Verrazano -- The Real Deal or Paper Tiger?

[Sightseek]

Several years ago there would be a lot being said about a horse being the early favorite having only made 3 career starts and none as a 2 year old. In an era of a "New Normal" in horse racing, it seems that the old rules don't carry as much weight in people's minds in that search for their "Derby Horse."

Will experience matter for Verrazano? The Tampa Bay Derby was a solid race, but did he really beat anyone?

Which horse(s) look to have more potential as we enter the last few weeks of Derby preps?

I don't think this is a horrible group of horses going into the Derby, yet so many of the horses lack the familiarity that we were treated with last year since so many of the Juvenile runners made it into the Derby field.

[Dahoss]

It could be a bit of each for Verrazano as I do think he is the real deal, but also think his lack of experience could hurt him.

He hasn't seen dirt in the face yet and while it's possible he's just faster than everyone else, a stumble, step slow and/or the 20 horse field might be his first encounter with being behind horses early.

I agree this isn't a bad group and actually think 5-10 of them are actually okay. They just need more. More seasoning, more races, more training, more everything.

[declansharbor]

Verrazano dusted the allowance field he faced 6 years to the day of Curlin's maiden romp.

Last year's crop was decimated by injuries at year's end, hopefully this year is no repeat!

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by declansharbor

Verrazano dusted the allowance field he faced 6 years to the day of Curlin's maiden romp.

Last year's crop was decimated by injuries at year's end, hopefully this year is no repeat!

Interesting fact. Verrazano will go into the Derby with one more race than either of them, but profile-wise I was thinking he might be another Dunkirk -- if Pletcher could somehow get a Curlinesque campaign out of him, that would be brilliant!

I would have less hesitations on this horse if he were trained by Mott or Sheriffs than Pletcher.

[Rudeboyelvis]

An awful lot is going to have to go right for him if they expect him to win like he did in the Tampa Bay Derby. I'd love to seem them rate him a bit in the next prep (Wood presumably?)

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I would have less hesitations on this horse if he were trained by Mott or Sheriffs than Pletcher.

That's my question about him, too. I thought Haskin's comment about him on his Derby list was interesting:

If Pletcher can get him to win or even run big in the Derby, it would actually contradict what’s worked for him in the past. It is ironic that Pletcher usually likes at least 4-to-5 weeks between races, but the fact is, he has saddled six horses to finish 4th or better in the Derby, and all six went into the race off only three weeks, while all those given 4-to-5 weeks all ran poorly. Go Figure. Pletcher’s two best finishes in the past 11 years have been a win with Super Saver and a second with Bluegrass Cat, and both those horses prepped at Tampa Bay, so that at least bodes well for this colt, who could use as much fitness as he can get.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentu...well-farm.aspx

He didn't say anything about his dapples, however.

[Gaelic Storm]

I am not sure an offspring of More Than Ready can go the mile and quarter. Hungry Island was best on turf at a mile and not as effective going longer. Not sure that is a great comparison but they are similarly bred.

[Sightseek]

My video was going out, but I wasn't so impressed with Verrazano there.