Quality Road's schedule

[ateamstupid]

I heard Steve Allday mention yesterday on ATR that Zenyatta, as great as she is, doesn't want any part of Quality Road this year. Tongue in cheek or not, it got me to thinking, what the hell is QR doing in the barn for so long then? Almost four months off after the Donn? Then what, the Woodward if we're lucky? I understand the horse has had foot issues in the past, but he's on pace for a six-race campaign, which should be unacceptable for an aspiring champion.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I heard Steve Allday mention yesterday on ATR that Zenyatta, as great as she is, doesn't want any part of Quality Road this year. Tongue in cheek or not, it got me to thinking, what the hell is QR doing in the barn for so long then? Almost four months off after the Donn? Then what, the Woodward if we're lucky? I understand the horse has had foot issues in the past, but he's on pace for a six-race campaign, which should be unacceptable for an aspiring champion.

four was all it took for ghostzapper.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

I was thinking the same thing the other day, they're really treating him (QR) with "kid gloves".......one step goes wrong, it's to the breeding shed. Guess he's fragile as eggs!

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I heard Steve Allday mention yesterday on ATR that Zenyatta, as great as she is, doesn't want any part of Quality Road this year. Tongue in cheek or not, it got me to thinking, what the hell is QR doing in the barn for so long then? Almost four months off after the Donn? Then what, the Woodward if we're lucky? I understand the horse has had foot issues in the past, but he's on pace for a six-race campaign, which should be unacceptable for an aspiring champion.

Since the Donn, name one prestigious race he could have won that would have helped his HotY campaign?
The connections are taking the exact same approach to the year that I would have done.
Personally, from fan's prospective, I wish he would run in the Foster at CD against possibly Zenyatta and Rachel. From the connection's perspective, the Met Mile is a much better race to win to form a Stallion resume.

[the_fat_man]

I suspect his 'schedule' depends on the 'schedule' (availability) of the high grade elixir (and doctored tracks).

[slotdirt]

Why is it surprising that he'd only run six, seven, eight times? That's iron horse-like compared to some of his contemporaries.

[Travis Stone]

While Quality Road has won going nine furlongs, both races were at Gulfstream Park, where he obviously thrives.

I think going a one-turn mile is more up his wheelhouse and the Met Mile makes a ton of sense. This is not to say he cannot handle nine furlongs in a race like the Stephen Foster, but I think the Met Mile is a neat race, with a lot of tradition, and is a great next spot.

[NTamm1215]

QR was given a bit of time not only because of the hole in the schedule in March and April but because they hadn't really stopped on him since last July, so he had earned a bit of a rest. Especially the way horses are handled nowadays.

NT

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

Since the Donn, name one prestigious race he could have won that would have helped his HotY campaign?
The connections are taking the exact same approach to the year that I would have done.
Personally, from fan's prospective, I wish he would run in the Foster at CD against possibly Zenyatta and Rachel. From the connection's perspective, the Met Mile is a much better race to win to form a Stallion resume.

The Oaklawn Handicap that went to effing Duke of Mischief, perhaps? The New Orleans H. is better than nothing as well. I love it how people constantly say we have too many stakes races, then when somebody skips 2-3 months with a horse, many of those same people go "well where could he have run?"

[tector]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

The Oaklawn Handicap that went to effing Duke of Mischief, perhaps? The New Orleans H. is better than nothing as well. I love it how people constantly say we have too many stakes races, then when somebody skips 2-3 months with a horse, many of those same people go "well where could he have run?"

You mean that Grade II race in Arkansas, that back in the late 80s and early 90s had a lot of excellent horses win it, but not that many since then? That Oaklawn Handicap?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by tector

You mean that Grade II race in Arkansas, that back in the late 80s and early 90s had a lot of excellent horses win it, but not that many since then? That Oaklawn Handicap?

Oh noes! A Grade II! Surely that would've severely damaged QR's pride and turned his stud value into a negative billion dollars.

[tector]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Oh noes! A Grade II! Surely that would've severely damaged QR's pride and turned his stud value into a negative billion dollars.

Another idiot heard from.

