649082510201252009-06-22T03:36:13.679-04:002009-06-22T03:36:13.679-04:00I'm not a time guy. One of my horses came his...I'm not a time guy. One of my horses came his last 3 in 1:21.1 a couple weeks ago in his NJ Classic elim while never being able to be given his head the entire way and he is just an ordinary 3yo. Trust me, I understand the difference.<br /><br />When I see 30K claimers go in 1:48 and 1:49 on a regular basis, time to me means nothing. If a horse wins the 6th race, a 40K claimer in 1:48 2/5 and then the 7th race INV is won by Bettor Sweet in 1:49, I know who the better horse is.<br /><br />When a top horse who made a break closes 23 lengths on other top horses that weren't in a raging multi-move duel (they were 1-2 around with no moves), I don't care about time.....that's one hell of an effort. <br /><br />Plus another factor which most people don't have any understanding of is that he lost contact with the field early with his miscue.....that makes what he did even more impressive.<br /><br />I'm not saying it's even close to the greatest effort I've ever seen.....I'm just saying that I've never seen a top horse in a major stakes race/elim close 23 lengths against other top horses who were not viciously abused. It just never happens. Top horses might be able to do it vs. avg horses, but not other top horses. Unless Mr.Wiggles and Art Colony are unexposed 15K claimers, the effort was incredible.ITPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-58799075802264860412009-06-22T01:32:46.985-04:002009-06-22T01:32:46.985-04:00PS- For the greatest performance I have seen off a...PS- For the greatest performance I have seen off a slow first quarter in a stakes race it is American Ideal in the Simpson. Charted with a 31 second first quarter he paced his last three quarters in 119.3, while parking a half mile, and going wide on the last turn. I think there might be only a handful of horses in racing that could have done that. He set a WR the next week when he got a decent trip.Pull the Pockethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082676049275768769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-71866819277415964352009-06-22T01:21:37.418-04:002009-06-22T01:21:37.418-04:00To each their own, but the lengths i could care le...To each their own, but the lengths i could care less about. He came his back three quarters in 121 and change up the inside, which happens often in racing, and very often when a 25 and change first quarter happens. The field only came home in 126, so a talented horse like that should be able to pick up a ton of ground. Arctic Warrior came his last three panels in 120.3 last week, and I was more impressed with him.Pull the Pockethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082676049275768769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-51455003687192361082009-06-21T23:46:53.248-04:002009-06-21T23:46:53.248-04:00We can go the rest of our lifetimes and never see ...We can go the rest of our lifetimes and never see a horse close 23 lengths in a stakes race against top class horses that run 1-2 the entire mile...especially after making a break.<br /><br />I've never seen it before and I bet I never will again.<br /><br />Rebecca,<br /><br />As for letting Federal Flex go a pedestrian pace.....those elim races where 7 are racing for 5 spots in the final are worse than qualifiers.....nobody really cares about winning, just not finishing 6th or 7th.ITPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-76809804821020226752009-06-21T19:50:06.264-04:002009-06-21T19:50:06.264-04:00Sorry you missed on Mr. Wiggles, his odds went up ...Sorry you missed on Mr. Wiggles, his odds went up as post time drew near. At a few minutes out he was 6-1 or so, but than at 0 min to post he went to 15-1. Gotta love a horse and driver that believe they can overcome the "outside". I agree Vintage Master was a machine after he settled, something was up with him, as he was headed back to the paddock for equipment repair he bolted and was on the run for several strides, or maybe he ran when Dube took a hold of him, either way he was flying when he was able to free-wheel. I think that Keep It Real was on idle heading under the wire, and for sure Well Said was under a fierce drive, as Pierce received a $500 whipping fine on that horse. Speaking of whipping it looks like the Judges are serving notice to the out-of towners, Sears also was tagged $200 on Barber Pole. However of note is the fact that Mario Baillargeon only received $100 for excessive whipping on Bay of Sharks. Hmm?? <br /> I will say I understand giving a horse respect, but allowing an almost 31 second breather for a horse like Federal Flex is suicide. I do not think that will happen next week. I know the driver of Southern Rocketop, and he is out to win, I do not know if he can beat him, but I believe he will make a race of it. Than throw in Duded Up on a serious upward trend and well, who knows?!?<br />Anyway there should be great finals next Saturday night, cannot wait. <br />Regards, RebeccaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-71720987875087420832009-06-21T15:47:32.282-04:002009-06-21T15:47:32.282-04:00It was a great performance. I could have mentioned...It was a great performance. I could have mentioned it, but the fingers got tired and I was concentrating on the horses who made/or could draw into the final.<br /><br />Barber Pole was good as well I thought. He seemed to be back to his old self last night.Pull the Pockethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082676049275768769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-24747101105183802352009-06-21T15:19:50.870-04:002009-06-21T15:19:50.870-04:00Wow....Not a mention of the most incredible perfor...Wow....Not a mention of the most incredible performance of the evening.....Vintage Master?ITPnoreply@blogger.com