7/29 (SAR): Vanderbilt (G1), Bwlg Grn, Jim Dandy, Amsterdam (G2's)

[Kasept]

[RolloTomasi]

Great job by Paul Reddam here with Pavel. This could be his worst entry since the oft-injured Square Eddie came off a one year layoff and broke the track record for 6.5f at Santa Anita in an allowance race. His next race came 3 weeks later across the country in the 9f Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

Some nimrod suggested the Jim Dandy should have been restricted into a match race between Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing and now that the entries are out, I tend to agree with him.

The least Reddam could have done was fake us out and cross-enter him in the Amsterdam.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Great job by Paul Reddam here with Pavel. This could be his worst entry since the oft-injured Square Eddie came off a one year layoff and broke the track record for 6.5f at Santa Anita in an allowance race. His next race came 3 weeks later across the country in the 9f Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

Some nimrod suggested the Jim Dandy should have been restricted into a match race between Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing and now that the entries are out, I tend to agree with him.

The least Reddam could have done was fake us out and cross-enter him in the Amsterdam.

jumpn...there is aggressive and then there is. Well at least gets it to 5 runners.

He is talented so hopefully a move like this doesnt ruin the horse.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

jumpn...there is aggressive and then there is. Well at least gets it to 5 runners.

He is talented so hopefully a move like this doesnt ruin the horse.

Amazingly, Good Samaritan was actually the late-added 5th runner.. When Grening was on the other day, he said Pavel had gotten the field to a quartet and they weren't sure a 5th was forthcoming.

[10 pnt move up]

Only horse I would want coming out of that race would be Pavel who was 3 wide most of the way. Always Dreaming only hung around cause of the rail.

That was the Cloud Computing I was expecting in the Preakness.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Great job by Paul Reddam here with Pavel. This could be his worst entry since the oft-injured Square Eddie came off a one year layoff and broke the track record for 6.5f at Santa Anita in an allowance race. His next race came 3 weeks later across the country in the 9f Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

Some nimrod suggested the Jim Dandy should have been restricted into a match race between Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing and now that the entries are out, I tend to agree with him.

The least Reddam could have done was fake us out and cross-enter him in the Amsterdam.

Pavel was a head from beating both Classic winners, and the only match race among them was to see who could finish last.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Pavel was a head from beating both Classic winners, and the only match race among them was to see who could finish last.

I actually think he ran very credible all things given.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I actually think he ran very credible all things given.

He absolutely did. He ran a better race than everyone but the winner IMO. But apparently you get killed for taking a shot with a talented horse--while the same people probably complain about short fields.

[King Glorious]

I could understand if there were actual good horses in the race to avoid but there weren't. I think if you have a 3yo with four legs, it's worth taking a shot against the "leaders" of this division. Old rules about the proper progressions have to be discarded. This is not the same game of the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

But apparently you get killed for taking a shot with a talented horse

Classic short-term over long-term thinking. How many horses went from breaking their maiden late in their 3yo year in their debut to winning a Grade 1 at 9f or more in their second start?

Did Pavel show signs of talent in the Jim Dandy? Sure. Was it all for naught? Of course. He ran like a horse that had never been two turns before and found wanting in the stretch, ultimately finishing off the board.

At best, if the plan was to see if he had any talent (did anyone who saw his maiden win need this?) it was a completely wasted effort. At worst, if he comes out of the race less than 100% (was his debut delayed for a physical issue?) the race may have ruined his career.

This is nothing new though for Reddam, who's proficiency at ruining careers has move into the realm of an art form.

--while the same people probably complain about short fields.

Classic short-term over long-term thinking. If Pavel's career is shortened in any way by blowing his wad in this race, then guess what, instead of the prospect a 4-horse Jim Dandy, there will be perhaps 10 or more races over the longterm that won't have Pavel in it.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Pavel was a head from beating both Classic winners

That's funny, I don't remember saying that Pavel was not a talented horse. In fact, the very reason I even posted about a horse with but a single start in a 6.5f maiden race is because I believe he's very talented.

and the only match race among them was to see who could finish last.

Of course, the match race comment was tongue-in-cheek. The point there was that if the race was refashioned as a match race between two classic winners, Pavel wouldn't have been able start.

On the bright side, I'm glad you waited until after the race to post these misreadings of my post. Wouldn't have wanted to gum up all the legit pre-race discussion of the Jim Dandy in this thread.