No one said that, except the imaginary person you are debating (they are so much easier to convince!).

The point is a Grade II does zero for him, not that it hurts him.

Nobody else of note showed up for the damn race, either, by the way.

[tector]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oaklawn...cap_since_1969

[RolloTomasi]

Yep. What a shi!t race.

In the last decade alone it has attracted only BC Classic winners, Dubai World Cup winners, Donn Handicap winners (go figure), Strub winners, Big Cap winners, Woodward winners, Whitney winners, Pimlico Special winners, etc.

How about the Grade 1 Carter at 7f instead?

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

The New Orleans H. is better than nothing as well.

The New Orleans Handicap has attracted some very nice horses over the last 10-15 years: Real Quiet, Funny Cide, Peace Rules, St. Liam, Concern, Ten Most Wanted, Deputy Commander, Ecton Park, Golden Missile, Mineshaft, Include, Badge of Silver, etc. You could make a argument that the rise in stature of the New Orleans Handicap has come at the expense of the Oaklawn Handicap.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

The New Orleans Handicap has attracted some very nice horses over the last 10-15 years: Real Quiet, Funny Cide, Peace Rules, St. Liam, Concern, Ten Most Wanted, Deputy Commander, Ecton Park, Golden Missile, Mineshaft, Include, Badge of Silver, etc. You could make a argument that the rise in stature of the New Orleans Handicap has come at the expense of the Oaklawn Handicap.

BUT IT'S A GRADE II!!!1!1!!1!one1one

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

The New Orleans Handicap has attracted some very nice horses over the last 10-15 years: Real Quiet, Funny Cide, Peace Rules, St. Liam, Concern, Ten Most Wanted, Deputy Commander, Ecton Park, Golden Missile, Mineshaft, Include, Badge of Silver, etc. You could make a argument that the rise in stature of the New Orleans Handicap has come at the expense of the Oaklawn Handicap.

Actually, many of those made their next start in the Oaklawn Handicap. Not sure if the NO Handicap has been repositioned along with the LA Derby, but in previous years it was a no-brainer to go from one to the other.

The Dubai World Cup and trainer's wanting to "save" their horses for the Breeder's Cup is the main culprit here, IMO.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Actually, many of those made their next start in the Oaklawn Handicap. Not sure if the NO Handicap has been repositioned along with the LA Derby, but in previous years it was a no-brainer to go from one to the other.

The Dubai World Cup and trainer's wanting to "save" their horses for the Breeder's Cup is the main culprit here, IMO.

The Oaklawn Handicap used to be the logical next start for horses that ran in the New Orleans Hcp. You'd be surprised how much things have changed. It might have to do with purse changes (Oaklawn Hcp was reduced to $500k in 2002 and the NO Hcp was increased to $500k in 1998), as the NO Hcp became a rich early spring objective.

Of the horses I mentioned earlier, only Concern, St. Liam, and Peace Rules went on to run in the Oaklawn Handicap after starting in the NO Hcp.

Here is a list of horses since 2000 (I won't include 2006 since the race was run at LaD b/c of Katrina) who ran in the NO Hcp and the Oaklawn Hcp in the same year:

2000: Allen's Oop, Pleasant Breeze.
2001: No runners.
2002: Graeme Hall.
2003: No runners.
2004: Peace Rules, St. Liam, Sir Cherokee.
2005: Second of June, Limehouse.
2007: Smokeyjonesutton.
2008: Circular Quay, Reporting For Duty, Silver Lord.
2009: Its A Bird, Secret Getaway, Honest Man.
2010: No runners.

[ateamstupid]

Making his next start in the Whitney, with one more after that before the BCC. Really, do what you want with the horse, but stop with the "he barely took a deep breath after the race!" propaganda BS if you're giving him another 2 1/2 months off.

How come hardly anyone with balls ever gets good horses?

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Making his next start in the Whitney, with one more after that before the BCC. Really, do what you want with the horse, but stop with the "he barely took a deep breath after the race!" propaganda BS if you're giving him another 2 1/2 months off.

How come hardly anyone with balls ever gets good horses?

because when your lucky enough to get a good one...