Triple Crown juices are flowing now with NYQUIST. Cathyrn Sophia hopefully to run on the Distaff side of the weekend.
Sir Dude, I am NOT even going there again. 
Hmmm… I think the Preakness is well within his wheelhouse, however I’m not sure he can get the Blemont distance & hold off the closers.
Time will tell.
Sounds like Cathryn Sophia may not head to the Black-Eyed Susan and may head to the Acorn (or look for something longer?)
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/211455/servis-to-win-derby-oaks-is-incredible
I will take Nyquist for the Preakness, but if Exaggerator skips that one and heads to the Belmont fresh, he’s a big threat. He was coming on very strong at the end, and as a closer the Belmont is more in his wheelhouse as a longer race.
I can’t get into Nyquist, even though I want to. He’s a cool customer and ran a beautiful race, but…I don’t know. I pegged American Pharoah early last year and he’s a similar type of horse, but he just doesn’t click with me the way AP did. Might be his connections, although I feel similarly about Asmussen and liked Gun Runner.
[QUOTE=JJ’sLuckyTrain;8653434]
Sounds like Cathryn Sophia may not head to the Black-Eyed Susan and may head to the Acorn (or look for something longer?)
I don’t think an Oaks winner has gone to the Black-Eyed Susan in forever. It’s not even a G1 is it? It’s basically not a relevant race* for the top tier 3-year-old fillies. The Acorn or the Mother Goose are much more likely targets after the Oaks.
*Or rather, it does not have enough prestige to wheel back two weeks after the KY Oaks, so since the top fillies target the Oaks, the Susan is going to end up with a second tier field.
[QUOTE=Zevida;8653474]
I don’t think an Oaks winner has gone to the Black-Eyed Susan in forever. It’s not even a G1 is it? It’s basically not a relevant race* for the top tier 3-year-old fillies. The Acorn or the Mother Goose are much more likely targets after the Oaks.
*Or rather, it does not have enough prestige to wheel back two weeks after the KY Oaks, so since the top fillies target the Oaks, the Susan is going to end up with a second tier field.[/QUOTE]
Even as a Pimlico fanatic I can admit the BES is a bit of a joke and not a race worthy of her stature. They have done a better job of making the day before the Preakness a day that people will attend but that race is still irrelevant for the most part.
[QUOTE=rascalpony;8653446]
I can’t get into Nyquist, even though I want to. He’s a cool customer and ran a beautiful race, but…I don’t know. I pegged American Pharoah early last year and he’s a similar type of horse, but he just doesn’t click with me the way AP did. Might be his connections, although I feel similarly about Asmussen and liked Gun Runner.[/QUOTE]
RP, at least I am not the only one in the ‘not Nyquist’ boat 
I had much stronger feelings about AP (winning) and a few of the other Derby/Preakness winners (that didn’t go the TC distance)… (i.e., I didn’t lie most of the Derby/Preakness winners near as much as I did AP. I’d put Nyquist in the ‘good for two out of three’ category
Wonder if I’ll end up eating my words 
I liked Nyquist but was concerned by how green he looked down the stretch in the Florida Derby so wasn’t sure how he would handle the huge crowd mentally. Certainly didn’t look green today! Now it is officially Preakness time, my most favorite time of year. We always go to Belmont when there is a TC on the line so with my luck he will win the Preakness and I will have to decide whether I can handle Belmont day just a week after major shoulder surgery. My daughter reminded me that you don’t walk on your arms so maybe I can pull it off.
BES is GII with only a $250,000 purse.
A Maryland bred CS would certainly help bring attention back to the BES. But like all of you suggest, it is not going to happen.
BES is way more fun than the Preakness, though. Anyone going?
Hey - !
Nyquist has Canadian owners and Mario was mentored in Vancouver … give us a
break.
Waiting for a Triple Crown winner has worn thin over all those years - Two in a row, what are the odds of that?
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8654021]
Hey - !
Nyquist has Canadian owners and Mario was mentored in Vancouver … give us a
break.
Waiting for a Triple Crown winner has worn thin over all those years - Two in a row, what are the odds of that?[/QUOTE]
The odds are quite long. The derby crops in the 70’s in my opinion were very good. Although the selection process was quite different. Don’t know how to make a comparison.
Exaggerator is a very talented colt. He can be rated and the Preakness always has smaller fields. I thought his trip was exceptional considering the obstacles that he faced. Suddebbreakingnews still had gas in the tank and looked to be closing fast. Didn’t see any other colts moving forward. Nyquist got a very smart ride, not to say the jockey was the only winning charm. Definitely a nice colt. But so were Spectacular Bid, Native Dancer, Smarty Jones, etc.
Twenty of the best 3 year olds makes quite a tsunami when breaking out of the gate. Also, with smaller field with the Preakness, with some people saving their colts for the Belmont who will be fresher than those running the three races and the longer race, it comes down to a different set of problems…fitness being one of them. Training and luck…
But Mario knows Nyquist very well, since he was a 2 y.o., and Nyquist knows him.
Not that it says everything, but even in the gallop out none of the horse were able to get past Nyquist.
He may not have won by much, but he still had plenty of gas left if it had been needed.
I think this so called rivalry between Nyquist & Exaggerator is a good thing for racing… just not sure how much of a rivalry it is when it’s N-4 & E-0 for meets.
I think the Preakness should be an exciting race nonetheless
Field is already taking shape. It appears that the Lani thread will get another chance to discuss his temperament. If Exaggerator is entered, I think it would be smart to enter Suddenbreakingnews.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/211494/preakness-field-beginning-to-take-form
Every year I read that the Derby winner is not staying in the traditional end stall in the stakes barn. So, if no one does it any more, is it still a tradition? Seems like it’s the exception for someone to stay there.
[QUOTE=Zevida;8656131]
Every year I read that the Derby winner is not staying in the traditional end stall in the stakes barn. So, if no one does it any more, is it still a tradition? Seems like it’s the exception for someone to stay there.[/QUOTE]
Good question. The first horse not to stay in that stall since I have been here was Funny Cide. He stayed on the “new” side in Mary Eppler’s barn, one over from mine. Then there was a run of them staying in that stall until last year I believe when AP stayed in the other stakes barn. I really don’t see how that makes a difference since it faces the parking lot where all the people gather and the traditional stall faces a stand of trees but who knows?
