4/2 (OP): AR Derby (G1), Oaklawn Mile, Fantasy (G3's), Carousel

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Barber Road, in my opinion, is confusing people. He keeps sucking up in slow races. I get the idea that if the pace gets hot, and the Derby falls apart, he could suck up again for a share but someone is going to have show me a race where he actually did some meaningful running....particularly in a reasonably fast race. Do we actually think he will out-close horses like Smile Happy, Zandon, or Mo Donegal in Kentucky?

At the end of the day, or in this case meet ( essentially ), the Arkansas preps this year were decidedly mediocre.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Also, Matt, please watch the start again. She had, pretty much, no trouble that affected her early position.

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I thought the contact was minimal. Being 4 wide up the backstretch for no reason and then getting beat to the spot she was already in as they approached the turn was all on Contreras. That caused her to have to make that big looping move she made which zapped her late.

He's not a very good rider. That's why after her last I said he'd get her beat eventually. Last time he put her in a spot where she could have gotten into trouble. She can overcome him in small fields but larger fields are going to be an issue.

She's a really nice horse. Not a generational talent, but she ran well yesterday, despite the ride and she deserves a better rider.

Truthfully I’m not sure about Barber Road in the long run, I just thought he had a chance to catch the winner if he didn’t encounter trouble in the stretch. He had a very good trip until then saving all the ground.

I couldn’t find a head on replay, even if the bump wasn’t that bad, I think it did put them back further than they would’ve liked. That being said after watching it again, I think Hossy is right about the ride. Contreras had a chance going in the first turn to get some position (would be been right behind Cyberknife) he ended up staying wide and was forced to make that crazy wide move.

A tale of two rides, Flo’s was excellent and Contreras’s was far from it.

[Konk]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Too bad these nice races have such a POS calling them. Dude looks like he just woke up in the gutter and walked over to announce.

First time you’ve ever worn a tie Vic?

Good thing he's not in charge of mucking stalls or you'd be out of here.
You an expert on what people look like waking up in gutters?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Konk

Good thing he's not in charge of mucking stalls or you'd be out of here.
You an expert on what people look like waking up in gutters?

Be honest…when he was begging people to PayPal his wife for his picks…how much did you send?

[Konk]

Why would I buy his picks when you give me 2 absolute throw out every day at Saratoga?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Konk

Why would I buy his picks when you give me 2 absolute throw out every day at Saratoga?

Not exactly a denial

[moses]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

It's not like she ran badly. Show her the 1988 Derby....and then tell her how great Forty Niner and Risen Star were.

Agreed. I told my daughter that I thought Secret Oath ran really well and maybe she would have finished better if she didn’t get pushed around early on.

She was sad but she’s still excited about the Kentucky Derby and has been working on learning the words to My Old Kentucky Home, which of course made my mom cry when she sang it to her (my dad and maternal grandfather both loved horse racing but have since passed.)

I’ll have to show her the 1988 Derby. She’ll like that.