Truth or Dare

[JJP]

Looked like he should've won his debut back on March 28 at GP, making what appeared to be a winning move when checked hard late in the race...came back Apr 21 vs GP Mdns again at 5 on the lawn. Drew the 10 hole and got hammered coming out of the gate...ended up beaten less than 2. Now on Monday, he appeared to be in the prime spot. Dropping in for a tag for the first time, getting Prado....so what happens? He walks out of the gate and spots the field at least 8 lengths. He ended up rallying for 4th; losing to a horse he had no business losing to. Have to wonder if this is just a problem child; I don't think the trouble in his first two races was his fault but he has to take the blame for Monday's debacle. Cost me a nice P4. I don't think I could've come up with Big Train in a million years.

[Holland Hacker]

Originally Posted by JJP

Looked like he should've won his debut back on March 28 at GP, making what appeared to be a winning move when checked hard late in the race...came back Apr 21 vs GP Mdns again at 5 on the lawn. Drew the 10 hole and got hammered coming out of the gate...ended up beaten less than 2. Now on Monday, he appeared to be in the prime spot. Dropping in for a tag for the first time, getting Prado....so what happens? He walks out of the gate and spots the field at least 8 lengths. He ended up rallying for 4th; losing to a horse he had no business losing to. Have to wonder if this is just a problem child; I don't think the trouble in his first two races was his fault but he has to take the blame for Monday's debacle. Cost me a nice P4. I don't think I could've come up with Big Train in a million years.

I was right there with you I was alive to the 4 & 9 in the last leg on Monday. All I could say was go 9 after the break. What a disappointment. Like you I never would've come up with the 1 Big train unless I hit the all button which I wasn't going to do.

We'll get them next time.

[hockey2315]

Big Train was the first-timer by Forestry, right? That's reason alone for a bet in that kind of field. . .

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Big Train was the first-timer by Forestry, right? That's reason alone for a bet in that kind of field. . .

Exactly...and I'm not trying to sound like a know-it-all but Forestry is an A sire on the turf, Big Train's trainer Phil Serpe is over 30% at the meet, having won the opener on Monday, and the horse had the speed-and-fade angle at MSW level behind a really nice field last time out.

The problem I had with Truth or Dare was that while he did get into trouble first time out in his second race he had a clear run in the stretch after having marginal trouble at the start. Even when he had room he really didn't rally with any punch.

Those MSWs at Gulfstream after Florida Derby day, by the way, need to be taken with a grain of salt. They are much heavier with soon-to-be Calder horses than soon-to-be NY horses.

NT