|
|
 |
|
|
|
#1
03-29-2008, 10:48 PM
|
||||
|
||||
Smooth Air
everyone was so far out of the picture I don't really know how much work Smooth Air had to do to get place. He reminded me of Monarchos in the Wood...
Front runner has the race easily won and all he can do is show up for place. Does anyone know of the connections want to go to the Ky Derby?
__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ 
|
|
#2
03-30-2008, 07:00 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
First, they are going.
Bennie Stutts told me in the paddock they would only go if he was 1-2-3. It is a lifetime dream fulfilled for this 70 year old. The job Stutts did preparing this colt was masterful. All the pedigree dopes can chew on this effort for a good long while as they are again shown up as a pack of frauds perpetuating nonsense. Manny Cruz was thrilled and told me walking back that he saw at about the 3/8ths Big Brown wasn't going to come back to him, so he rode out strictly to hold 2nd. He was immediately worried about being taken off Smooth Air by a high profile rider, but Stutts asked him, "You'll come with us to Kentucky, won't you jock?"... It was a very fun scene to be around. As for owner Brian Burns, he couldn't be at the race. I guess no one listened to ATR Friday, because he was on the show with me again. His brother is in grave condition with cancer and Burns is spending all his time with him. This performance undoubtedly raised everyone's spirit. Secondly, I don't know how or why anyone would go out of their way to try to diminish this game colt's effort from Saturday. He was the only horse other than the winnr that did any real running. He's not much to look at, but as Stutts said after the race to Cruz, "He's a professional racehorse.. You're a professional jock.. and I'm a professional trainer.." Smooth Air is the '08 Derby 'feel good' story.. And Stutts, the ultimate old school trainer, may have one more trick up his sleeve yet..
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
|
|
#5
03-30-2008, 08:59 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Great to hear the news that they're going on, this is a type of horse to root for not only because of the connections, but how hard he tries each race. He'll figure in my wagers the "first Saturday in May".
__________________
"Change can be good, but constant change shows no direction" http://www.hickoryhillhoff.blogspot.com/
|
|
#6
03-30-2008, 09:16 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
You certainly have to give him credit for running a nice race yesterday, and I absolutely can't blame his connections for taking a shot at the Kentucky Derby with him. As Steve said, Stutts deserves credit for doing a nice job with this colt.
But....I still think at this point that this colt will end up being a better one-turn horse than a two-turn one, and I don't see how a stretch out to 10f will benefit him in any way. Because of that, he doesn't strike me as a particularly strong Kentucky Derby contender, but he is certainly a hard-trying, easy-to-root-for, kind of horse. All that being said of course, I sure wouldn't mind having a pool 2 future wager on this colt, where he finished at 159/1.
|
|
#7
03-30-2008, 02:14 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
|
#8
03-30-2008, 11:51 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
I can see where someone would take my comment about him being out of it early to where you couldn't see him. My fault. I need new glasses he was doing well I started this thread because I think he merits mention
__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
|
|
#9
03-30-2008, 12:13 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
And if Big Brown had stopped in the stretch per chance? Then it would be that Smooth Air was a 'perfect trip' winner of course. And he didn't ride the rail if you watch the head on. Was in amongst horses through halfway down the backstretch when he commenced his rally. In a class of horses that are largely uninteresting, absent of talent or associated with repulsive connections, Smooth Air is refreshing and highly appealing. While I work to remain impartial as often as I can, I'm entitled to fan up to a horse occasionally...
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
|
|
#10
03-30-2008, 12:54 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Anyway, like I said, a friend of mine owns him. I know most of the entire Burns family, at least those involved with the family business. They are very nice people. I don't know their trainer but it sounds like a very nice story -- which I am sure will not appeal to everyone, so expect the critics. LOL. Eric
|
|
#11
03-30-2008, 01:03 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
BTW, I've watched the race numerous times. I was impressed at his performance. He had several points during the race where he was called on, had to push the button, etc. Watch him make his -- sustained -- move.
Eric
|
|
#12
03-30-2008, 02:22 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Smooth Air was 7 1/2 lengths clear of the third place finisher. He rallied from sixth, which was the best finish of horses closest to the pace top to bottom. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place horses early could manage only seventh or worse.
Perfect trip or not, he ran his race, which was good enough for a solid second. If people want to label such performances as "suck-up" I can rattle off a massive list of good suck-up horses who won some pretty big races.
|
|
#13
03-30-2008, 02:35 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
What circumstances make you think he cannot repeat his effort in the Derby?
|
|
#14
03-30-2008, 02:36 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) made the race yesterday. Otherwise you would have had a huge blowout. What's not to like about Smooth Jazz and his $3,000 stud fee ? Now based in NY.
Last edited by sumitas : 03-30-2008 at 04:55 PM.
|
|
#15
03-30-2008, 03:53 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
|
#16
03-30-2008, 01:54 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
|
#17
03-30-2008, 05:07 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Which prior horse or race are you talking about?
|
|
#18
03-30-2008, 05:09 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
|
#19
03-30-2008, 05:17 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Obviously.
Though King's Silver Son is a giant piece of crap of Anak Nakal proportions, I was more hoping it would lead to someone arguing that he didn't suck up in that race and is somehow an OK horse. I am also wondering what happened to all of those people who made such a big deal with the painfully obvious that Majestic Warrior's Hopeful win was a suckup and he was a phony. I was kind of fishing for some of those people to re emerge and take up the fight for KSS. Thanks for spoiling my fun.
|
|
#20
03-30-2008, 12:29 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
He was 7 lengths clear of the next horse and the choices of 45 out of 55 people on his board. Not too shabby!
Spyder
__________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
|
Hybrid Mode
