Whittingham Memorial Handicap

[miraja2]

Hollywood Park - June 9th, 2007 - Race 10
Charles Whittingham Memorial H. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 4:50 PM
Distance: 10f
Surface: Turf
Post Horse Name Age Weight Jockey

1 After Market (KY) 4 118 Solis
2 Porfido (CHI) 5 114 Espinoza
3 Fitz Flag (ARG) 7 113 Almeida
4 Obrigado (FR) 4 118 Valdivia
5 Lang Field (KY) 4 115 Court
6 Red Fort (IRE) 7 117 Flores
7 Valiant Effort (CA) 4 110 Enriquez
8 Lava Man (CA) 6 124 Nakatani


Two big questions in this one:
1) Will somebody finally beat Lava Man in SoCal?
2) Is there any way Vic can top his ridiculously over-the-top race call from last year?

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Hollywood Park - June 9th, 2007 - Race 10
Charles Whittingham Memorial H. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 4:50 PM
Distance: 10f
Surface: Turf
Post Horse Name Age Weight Jockey

1 After Market (KY) 4 118 Solis
2 Porfido (CHI) 5 114 Espinoza
3 Fitz Flag (ARG) 7 113 Almeida
4 Obrigado (FR) 4 118 Valdivia
5 Lang Field (KY) 4 115 Court
6 Red Fort (IRE) 7 117 Flores
7 Valiant Effort (CA) 4 110 Enriquez
8 Lava Man (CA) 6 124 Nakatani


Two big questions in this one:
1) Will somebody finally beat Lava Man in SoCal?
2) Is there any way Vic can top his ridiculously over-the-top race call from last year?

I know how frustrating it is to continue trying to beat Lava Man in California, but he could be vulernable in this spot, especially being his first since Dubai (I think English Channel is also vulernable at Belmont on Saturday).

Lang Field is going to try and steal this race on the front end, and that may be the only way Lava Man loses. Unless Obrigado fires big, but it would be nice to have Gomez aboard rather than Valvidia Jr.

I don't remember Vic's call on the race from last year? Was it obnoxious?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

I don't remember Vic's call on the race from last year? Was it obnoxious?

It was beyond obnoxious.

"He's soaring like an Eagle....LIKE A BALD EAGLE!!!!"

No way he can top that one this year.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

I know how frustrating it is to continue trying to beat Lava Man in California, but he could be vulernable in this spot, especially being his first since Dubai (I think English Channel is also vulernable at Belmont on Saturday).

Lang Field is going to try and steal this race on the front end, and that may be the only way Lava Man loses. Unless Obrigado fires big, but it would be nice to have Gomez aboard rather than Valvidia Jr.

I don't remember Vic's call on the race from last year? Was it obnoxious?

I don't think there is any way Lang Field will wire the field. If Lava Man gets beat, I suspect it will be by Obrigado or After Market.
Betting against Lava Man in Cali however, is not usually a smart proposition. He always runs like a mule away from there, but it never seems to affect him much when he returns home.

[miraja2]

Wow, people really have no interest in this race whatsoever!
I guess when you compare the quality of the horses here to some of the races in New York on Saturday.......that makes some sense.

[ninetoone]

I'll try Red Fort here...what the hey!

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by ninetoone

I'll try Red Fort here...what the hey!

From just skimming the form I am going to say there is a good chance Red Fort was prepping in the last race for this race. He should be sharper here.
Of the two to use underneath, I probably lean toward Red Fort over the possible underlay of After Market for the reason of form cycles. After Market also basically had that scenario handed to him on a silver platter last out with a razor sharp Get Funky(off a 6.5downhill) dueling Willow O Wisp(wants to lead) on the front end.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Wow, people really have no interest in this race whatsoever!
I guess when you compare the quality of the horses here to some of the races in New York on Saturday.......that makes some sense.

I think it's more triple crown wind down. Lava Man is training well, but this is the time for a case of Dubai Flu to show up. If Lava Man wins this and the Hollywood Gold cup his owners will be talking about SHIPPING to ?????????

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

I think it's more triple crown wind down. Lava Man is training well, but this is the time for a case of Dubai Flu to show up. If Lava Man wins this and the Hollywood Gold cup his owners will be talking about SHIPPING to ?????????

like it did with honey ryder?

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Wow, people really have no interest in this race whatsoever!
I guess when you compare the quality of the horses here to some of the races in New York on Saturday.......that makes some sense.

There's plenty of interest.

If Lava Man is to be defeated it will be by After Market. Those are the two for me in the P4, P6. I'm not stupid enough to leave Lava Man out, but I do think if someone is going to get him in CA, this is the race.

After Market will be content to watch Lava Man pressure Lang Field through the early running and may shoot through on the rail as Lang Field tires and get the jump on Lava Man.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

There's plenty of interest.

If Lava Man is to be defeated it will be by After Market. Those are the two for me in the P4, P6. I'm not stupid enough to leave Lava Man out, but I do think if someone is going to get him in CA, this is the race.

After Market will be content to watch Lava Man pressure Lang Field through the early running and may shoot through on the rail as Lang Field tires and get the jump on Lava Man.

You don't think Obrigado has a chance?
His last race at 10f over this course was pretty strong and he put together a lot of nice races in a row over here before going to Dubai. What made you toss him?

[miraja2]

Past Performances: http://www.drf.com/row/pps/07charles.pdf

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Hollywood Park - June 9th, 2007 - Race 10
Charles Whittingham Memorial H. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 4:50 PM
Distance: 10f
Surface: Turf
Post Horse Name Age Weight Jockey

1 After Market (KY) 4 118 Solis
2 Porfido (CHI) 5 114 Espinoza
3 Fitz Flag (ARG) 7 113 Almeida
4 Obrigado (FR) 4 118 Valdivia
5 Lang Field (KY) 4 115 Court
6 Red Fort (IRE) 7 117 Flores
7 Valiant Effort (CA) 4 110 Enriquez
8 Lava Man (CA) 6 124 Nakatani


Two big questions in this one:
1) Will somebody finally beat Lava Man in SoCal?
2) Is there any way Vic can top his ridiculously over-the-top race call from last year?

third big question...

where's papi chullo? i thought he ran in all these!!

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Danzig

third big question...

where's papi chullo? i thought he ran in all these!!

He's running in the Birdstone Stakes (3rd race) at Belmont tomorrow.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by golfer

He's running in the Birdstone Stakes (3rd race) at Belmont tomorrow.

the birdstone... they named a race after birdstone?!

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Danzig

the birdstone... they named a race after birdstone?!

More shockingly---they actually named a street after his half sibling Bird Town.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Danzig

the birdstone... they named a race after birdstone?!

I had the exact same reaction. What do you think the over/under is for how long this Stakes will retain it's name? 3 years?

--Dunbar

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

I had the exact same reaction. What do you think the over/under is for how long this Stakes will retain it's name? 3 years?

--Dunbar

While I too am a bit surprised that he has a race named after him.....he did win three of New York's most prestigious races, so naming a race for him there does make some sense.
I think there are worse horses with stakes races named after them.