DERBY WORKS (4/27): Col. John (:57.4), Fillies (:58+) in Hot Drills

[Kasept]

Brilliant 5f spin by the Santa Anita Derby winner who looked comfortable throughout and finished 6f in 1:11.1.

Proud Spell in sharp :58.3 with 1:12.4 gallop out and Eight Belles in :58.1 (1.12.0)... Eight Belles tired slightly at the end of her work and was breathing heavier than Proud Spell when coming off the track after their works...

[geeker2]

At least we now know that CJ doesn't hate the CD dirt....

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by geeker2

At least we now know that CJ doesn't hate the CD dirt....

wait 'til he has to eat some

[Cajungator26]

Holy Moly

[TheSpyder]

Thanks Steve,

Adding info to the ball of confusion. Appears since form and record info is throw out, works and looks coming down to the wire vitally important.

By the way, you are one lucky guy to be able to right there at the action of such great events like the Derby and all the other racing you cover. I guess it safe to say you're getting what you diserve. Bravo to you. Give me a call if you need a handler, security guard, or driver. I'm there.

Spyder

[Thunder Gulch]

Wow...this may have been the most important move of the week because of his status as the Cali top dog and lack of dirt experience. Can't wait to read Welsh's report to see if he was urged at all.

[Thunder Gulch]

Steve, if you saw it, what was your opinion of the three. Obviously the times look strong, but was it easy or did they push them any? kentuckyderby.com has been posting video of the works and should have it up later today

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

Steve, if you saw it, what was your opinion of the three. Obviously the times look strong, but was it easy or did they push them any? kentuckyderby.com has been posting video of the works and should have it up later today

I know ... I wish they'd hurry up and post the work. I'm dying to see what he looked like. I've only seen a bit of video of him galloping over the surface and IMO, so far so good.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by herkhorse

wait 'til he has to eat some

LOL..might be true for a few of these...even those that have run on dirt.

[TheSpyder]

Thanks for the link. Not sure how to evaluate works but any opinions on what ones you have watched...anyone? Colonial John and Cowboy Cal looked very impressive but again not sure I know what I'm looking at.

Help!

Spyder

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

Steve, if you saw it, what was your opinion of the three. Obviously the times look strong, but was it easy or did they push them any? kentuckyderby.com has been posting video of the works and should have it up later today

[sundaysilenceforever]

Here's the alert:

Date: April 27, 2008
Track: CHURCHILL DOWNS
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 57:80 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 1/62

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

Steve, if you saw it, what was your opinion of the three. Obviously the times look strong, but was it easy or did they push them any? kentuckyderby.com has been posting video of the works and should have it up later today

Colonel John's work will be talked about as the "Derby work" you look for ala Barbaro and Street Sense the last two years. It was essentially perfect from a movement point of view in that he looked like he could have gone as long as the rider wanted. I was watching from the clocker's stand in the Media Center so we will have to rely on someone at the gap to hear how he came off the track. He finished up in an eye-opening :23.1.. terrific considering the splits (12.0, 23.2, 34.3, 46.0, 57.4 (1:11.1).

The fillies both seemed to go great, but as noted, it appeared Eight Belles was tiring approaching the finish. Proud Spell went really well and evenly in a move that mirrored Colonel John's...

[Danzig]

i wonder if jones and porter will go by todays work for eight belles....that doesnt sound like a good work to head for the derby on. hell, i don't even know that that's a good oaks work!

looks as tho col john did finally get acclimated, as early on there were reports that he was uncomfortable with the surface.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Brilliant 5f spin by the Santa Anita Derby winner who looked comfortable throughout and finished 6f in 1:11.1.

Proud Spell in sharp :58.3 with 1:12.4 gallop out and Eight Belles in :58.1 (1.12.0)... Eight Belles tired slightly at the end of her work and was breathing heavier than Proud Spell when coming off the track after their works...

I couldn't win the Oaks, IMO, for her to be the one more likely to run in the derby is silly to me.

[Scav]

Friggin HARTY going 57.4......that just cost me a couple points from the people that think he COULDN'T handle the track.....

[lostcode]

I'm with you Scav, but as a former assistant to Baffers, you knew he was going to blow this horse out and it worked for Hard Spun last year, at least until the last 1/16th. But John is much more suited to 10 furlongs. I'm still hoping for a competitive race with 3 or 4 horses actually having a chance to win.

[blackthroatedwind]

Sounds to me like the track was extremely fast this morning.

[mclem10011]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Colonel John's work will be talked about as the "Derby work" you look for ala Barbaro and Street Sense the last two years. It was essentially perfect from a movement point of view in that he looked like he could have gone as long as the rider wanted. I was watching from the clocker's stand in the Media Center so we will have to rely on someone at the gap to hear how he came off the track. He finished up in an eye-opening :23.1.. terrific considering the splits (12.0, 23.2, 34.3, 46.0, 57.4 (1:11.1).

The fillies both seemed to go great, but as noted, it appeared Eight Belles was tiring approaching the finish. Proud Spell went really well and evenly in a move that mirrored Colonel John's...

It sounds like Steve, not only were the fractions outstanding, but visually the way he was getting over the track was terrific? In terms of his stride etc.? That is what I remember from the Barbaro work, was the way he was getting over the track, it was so visually impressive to look at. Thanks for all the great info.

[wac]

ok, i just watched the colonel's workout from today and his time was fast and he "looked" good doing it i guess but what am i really suppose to be looking at. I am starting to wonder about workouts, much like race replays, are in the eye of the beholder but what do you take away from it? He looked awesome and really seemed to be getting into it just before he got to the tents in the infield and then the next thing you see is a friggin rocketship coming out from behind the tents. Looked really powerful but maybe im missing something.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by wac

ok, i just watched the colonel's workout from today and his time was fast and he "looked" good doing it i guess but what am i really suppose to be looking at. I am starting to wonder about workouts, much like race replays, are in the eye of the beholder but what do you take away from it? He looked awesome and really seemed to be getting into it just before he got to the tents in the infield and then the next thing you see is a friggin rocketship coming out from behind the tents. Looked really powerful but maybe im missing something.

In my opinion, workouts are so unbelievably over-rated pre-Derby. While I back-off this a bit this year with horses having been synthetic mavens all spring, I still contend it. It'd be one thing if all horses were trained the same, and we could accurately compare, but anything beyond that, is a lot of guesswork.