8/8 (SAR): Travers, Test, Ballerina (G1's), Troy, Waya (G3's)

[Dahoss]

I’ve read a lot of “who did he beat” talk about Tiz the Law and it’s pretty laughable. I’m not running to bet him at a short price in the Derby but if what he did yesterday doesn’t impress you, you’re a hater.

It’s not like he was hiding. They’ve been frank about where they are going for months. Not to mention the potential second choice in the Derby ran in an ungraded stake at Ellis today instead of the Travers.

I don’t know....who else is there left for him to beat besides Art Collector at this point?

Horses like Happy Saver and Shirl’s Speight are exciting prospects and I think Honor AP will be fully cranked for the Derby... but you have to give credit where it is due. That was a monster performance yesterday.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

It’s not like he was hiding. They’ve been frank about where they are going for months. Not to mention the potential second choice in the Derby ran in an ungraded stake at Ellis today instead of the Travers.

The glaring omission in his campaign was the Arkansas Derby, which usurped the traditional KY Derby date when CD shutdown.

The owner said point blank he did not want to "run against Baffert".

From a fan's perspective, that's proved disappointing, because Baffert has subsequently ruined all his 3yos this year (I don't expect Uncle Chuck, who looked horrendous down the stretch--as he did at Los Al, to make another start any time soon). Nadal and Charlatan were in top form at the time and perhaps the only other 3yos that could give Tiz The Law a run for his money.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

The glaring omission in his campaign was the Arkansas Derby, which usurped the traditional KY Derby date when CD shutdown.

The owner said point blank he did not want to "run against Baffert".

From a fan's perspective, that's proved disappointing, because Baffert has subsequently ruined all his 3yos this year (I don't expect Uncle Chuck, who looked horrendous down the stretch--as he did at Los Al, to make another start any time soon). Nadal and Charlatan were in top form at the time and perhaps the only other 3yos that could give Tiz The Law a run for his money.

You don't see Gamine as able to challenge him?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

You don't see Gamine as able to challenge him?

Not in a route race.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

You don't see Gamine as able to challenge him?

I think there’s a reason they went Test and not Alabama with her after her last.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I think there’s a reason they went Test and not Alabama with her after her last.

There could be but my opinion is that it doesn't make sense to have Gamine run 10f then cut back to 9f and have one less week off between races. Maybe if the Derby was the goal for her, she could have gone in the Travers to get some points because she has none. As ambitious as I usually am, I think it was smarter to run in the Test against Venetian Harbor to prepare for the Oaks than it would have been to run in the Travers against Tiz the Law or go 10f in the Alabama. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gamine in the Preakness if she keeps it going in the Oaks.

[moses]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

There could be but my opinion is that it doesn't make sense to have Gamine run 10f then cut back to 9f and have one less week off between races. Maybe if the Derby was the goal for her, she could have gone in the Travers to get some points because she has none. As ambitious as I usually am, I think it was smarter to run in the Test against Venetian Harbor to prepare for the Oaks than it would have been to run in the Travers against Tiz the Law or go 10f in the Alabama. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gamine in the Preakness if she keeps it going in the Oaks.

In theory, they could have also run her in the Coaching Club (4 weeks after the Acorn and larger purse than the Test) or the Monmouth Oaks (5 weeks after the Acorn and smaller purse). I can see wanting to give her more time after the massive effort in the Acorn, though. Still, it's notable that all her official wins came around one turn and the race where she was DQed, her only race around two turns, she only won by a neck. I highly doubt she would make it 10 furlongs against the likes of Tiz the Law or Art Collector. I have my doubts she'll beat Speech or Swiss Skydiver at 9 furlongs.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by moses

In theory, they could have also run her in the Coaching Club (4 weeks after the Acorn and larger purse than the Test) or the Monmouth Oaks (5 weeks after the Acorn and smaller purse). I can see wanting to give her more time after the massive effort in the Acorn, though. Still, it's notable that all her official wins came around one turn and the race where she was DQed, her only race around two turns, she only won by a neck. I highly doubt she would make it 10 furlongs against the likes of Tiz the Law or Art Collector. I have my doubts she'll beat Speech or Swiss Skydiver at 9 furlongs.

That may be true. If she wins the Oaks and wraps up the 3yo filly title, the Preakness would be a good opportunity to find out. I too had my doubts after the Oaklawn race because I had a hard time believing that Speech, Venetian Harbor, Gamine, and Swiss Skydiver all ran that fast. But they are showing that they were all legit that day.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

The glaring omission in his campaign was the Arkansas Derby, which usurped the traditional KY Derby date when CD shutdown.

The owner said point blank he did not want to "run against Baffert".

From a fan's perspective, that's proved disappointing, because Baffert has subsequently ruined all his 3yos this year (I don't expect Uncle Chuck, who looked horrendous down the stretch--as he did at Los Al, to make another start any time soon). Nadal and Charlatan were in top form at the time and perhaps the only other 3yos that could give Tiz The Law a run for his money.

I don’t disagree although I can’t blame them for not wanting to run against Baffert at Oaklawn. It does seem like that extra time off he had in between Florida and the Belmont has him in very good form.