2/16 (OP): Southwest S. (Gr. III)

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The 2009 Southwest has officially become the most over-analyzed race in the Derby Trail Prep History.

until the next prep is run...it's like this every year! but that's what makes it all so fun.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

He won the 7F Hopeful which was a Grade 1.

Thank you. I wasn't sure off the top of my head. I was probably there but I just don't recall the race.
I still think that winning a G1 AFTER the TC campaign is a bigger deal.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

There isn't enough room here.....ya know, with all the birthday threads clogging the site.

oh, that's not true. there'll never be as many HB'day threads as we had casion drive threads!

[justindew]

Originally Posted by Danzig

oh, that's not true. there'll never be as many HB'day threads as we had casion drive threads!

Did someone say Casino Drive???????

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by justindew

Did someone say Casino Drive???????

yeah, that too... a typo in my post.

not sure who had more threads-big brown or casino drive.

Originally Posted by Kasept

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I've been looking for a new avatar...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

it should say 'dear andy'

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by pick4

That's a good point. But don't you think he'd like to know if he has a dirt horse? Baffert loves the attention of the Derby spotlight but he usually only goes to the race if he thinks he has a legit chance.

I find it ironic that the owner of Pioneer of The Nile got into a spat with Joe Harper at DelMar and removed all his horses from So Cal. Now he has a Derby contender who is proven on So Cal synthetic tracks and is a huge question mark when it comes to running ondirt.

No. Baffert doesn't believe in that stuff about finding out first. He knows that one of two things will happen with Pioneer. Either he'll like dirt or he won't. If he will, then he'll run his race in the Derby whether they race him on dirt prior to that race or not. And if he won't, you'd just be throwing away a shot at a $750k SA Derby that he might go favored in.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

He was the victim of a two very key circumstances:

* Being born the same year as Curlin.

* Street Sense peaking at the right time (Hard Spun ran a huge race in the KY Derby, an effort that wins most Derby's nowadays).

When was the last time we saw a horse capable of winning a G1 sprint and nearly taking down a G1 10f Derby?

Smarty Jones and Lion Heart both were capable.