Ben Ali S. (G3) @ KEE

[hockey2315]

8th (4:45)
Ben Ali S. (G3)

1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $150,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Welcome Again Castellano J J Frankel Robert 117 L 12-1
2 2 Eccentric (GB) Prado E S Attfield Roger L 119 L 10-1
3 3 Greeley's Legacy Nakatani C S Weaver George 117 L 12-1
4 4 Chatain Velasquez C Penna Angel Jr 119 L 5-2
5 5 Palladio Guidry M Attfield Roger L 117 L 30-1
6 6 Minister's Joy Velazquez J R McGaughey III C R 117 L 8-1
7 7 Better Than Bonds Albarado R J Motion H Graham 117 L 20-1
8 8 Mustanfar Jara F McLaughlin Kiaran P 117 L 8-1
9 9 Jade's Revenge Desormeaux K J Motion H Graham 117 L 20-1
10 10 Stream Cat Leparoux J R Biancone Patrick L 117 6-1
11 11 Saint Stephen Gomez G K Clement Christophe 119 L 5-1
12 12 Rathor (IRE) Bejarano R Frankel Robert 117 L 5-1

I'm a big Chatain fan, but I was a little disappointed with this spot. 1 1/8 is not his best distance and I'm not sure how he'll react to the poly. . . Who does everyone like?

[zippyneedsawin]

Looks like a wide open affair, I'd take shot on Greeley's Legacy or Mustanfar for a price, I guess.

[paisjpq]

if Bobby Frankel runs Rathor back on 20 days rest (esp. following a big effort last time) he must think he's ready...too bad he's in the 12, that's reason enough for that barn to scratch.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

if Bobby Frankel runs Rathor back on 20 days rest (esp. following a big effort last time) he must think he's ready...too bad he's in the 12, that's reason enough for that barn to scratch.

He ran an absolutely monster race last out. I had it as a 123 on my figs which works out to about a 111 Beyer- I was shocked he's running him back so quickly. I'm with you though, Frankel will scratch with the 12 post.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by philcski

He ran an absolutely monster race last out. I had it as a 123 on my figs which works out to about a 111 Beyer- I was shocked he's running him back so quickly. I'm with you though, Frankel will scratch with the 12 post.

He is a danger to scratch. He liked the surface last out and some of them can bounce back pretty quickly off of the polytrack. Frankel has no problem getting their strength and appetitie back either.

I like the 2,11,12 here. Normally that would mean i just like the 2 . Not sure I toss the outside posts here.

I don't like Chatain for a 9 furlong race at Keeneland at all, even though it's possible he is the best animal in the race. He is too fast and isn't going to take back and rate. = He REALLY should scratch out.

Greeley's Legacy is somewhat interesting but I think we will see a middle move here.

Leparoux will swing Stream Cat wide but I don't rank him this high.

Minister's Joy has the style and form to pass these up late, but he will need a ride from well off the pace. Will be interesting to see how far back Johnny V. will rate.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

like the 2 eccentric here..he loves keenland as a whole and is 18 starts 8 wins 4 seconds 1 third on the synth beat ball four at the dist with trouble..

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

How bout Stream Cat & Saint Stephen , along with the probable favorites...12 & 4

[KY_Sasquash]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

like the 2 eccentric here..he loves keenland as a whole and is 18 starts 8 wins 4 seconds 1 third on the synth beat ball four at the dist with trouble..

I'm with you, he's my top pick in the race and we should get some decent odds

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fischer

I don't like Chatain for a 9 furlong race at Keeneland at all, even though it's possible he is the best animal in the race. He is too fast and isn't going to take back and rate. = He REALLY should scratch out.


Minister's Joy has the style and form to pass these up late, but he will need a ride from well off the pace. Will be interesting to see how far back Johnny V. will rate.

Chatain finished out of the money as expected and went off at $1.20 ??? what where they thinking making him that low a price on this track? And what where the connections thinking running this good animal at keeneland? waste of a race (maybe not if he got a good workout and practiced rating)

Velazquez actually gave Minister's Joy the proper ride and this horse who had been running well over the gulfstream turf came up and almost won. Good one Johnny V!

Wierd race by the winner Jades Revenge who flipped styles as Kent D. had him near the pace the whole time. PRADO also had his horse Eccentric on the pace so they must be "Keen" to the surface playing a bit better to front-runners lately. Four horse blanket finish.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

one more day @ Keene...thank god!

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by Hickory Hill Hoff

one more day @ Keene...thank god!

I don't mind this stuff for a meet or a few bad-weather tracks...
It's actually interesting in a "what if" trivia sort of way. But they might as well have run the Benali on the turf , run the bluegrass on the turf!

For the time being it is a hell of a betting opportunity. The fans still bet horses like Chatain down to 1.20-1 and the horses still do a tiny bit of running in the first 6 furlongs. A handicapper can at least make money off of the folly- for now. I sure hope that the public confusion is a long-term thing. I am not so confident. I have watched film on how they run ALL WEATHER TRACK overseas - and None of them do any running at all until the stretch.

Every race is like the bluegrass stakes.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

If that race was run over any natural dirt surface....something tells me the result would have probably been quite different.

[hockey2315]

Chatain kills that field at a mile. . . I hope they stop trying to send him longer. . .

[The Indomitable DrugS]

PG1985 ASSURED me that Chatain is a true router, and wants no part of a sprint or a one-turn mile....

And all based on what he heard from a trainer interview!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

PG1985 ASSURED me that Chatain is a true router, and wants no part of a sprint or a one-turn mile....

And all based on what he heard from a trainer interview!

At least he bets the horses he likes.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

It's a shame Minister's Joy didn't win the bob....

Or I could have made it two days in a row....

Although, much unlike His Holiness, MJ couldn't have been bet in that race with counterfit money.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

At least he bets the horses he likes.

MEOW....