Penn. Derby now a $1mill. race

boswd · #1 02-22-2007, 10:10 AM

I wonder what kind of affect this is going to have on The Travers with the Penn. Derby to be ran on Labor Day. With the Breeders Cup already affecting field sizes throughout the year and the prestige of other races, The Travers now finds itself sandwiched in between two one million dollar races for 3yr olds The Haskell and now the Penn Derby.

slotdirt · #2 02-22-2007, 10:26 AM

Haskell and Travers are what, like two or three weeks apart? Bluegrass Cat ran both last year, Roman Ruler ran both the year before. I don't think the Haskell has any effect on field size for the Travers. There are plenty of pricey races for 3YO's around that time - the PA Derby, WV Derby, etc. - but the Travers will always still be the Travers.

boswd · #3 02-22-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Haskell and Travers are what, like two or three weeks apart? Bluegrass Cat ran both last year, Roman Ruler ran both the year before. I don't think the Haskell has any effect on field size for the Travers. There are plenty of pricey races for 3YO's around that time - the PA Derby, WV Derby, etc. - but the Travers will always still be the Travers.

True but what concerns me is how trainers love spacing between races and it has been a concern in the past of running horses in both the Haskell and the Travers being three weeks apart and now with the PA Derby a million dollars and a week after the Travers, that gives them the 4 weeks they like in between races.
The Travers will always be The Travers but in this day of The Breeders Cup, prestigious races have taken their hits in favor of spacing between races and when a race is a million dollars, they could start to overlook the Travers.

#4 02-22-2007, 11:37 AM

I have a great memory of the PA Derby in 1991 when eventual winner Macho Uno knocked down a fence in the paddock to get to the lone female entered in the race. His name really fits him. She ran second. I cannot remember her name, but I think she is a daughter of Unbridled.

#5 02-22-2007, 11:42 AM

God bless the slots.

MisterB · #6 02-22-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bold Reasoning

I have a great memory of the PA Derby in 1991 when eventual winner Macho Uno knocked down a fence in the paddock to get to the lone female entered in the race. His name really fits him. She ran second. I cannot remember her name, but I think she is a daughter of Unbridled.

Wasn't that Valley Crossing who won that year? which paid $158.60. Ridden by Andrea Seefeldt ?

Antitrust32 · #7 02-22-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

Wasn't that Valley Crossing who won that year? which paid $158.60. Ridden by Andrea Seefeldt ?

ment 2001 i think

#8 02-22-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

Wasn't that Valley Crossing who won that year? which paid $158.60. Ridden by Andrea Seefeldt ?

Thanks for correcting me. Of course, it was 2001!

Antitrust32 · #9 02-22-2007, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bold Reasoning

I have a great memory of the PA Derby in 1991 when eventual winner Macho Uno knocked down a fence in the paddock to get to the lone female entered in the race. His name really fits him. She ran second. I cannot remember her name, but I think she is a daughter of Unbridled.

unbridled elaine?

#10 02-22-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

unbridled elaine?

That sounds right. Thanks.

KirisClown · #11 02-22-2007, 10:10 PM

The Penn Derby has a lot of history/tradition. The great Meadow Flight won it back in 94.... those were the days.

The Indomitable DrugS · #12 02-22-2007, 11:10 PM

One of Meadow Flight's owners drove all the way from New Jersey to spend a day of racing with me at Saratoga last year....

He happened to pick the day they cancelled the races because of excessive heat. He didn't find out they had cancelled until he got to the track.

My earliest memory of the PA Derby was when the crusty old Harvy Vanier's Western Playboy won the race, over a full field, by about 20 lengths in pretty strong time.

horseofcourse · #13 02-22-2007, 11:21 PM

Smarten also won the Pennsylvania Derby...now that was a good horse.

It pays to be the owner of an average 3 yr old colt...the money is there...everywhere!!

KirisClown · #14 02-23-2007, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

One of Meadow Flight's owners drove all the way from New Jersey to spend a day of racing with me at Saratoga last year....

He happened to pick the day they cancelled the races because of excessive heat. He didn't find out they had cancelled until he got to the track.

My earliest memory of the PA Derby was when the crusty old Harvy Vanier's Western Playboy won the race, over a full field, by about 20 lengths in pretty strong time.

I still hate Meadow Flight... I was so sure he'd win the Super Derby that year and he ran like ****

mark2061mn · #15 02-24-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KirisClown

I still hate Meadow Flight... I was so sure he'd win the Super Derby that year and he ran like ****

i asked the same guy druggieS mentioned earlier about MF and his super derby performance, and this is what he said:

mf according to bravo couldn't handle the track from the get go,,,,he was dead last after they passed the wire the first time,,even behind concern,,,,,and while doing that he exerted so much he caused himself some trauma and bled,,,,he then was really never the same

KirisClown · #16 02-24-2007, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

i asked the same guy druggieS mentioned earlier about MF and his super derby performance, and this is what he said:

mf according to bravo couldn't handle the track from the get go,,,,he was dead last after they passed the wire the first time,,even behind concern,,,,,and while doing that he exerted so much he caused himself some trauma and bled,,,,he then was really never the same

I guess that explains it all, considering how well he ran in the Haskell etc. the performance in Louisiana made no sense...

Thanks for the information...