Great Hunter

[SilverRP]

GH has always been high on my Derby list. Now, I'm really not sure what to think. After watching the BlueGrass I'm very tempted to just throw that race out. But then I think, that was one terrible race as far as times go and wonder if he is a true contender. So, my question, would it be fair to toss the Bluegrass and say it was a fluke?

[PPerfectfan]

I was wondering the same thing. I really like Great Hunter but I didnt see that much of a reason for him to run up the track like that. I am going to look at the preps agian but as of now I really didnt see anything.

[SilverRP]

Believe me, I've watched that race over and over. He rushed up (if you could call it that) and sat right of the very slow fractions. He really likes to settle back and make one big run, so maybe he was out of his element. The next thing I noticed is just as he switched leads he gets sandwiched. Now, whether or not he could have done enough to get up is in question. I know many people have written him off, but I'm really not wanting to.

[BPLichorowiec]

I'm still a huge fan and see no reason to change your feelings about him after this race. He was out of his element being right off the pace and then got squeezed out of the race. He did look done at that point and apparently Nakatani felt the same way. He only had 2 works since his huge move in the lewis, so he might not have been ready for a big effort. I'll be following his workouts over the next 3 weeks and see if how he trainis.

[zippyneedsawin]

I don't understand.. didn't GH have to take up in mid-stretch when Tueflesberg bore out? He probably still doesn't win, but I'd say he lost all chance when that happened anyway.

[ateamstupid]

I never liked him, simply because I think O'Neill is one of those trainers whose horses don't do anything out of their respective elements. I didn't see a ton of excuses for him in the Blue Grass. He had to steady while he was tiring and it probably cost him fourth and that's it. Street Sense had to switch leads and was interfered with and he still only lost by a nose. I think Great Hunter at anything less than 15/1 in the Derby is an underlay.

[hockey2315]

Great Hunter is a good poly horse and seems to like Keenland. . . The fact that he ran such a clunker there is a red flag for me. . .

And if you watch the head on replay, Dominican also lost ground when Street Sense moved over on him- so I disagree with the assumption that SS would've won without the interference. . .

[Uncle Daddy]

Originally Posted by SilverRP

GH has always been high on my Derby list. Now, I'm really not sure what to think. After watching the BlueGrass I'm very tempted to just throw that race out. But then I think, that was one terrible race as far as times go and wonder if he is a true contender. So, my question, would it be fair to toss the Bluegrass and say it was a fluke?

How about less than a fluke but more than a published work. He was in with the graded earnings. He runs on the poly at 1 1/8 and improves his fitness and comes away clean. He is a solid stalker and breeeding doesn't look to be a huge issue.