NOW Victor Espinoza is the luckiest Mexico on earth :).
Kudos to the trainer. It now appears that he got the horse to the Derby in not-yet-peak condition. But good enough to win. The horse actually improved through the Spring rather than wearing down.
And it helped that luck kept them from injury or illness problems!
Not to worry. AP Indy was a ridgling, and he certainly was able to produce.
Great Horse! Great uneventful, safe, race!! Enthusiastic but humble owner, and unusually emotional trainer. Class act by the jockey, giving the horse maximum expoxure to the cheering fans 
Poignant Moment that brought tears - Penny Chenery doing a very ladylike jumping up and down watching the horses cross the finish line with a huge smile on her face :yes:
Now back to the barn to hug my own treasures :winkgrin:
Such a happy day!
Aren’t we all glad they didn’t cheapen the races by stretching them out and all the other proposals there were? There’s a reason it’s tough, and this was one impressive horse and one impressive race.
BTW, on other forums I’ve been reading about the terrible times for the other two races. Guess he showed them up.
I did see all of the triple crown races in the 70s. This horse deserves to be right alongside them.
[QUOTE=HorsesRMyTherapy;8181120]
Great Horse! Great uneventful, safe, race!! Enthusiastic but humble owner, and unusually emotional trainer. Class act by the jockey, giving the horse maximum expoxure to the cheering fans
Poignant Moment that brought tears - Penny Chenery doing a very ladylike jumping up and down watching the horses cross the finish line with a huge smile on her face :yes:
Now back to the barn to hug my own treasures :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I also thought it was very gracious that she sat for several hours signing autographs earlier in the day. She still looks lovely at age 93!!!
I can’t stop crying …
My mom, who passed almost 7 years ago (6/27) wanted to see one last TC winner in her life …
I ‘knew’ he was going win the TC.
And yes I am a bit *crazy & TBI, PTSD and ~ somewhat … Um ‘psychically sensitive’ …
*Cray-Cray to those of you; who are ONLY sensitive to my counterparts: The Droolers.
But my mom saw him win today … She did; I KNOW she did!
[QUOTE=Howlin’Wolf;8181124]
I can’t stop crying …
My mom, who passed almost 7 years ago (6/27) wanted to see one last TC winner in her life …
I ‘knew’ h e was going win the TC.
And yes I am a bit *crazy & TBI, PTSD and ~ somewhat … Um ‘psychically sensitive’)
*Cray-Cray to those of you; who are ONLY sensitive to my counterparts: The Droolers.
But my mom saw him win today … She did; I KNOW she did![/QUOTE]
I knew he was going to win it too. It’s so hard to explain, but there was just a different feeling this year. I always hope for a Triple Crown, but through Silver Charm, Real Quiet, War Emblem, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones, Big Brown, and California Chrome (and others I’m probably forgetting right now), I just never had the confidence that I had going into today. I just KNEW he was going to win. Prior to this year’s Derby I decided to check out the contenders and happened to click on the Youtube of Pharoah winning the Arkansas Derby. As soon as I watched that I said to myself, “He’s the real deal. That’s my Derby pick for sure.” He won, and I went into the Preakness hoping he was as good as I thought he was. He was even better. Going into this race I just knew he had it in the bag. There is just something special about him…his mixture of talent an poise, his very matter-of-fact, unassuming nature. He just cruises along like it’s the easiest thing in the world. Such a good boy!
Wow, what a race and what a horse! Congrats beautiful boy!
[QUOTE=SportArab;8181032]
Gotta love Espinosa “holy sh-t!!”[/QUOTE]
I thought I was hearing things-guess not
[QUOTE=findeight;8180488]
Can’t claim the dubious honor of watching the '52 Derby on b&w TV. We didn’t get a TV until '54 or so. First Derby I remember clearly watching was Carry Backs and was long out of diapers by then.
Have decided not to wager today. Something TC fans should thank me for, seems to be the kiss of death whether I go for or against. Made some good money going against, lost more wagering in favor of a TC winner.
So I’ll just let them race and watch.
Just musing here, all the very recent footage of AP since he got to Belmont? He looks like he’s thriving. Without sounding too woo woo here, he’s got those little wrinkles around his eye that make them look like they are deep in thought, he looks like he has an old soul, thoughtful, wise and calm taking it all in. No bug eyed youngster with a short fuse there. 100% professional racehorse.
There was one shot of him getting a bath yesterday morning. Straight side shot, front legs together, one back leg slightly behind, neck low, nose reaching for the hose stretching the throat latch. OMG. That’s some horse there in that plain bay package…topline and hip to die for.
I wish him luck but…[/QUOTE]
Quoting myself here…I had a pretty good feeling but paying attention to that was pretty much knocked out of me by about 3 or 4 of the 13 pretenders I really thought had a shot in the same sport over the last 37 years.
I had a hunch based on comments from back last fall from horsemen I respected that thought he was special. Comments made by some in the jockey colony and a few other trainers this spring hinted this one was different. Everybody was conservative, no outlandish predictions but…there was a hint.
This afternoon, my hunch was verified in the pre race interviews when other trainers said their horse deserved a shot, why not, they were training well, yadayadayadayadayada. Nobody claimed they thought they had the winner, just looking for a good effort.
