Zayat is Leaving; Baffert hates it - Page 7

The Bid · #**121** 08-07-2007, 05:08 PM

Riot, Ive noted a lot of breakdowns on here if you dig through the old threads. I also drove up from Louisville pleanty of days with no issue and the track was closed... Didnt trian, didnt run, etc. Road excuse was no good. For the record the main horsepath at TWP is also Poly, and it also freezes. I made it from L'ville in about 45 minutes, thats how bad the weather was.

Its just not an all weather surface, it freezes

Riot · #**122** 08-07-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

I made it from L'ville in about 45 minutes, thats how bad the weather was.

It takes me over an hour in good weather to make that trip! I guess that makes you graded stakes, and me claiming company, driving-wise

Quote:

Its just not an all weather surface, it freezes

If I recall it right, the water retained in the track froze, clogging the draining process, and the retained water in the track made the ice clods people are talking about and you referenced. I don't know what they could do about that. I do know they still had more open days than when it was dirt. Why they didn't consult other cold-weather track supers, like Sniper suggested, before Keeneland purchased an interest in the synthetic surface company (predestining Turfway to conversion first), I don't know.

The Bid · #**123** 08-07-2007, 05:22 PM

I go 90 the entire drive and can make it in 45-50.

The track doesnt weather well. They will have more issues this winter with the same group of excuses. The kickback is ridiculous, it freezes, it balls up, its uneven. I think they lost as many days this year as they have in the past due to "Roads"

One day sticks out in my mind, cold day, TWP cancelled, Beulah ran, and New York ran. They had their tracks under control, while TWP coudlnt control the frozen ice kickback.

ArlJim78 · #**124** 08-07-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

How many graded stakes winners on polytrack have went on to repeat the success on dirt? How many have flopped?

It has pluses and minuses, but it is most definitely a third surface. If you have to pick, it is closer to turf than dirt. I am not saying that is good or bad, but it is not what was advertised.

Don't know, but its a real small sample. I guess Street Sense won the futurity race at Keeneland last fall before the juvenile.

The Bluegrass this year was a disaster and I think not conclusive of much the way it was run. You basically had a tie between 3-4 horses. While Dominican has done nothing since, Zanjero, Street Sense and Tueflesberg have acquitted themselves well and they were all in the photo or close.

I always point out that the 06 Bluegrass didn't prove much either. I think Sinister Minister is still trying to get out of the conditioned allowance races.

Turfway doesn't offer much in the way of graded stakes and we don't know about DelMar yet. Honestly I'm not that taken by any of the graded stakes winners that come out of Ca, even on the dirt. I guess the Pac Classic may shed some light, if the winner can ship out and perform on dirt. But even if they failed you would have to question whether it was the surface or the shipping, or something else, ala Lava Man.

I think a few more years will be required to adequately answer your question.

2Hot4TV · #**125** 08-07-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Dominican? All kidding aside, he seems to be somewhat of a poly specialist.

or a flash in the pan, ala Sinister Minister?

The Indomitable DrugS · #**126** 08-08-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Don't know, but its a real small sample. I guess Street Sense won the futurity race at Keeneland last fall before the juvenile.

Actually he finished 3rd, the mighty Great Hunter won that race.

Riot · #**127** 08-08-2007, 03:16 AM

So .... are Zayat's horses kicking all comers at Saratoga yet?

SentToStud · #**128** 08-08-2007, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riot

So .... are Zayat's horses kicking all comers at Saratoga yet?

There is a Zayat 2 yo in the 2nd at Saratoga named Maimonides who will be interesting to watch.

Cajungator26 · #**129** 08-08-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SentToStud

There is a Zayat 2 yo in the 2nd at Saratoga named Maimonides who will be interesting to watch.

Should win for fun...

This colt is the half to El Corredor and Roman Ruler too.

Cajungator26 · #**130** 08-08-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I know the steam king is all over this one and he will probably win by a pole, but at 3-5, it might be worth trying to beat him. Especially going 5 1/2, he breaks a step slow and he's done.

I agree 100%. I kinda like Grand Minstrel a little bit. What do you think?

Cajungator26 · #**131** 08-08-2007, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

You got me. I'd love to try and get a pic 4 going by beating him and hoping to get lucky. I might fool around with Grand Minstrel, the Tagg and the Zito.

Hope you cash...

I can't even watch the damn race from work much less play it, but if you're on afterwards, will you post and let me know how the race panned out?

Cajungator26 · #**132** 08-08-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Will do.

Thanks

ArlJim78 · #**133** 08-08-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SentToStud

There is a Zayat 2 yo in the 2nd at Saratoga named Maimonides who will be interesting to watch.

this should be interesting because i think this is the one that they didn't want to run at Del Mar cause of the poly. In fact I think he was entered on opening day but scratched.

whodey17 · #**134** 08-08-2007, 01:36 PM

Maimonides looked darn good. Very impressive. I always loved Vindication and his offspring look nice as well.

Riot · #**135** 08-08-2007, 06:29 PM

Good article about Zayat, Del Mar, and Polytrack in this weeks Thoroughbred Times.

Maimonides looked awesome. I wonder how many talking TV heads will mispronounce his name?

Danzig · #**136** 08-08-2007, 06:45 PM

isn't it 'ma, i'm a need dis'?

Payson Dave · #**137** 08-08-2007, 07:05 PM

Zayat got two of their maidens home first today at the Spa

The Devil · #**138** 08-08-2007, 07:46 PM

This man has more money than God, What would you do?

King Glorious · #**139** 10-27-2007, 03:01 PM

It's funny how many people said that Baffert was just a whiner and just couldn't adjust because he had to actually train horses now. He went to NY and had a lot of success and now has won two BC races and nearly had a third winner on the card with EZ Warrior. Looks like he still knows how to train if u ask me.

ALostTexan · #**140** 10-27-2007, 03:19 PM

So I am at an OTB in Tucson, and was talking to one of the old school trainers here.

We got to talking about Baffert's days around Southern Arizona, and he was telling me about Bob when he was 16-17 and was not only training but about his aspirations to be a jockey.

Great conversation to say the least.