He wasn’t lame, not at all. Good Lord.
Furthermore, if he was lame even a little bit, Victor would have NEVER taken him all the way down the homestretch after the race. They would’ve taken him immediately to the winners circle and then right back to the barn out of the public eye. Every single video that I’ve seen from after the race, walking and cooling out, getting a bath, etc shows a super horse, sound as can be. Geez, he looked so good and so fit that he could’ve run it again!
[QUOTE=Flash44;8181481]
He jogged back to the winners circle lame on the right front.[/QUOTE]
I don’t know, look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sl2RGyADnw
Go to about 5:00, there’s lots of walking and trotting, especially in front of the stands. Unless my lameness detection skills are totally shot, he looks pretty darn good to me…
I watched him yesterday afternoon when he was walking and trotting in front of the stands and thought to myself that he looked totally sound. But maybe my lameness detection skills are shot too. 
Anyone have guess about what his stud fee will be?
[QUOTE=capricorn;8181825]
Anyone have guess about what his stud fee will be?[/QUOTE]
Private treaty? For the first year anyway. It will be a lot if they price it but maybe not as much as you might think until he gets something on the ground that stands and nurses.
Speaking of which, what’s Pioneer of the Nile standing at for the remainder of this year, if he’s not done already? What will they want for him next year?
[QUOTE=oldernewbie;8181765]
I don’t know, look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sl2RGyADnw
Go to about 5:00, there’s lots of walking and trotting, especially in front of the stands. Unless my lameness detection skills are totally shot, he looks pretty darn good to me…[/QUOTE]
It was the shot at about 9 minutes. That video is not high enough definition, or maybe it’s my computer. He wasn’t head bobbing, it was just very subtle, jut a little uneven. That’s why I asked the vet, was not sure if I was seeing things or not. We were right in front of a big high def tv.
The breeding business is an interesting one. I actually don’t think winning the Belmont will add much to his stud fee vs. what it already was at after the Preakness. Might do more for Pioneerof the Nile.
Oh, please, pray to the racing goddesses/gods that he race races as a 4yo!
Does it not spin any person’s grapes right 'round, just WHAT Secretariat could have accomplished as a 4yo on the track??
I don’t see him off, but I’m no vet. I do think the fact that the pony rider had a good snug hold on him, so he was bent left, is not going to result in AP moving quite normally - not to mention Victor up there doing his happy dance, lol.
And I agree with others that if he was NQR , he’d have been hustled off PDQ.
[QUOTE=2tempe;8181972]
I don’t see him off, but I’m no vet. I do think the fact that the pony rider had a good snug hold on him, so he was bent left, is not going to result in AP moving quite normally - not to mention Victor up there doing his happy dance, lol.
And I agree with others that if he was NQR , he’d have been hustled off PDQ.[/QUOTE]
Lord knows AP was probably exhausted after a miraculous TC series. It is amazing after the run out he could put one hoof in front of the other. Hope they give him a good long rest.
[QUOTE=Howlin’Wolf;8181959]
Oh, please, pray to the racing goddesses/gods that he race races as a 4yo!
Does it not spin any person’s grapes right 'round, just WHAT Secretariat could have accomplished as a 4yo on the track??[/QUOTE]
Not going to happen. Breeding rights have been sold to Coolmore, contracts signed. He goes to the shed after the Breeders Cup at the latest.
If he were mine? He’d be there tomorrow. This is no mediocre underperformer who never lived up to early promise and/or broke down/suffered a career ending injury before its third birthday as so many before him have been. It’s the right decision.
I think they are being generous planning on at least one summer race and the Breeders Cup Classic against older horses. Wouldn’t blame them if they backed out earlier, nothing to prove.
What would Secretariat have done as a four year old? Who knows. None win them all so he could lose, tracks could have to pay owners to run against him to fill the field so it would be meaningless. Every time they go in that gate, there is a possibility of getting hurt, if the horse has already become a superstar? Why risk his health to prove nothing.
Id like to see him in the Haskell and/or Travers and the BC Classic. He can prove something there, maybe that he is beatable, public can see him. But IMO that’s a reasonable risk. Four year old campaign would be meaningless and an unreasonable risk.
I just read that Bob Baffert and his wife donated the $150,000 winnings they received to three charities. Victor Espinoza donated an equal amount to City of Hope.
[QUOTE=JanM;8182054]
I just read that Bob Baffert and his wife donated the $150,000 winnings they received to three charities. Victor Espinoza donated an equal amount to City of Hope.[/QUOTE]
Wow. Awesome.
[QUOTE=Lauruffian;8182082]
Wow. Awesome.[/QUOTE]
Nice to hear that about the Bafferts. Espinoza has supported the City of Hope for years with both money and his time so I am not surprised at his gesture.
[QUOTE=Pronzini;8182126]
Nice to hear that about the Bafferts. Espinoza has supported the City of Hope for years with both money and his time so I am not surprised at his gesture.[/QUOTE]
Yes Victor gives 10% of all his winnings to City of Hope but he is giving 100% of his Belmont money to them, what a wonderful thing to do. Very generous of the Bafferts too.
Much as I would like to see him race a few more times I wouldn’t blame the owner for retiring him right now. Nothing he wins will ever mean as much as being the Triple Crown champion, and every time they race they risk injury, it’s not worth it. He is already horse of the year.
FWIW, my local news just carried a clip from some press conf baffert did, and he basically said the horse will race again. Something about the earliest maybe being august up in saratoga.
In one of the interviews today, it was said he would race three more times, the first two to be determined and the final to be the Breeder’s Cup classic.
Any of you die hard racing people - if I wanted a souvenir of this triple crown, what should it be? I can’t imagine how many things are out there already. Any suggestions? I’d kill for an autograph by Penny Chenery along with American Pharoah’s owners,trainer, etc.
[QUOTE=clint;8182334]
In one of the interviews today, it was said he would race three more times, the first two to be determined and the final to be the Breeder’s Cup classic.[/QUOTE]
Was I right, or was I right?:yes:
I would bet the Haskell is the next stop. That race seems to be a particular favorite of Baffert’s.
After that, I’m thinking the Awesome Again (formerly The Goodwood Stakes) at Santa Anita over 9f against older horses as his last prep for the BCC.
There is the possibility of Travers as next race, and then maybe the JCGC on the same weekend as the Awesome Again, but I just don’t see Baffert doing two 10f races before the BCC.
So my bet is Haskell -> Awesome Again–> BCC.
I also bet that if he under-performs significantly in either of those races that he will be retired so as not to risk damaging his reputation further, though the official reason will be some kind of “injury”. Not that I expect him to under perform, and hope he doesn’t, but this is horse racing, and horses are horses and do go off the boil and lose form.
Carolina-there were a ton of posters Penny Chenery signed, and I’m betting that the AP connections did the same. Either ebay, or other auction sites should have some, for a huge price. Many times they do signings of hats, photos, etc. to be sold for portions going to charities. I bought a TC hat and t shirt from a fan site, because I just can’t justify really big bucks, but I’m sure real collectibles will be out there, or probably already are.
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