Hard Spun in the Stretch

[MLC]

Maybe we'll see these horses compete against each other more instead of taking months off.

[Danzig]

well, here's hoping tafels decide to keep street sense out and about for the rest of the year at least. but you know that phone of theirs is already ringing off the hook.

i can see the ad now. bcj winner, derby winner, the first ever blah blah blah.

hello, you want to breed one like him, go see street cry!! pffft.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Maybe, but he was coming again at the end. Or Borel just stopped riding. Either way, his was the most impressive race....And we can put that 57 nonsense to rest. This is a good horse.

I agree and is it me or does anyone else think that Pino used him up on the front end...now I realize he ran 2nd and was indeed coming at the end....I hate to monday morning quarterback this one, but does anyone else think Pino could have maybe done things a little be different? Just curious....

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Danzig

right. when you see the head on, it almost looks like he got shut off, but the overhead definitely shows differently.

I don't think it was Street Sense either....I really don't think Pino saw SS coming that fast and he got surprised.....as Borel cut over in front after he passed him, Pino switched hands and I think that's what caused it....

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Samarta

I agree and is it me or does anyone else think that Pino used him up on the front end...now I realize he ran 2nd and was indeed coming at the end....I hate to monday morning quarterback this one, but does anyone else think Pino could have maybe done things a little be different? Just curious....

i didn't like him letting hard spun out a notch after the half, his second quarter was a bit slower than the first, not by much, but he should have continued with the ride, rather than open up a bit.
BUT, easy to see that NOW. pino did fine. hard spun did great.

[PPerfectfan]

Street Sense was dead tired coming to the wire, switched back to left lead and was slowing down noticeably

Maybe what you saw as "dead tired" was Calvin easing up on him, pumping his fist not riding him at all in the last yards? Cause if he was "dead tired", I dont think he would have been on the track going a mile today. People keep saying "Oh he can only win on the rail" but what would you do if the rail opened up perfectly for you at just the right time?? Think to yourself "Oh no, I am not going over there cause the arm chair jocks/trainers will say I can only win on the rail!!" Hell NO, you gonna go to the spot that opens up for you.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i didn't like him letting hard spun out a notch after the half, his second quarter was a bit slower than the first, not by much, but he should have continued with the ride, rather than open up a bit.
BUT, easy to see that NOW. pino did fine. hard spun did great.

i hear ya, and would it have made any difference if he went 23 and 47, who knows.....

[pba1817]

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

Street Sense was dead tired coming to the wire, switched back to left lead and was slowing down noticeably

Maybe what you saw as "dead tired" was Calvin easing up on him, pumping his fist not riding him at all in the last yards? Cause if he was "dead tired", I dont think he would have been on the track going a mile today. People keep saying "Oh he can only win on the rail" but what would you do if the rail opened up perfectly for you at just the right time?? Think to yourself "Oh no, I am not going over there cause the arm chair jocks/trainers will say I can only win on the rail!!" Hell NO, you gonna go to the spot that opens up for you.

Borel did not ease up on him until 3 strides before the wire. If you know what a tired horse looks like, he was very tired. The switching to incorrect leads tells a lot, the gallop out after the wire tells even more.

He used everything he had in the tank to win and I believe it will show up in the Preakness.

[PPerfectfan]

If you know what a tired horse looks like, he was very tired. The switching to incorrect leads tells a lot, the gallop out after the wire tells even more.

Yeah your right, I have never seen a racehorse in "person". Only 25 years, but heck what do I know. Guess him on the track today looking like a million bucks, doing more than most Derby winners have done in years and years is a good indicator that he was totally spent. Shows what I know I guess.

[pba1817]

I never posted that you werent experienced, or didnt know anything about horses. But appraently you cannot recognize a spent horse when you see one.

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

If you know what a tired horse looks like, he was very tired. The switching to incorrect leads tells a lot, the gallop out after the wire tells even more. .

Um, not trying to insult you or anything, but didnt SS switch leads right at the moment when Borel turned around to look at HS? Couldnt the sudden wt. shift do that?

Going from day old memory here...

Im not even sure why a tired horse would switch, seems like he would just lose interest, but this is getting away from the main idea..

Originally Posted by Danzig

i didn't like him letting hard spun out a notch after the half, his second quarter was a bit slower than the first, not by much, but he should have continued with the ride, rather than open up a bit.
BUT, easy to see that NOW. pino did fine. hard spun did great.

I have read this passage a couple of times now and still dont understand. He got to the 3/4 marker in 1:11 and change. This is ideal for a front running horse. He apparently slowed him down at this stage (1/2 --> 3/4) because they got the 1/2 in under 47 which a bit fast but not ridiculous. at the 3/4 mark he had the horse at the front at an ideal pace, it was fine riding, unless I am missing something...

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by Samarta

I agree and is it me or does anyone else think that Pino used him up on the front end...now I realize he ran 2nd and was indeed coming at the end....I hate to monday morning quarterback this one, but does anyone else think Pino could have maybe done things a little be different? Just curious....

No, he rode him perfect. I think it is easier to sometimes go faster and run by yourself than run slower with a horse right next to you breathing down your throat. He seemed to be doing it easily. I had absolutely no problem him riding him like that in that race.

[ultracapper]

i thought that street sense looked very fresh going into the winner's circle, i even commented to the people i watched the race with that he looked sharp. i don't think the derby took anything more out of him than would be expected. he looked dead fit and i would be surprised if he isn't top-end ready for the preakness. on the other hand, i fully expect hard spun to come up short in the preakness. he is a nice horse, but he ran a monster yesterday and i can only imagine him digressing. i see street sense, curlin and maybe another fresh horse catching hard spun in the preakness.