For me the icing on the cake was TP’s remarks in regards to Materiality’s chances. He said “We can’t let him just walk around, can we?”. I haven’t heard a remark like that from a trainer in the Belmont since The Bid’s year.
So, I could not watch the break, opened my eyes after the first turn and knew half way down the backstretch. And, yeah, I yelled him home. Cried too.
And, since he was not the least exhausted by the effort, it was wonderful they did not go right to the winners circle but paraded up and down the stretch in front of the stands so the fans could see him and cheer. This is what racing needed
Have to say, Zayats are far from perfect, but compared to the connection freak sideshows of many of the past years? They reflect class and great sportsmanship publicly. And he is right, this WAS for the sport that sorely needed it and public that loves it.
Understand, although he sold the breeding rights, the horse will race this year, more then just the Classic. That is a true sportsmans choice to help a sport he loves that has been good for him. Might even find me at Keeneland this fall to see only the second TC winner I ever saw race.
For those put off by the gambling? That’s what drives sportsmen to enter a sporting event. Mines better then yours is, wanna bet? You think the robber baron dynasty that ran many of those previous TC winners didn’t have a substantial amount of side money riding on them?
Second fastest Belmont ever behind Secretariat. I guess the press was right and Pioneer of the Nile’s can’t get the distance, just like they knew Bold Ruler’s couldn’t.
Holy shit indeed.
[QUOTE=Callista17;8181016]
Ummm…I seriously told SO to stop talking about diamonds and rings! He’s telling me he loves me, and I actually said “SWEETIE, NOT NOW. This horse just won the Triple Crown!!!” :lol: I think he’s trying to propose. Lmao![/QUOTE]
Oh thanks for clarifying that! And congratulations! After your first post I was worried he may have had a sudden epiphany about what life would really be like with horse girl and changed direction to ‘oh well never mind let’s just watch the horses’ … :lol:
[QUOTE=OverandOnward;8181172]
Oh thanks for clarifying that! And congratulations! After your first post I was worried he may have had a sudden epiphany about what life would really be like with horse girl and changed direction to ‘oh well never mind let’s just watch the horses’ … :lol:[/QUOTE]
The fact that he didn’t either means he’s nuts, or that he knows what he’s in for and wants to go for it anyway and is probably a keeper. 
Look at the quarter times: 24 and change, 24 and change, 24 and change, 24 and change, 24 and change, 24 and change–he just ran evenly for a mile and a half!
[QUOTE=RhythmNCruise;8181144]
I knew he was going to win it too. It’s so hard to explain, but there was just a different feeling this year. I always hope for a Triple Crown, but through Silver Charm, Real Quiet, War Emblem, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones, Big Brown, and California Chrome (and others I’m probably forgetting right now), I just never had the confidence that I had going into today. I just KNEW he was going to win. Prior to this year’s Derby I decided to check out the contenders and happened to click on the Youtube of Pharoah winning the Arkansas Derby. As soon as I watched that I said to myself, “He’s the real deal. That’s my Derby pick for sure.” He won, and I went into the Preakness hoping he was as good as I thought he was. He was even better. Going into this race I just knew he had it in the bag. There is just something special about him…his mixture of talent an poise, his very matter-of-fact, unassuming nature. He just cruises along like it’s the easiest thing in the world. Such a good boy![/QUOTE]
Heh, the Arkansas Debby did it for me, too. Something about the way the jockey looked back at the site reminded me of secretariat. Put that picture up my desktop wallpaper at work, lol.
Wins against huge field of top contenders, wins in a monsoon, pulls out a mile and a half like he’s out for a hack… love him love him love him
I so loved this race and how easy it looked for AP. When he shook off the second challenger around the far turn, it seemed a lock for him and he just cruised on home.
Have to say: Much as I’d like to see him run in the fall, IF I owned him I’m afraid he would go right to the breeding farm. He clearly has nothing left to prove as compared to most stallions that are retired at three, or even four.
[QUOTE=charismaryllis;8180973]
And looks like all the horses came out ok…[/QUOTE]
in this race, not in the 1st one when a French colt had to be euthanized. RIP Helwan… sad to come all the way from France and to break down in your first race! Kind of takes a bit off all the joy!
[QUOTE=Howlin’Wolf;8181124]
I can’t stop crying …
My mom, who passed almost 7 years ago (6/27) wanted to see one last TC winner in her life …
I ‘knew’ he was going win the TC.
And yes I am a bit *crazy & TBI, PTSD and ~ somewhat … Um ‘psychically sensitive’ …
*Cray-Cray to those of you; who are ONLY sensitive to my counterparts: The Droolers.
But my mom saw him win today … She did; I KNOW she did![/QUOTE]
Yes. This! Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Also can’t stop crying.
[QUOTE=2tempe;8181210]
Have to say: Much as I’d like to see him run in the fall, IF I owned him I’m afraid he would go right to the breeding farm. He clearly has nothing left to prove as compared to most stallions that are retired at three, or even four.[/QUOTE]
Let’s not get carried away. Let’s see him beat older horses, and man is that a mouth watering prospect with some good ones still plying their trade this year. Such a pity Shared Belief is injured, but I can’t wait for the BC Classic at Keeneland this year, we could have something special on offer. Here’s hoping they all stay sound and show up at Lexington at the end of Oct.
