Workout question - Bernardini

[Betsy]

I hope you guys can help me - sorry if this sounds like a stupid question.

Not that it hasn't been obvious, but I'm a HUGE Bernardini fan and I'm anxiously awaiting his return in the Jim Dandy. I see he worked today in a very slow 1:03 and change (breezing). It seems to me that his works since the Preakness have been exceedingly slow - perhaps by design since the Jim Dandy isn't until sometime in the middle/end of July. I don't know anything about workouts and how they are used to prep for a race, so pardon me for asking this: should I be concerned? My initial thought is that Tom Albetrani obviously doesn't want any speed from his colt right now and will ask that of him in the coming weeks. I hope this is the case; I'm very confident in Bernardini, but perhaps the Preakness has taken more out of him than we thought? As good as he is (and he's always been a good workhorse), shouldn't he be going faster than 1:03, even breezing?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[ateamstupid]

Betsy -

I haven't seen the works in question, but Albertrani is a sharp guy, and he's probably just trying to give Bernardini some legs for the moment. His next two breezes will probably get a little bit quicker. If he's still doing 1:03+ a week before the JD, it might be somewhat cause for concern, but at the same time, there's no way Darley and Albertrani will put him in the race if he's not right. I think as long as you see him entered, you should assume it's all systems go.

I'm a big Bernardini fan as well, and think he's the cream of what is a tremendous crop of 3-year-olds.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I hope you guys can help me - sorry if this sounds like a stupid question.

Not that it hasn't been obvious, but I'm a HUGE Bernardini fan and I'm anxiously awaiting his return in the Jim Dandy. I see he worked today in a very slow 1:03 and change (breezing). It seems to me that his works since the Preakness have been exceedingly slow - perhaps by design since the Jim Dandy isn't until sometime in the middle/end of July. I don't know anything about workouts and how they are used to prep for a race, so pardon me for asking this: should I be concerned? My initial thought is that Tom Albetrani obviously doesn't want any speed from his colt right now and will ask that of him in the coming weeks. I hope this is the case; I'm very confident in Bernardini, but perhaps the Preakness has taken more out of him than we thought? As good as he is (and he's always been a good workhorse), shouldn't he be going faster than 1:03, even breezing?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Betsy,
I also like Bernardini a lot. That said, I wouldn't worry too much about the works. Many times, they are used just to keep a horse in shape. Slow times mean nothing. Works have a bit more meaning when a horse is run in company. It's also useful to look at inside splits, not the entire distance of the published work. A breeze is only that.
The final furlong time might say a lot more.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry about slow times in works.
Just my two pennies, for what they're worth.
DTS

[Betsy]

Thanks guys! I'm not really worried, I guess - I've just fallen into the "fast work" trap -as if bullet works are more important than getting a horse ready for a race. I'm a worry wart -I'll find something to worry about in any situation. I really should just hope that he came back fine this morning and if he did, it's all good.

As another huge Bernardini fan, I can tell you that I could care less about the works...I trust Tom and none of his horses work fast really anyway from what I've seen.....the horse is the goods and I don't think we really need to see anything exceptionally fast in the mornings...he is probably winding him down and then back up...the horse could have been classified as a 'bounce' candidate after his Preakness run (doubt it though) and they probably gave him a solid rest and are now bringing him along really slowly....those works will get faster as Tom tightens the screws before his next start, which is still far enough away at this point...no worries at all here

Bernardini is doing fine. They probably will put a stiffer work into him soon but he isn't racing until July 29, 3 weeks from now, so I wouldn't worry. The July 29 race is a prep too, so he probably won't even have him completely tightened for that either. An 80% effort will be good enough to win that race anyway. The Travers and BC Classic are the two races they need to win for 3yr old and HOY honors and he is a serious threat to win both.

[Betsy]

Thanks Joel and Hoisttheflag! I am so excited for the Jim Dandy; I've never been this confident in a horse before and I'm a bit nervous about having the wind taken out of my sails. Seriously, I think he's spectacular. I'd love to see Bernardini validate his Preakness without the spectre of Barbaro hanging over him.

Hoist, I love your signature -anything from Abraham Lincoln is always good!

Originally Posted by Betsy

Thanks Joel and Hoisttheflag! I am so excited for the Jim Dandy; I've never been this confident in a horse before and I'm a bit nervous about having the wind taken out of my sails. Seriously, I think he's spectacular. I'd love to see Bernardini validate his Preakness without the spectre of Barbaro hanging over him.

Hoist, I love your signature -anything from Abraham Lincoln is always good!

I love Lincoln. Coolmore has a 2yr old horse named Abraham Lincoln. Hopefully he will be as good if not better as their George Washington.

[Betsy]

What's next, Thomas Jefferson? LOL I just can't get used to a horse named after a President, even one who is my favorite....! Of course, if they named a colt after Theodore Roosevelt, I might change my mind. That's a pretty cool name ........

Originally Posted by Betsy

What's next, Thomas Jefferson? LOL I just can't get used to a horse named after a President, even one who is my favorite....! Of course, if they named a colt after Theodore Roosevelt, I might change my mind. That's a pretty cool name ........

Abraham Lincoln is a nice Danehill. They had Horatio Nelson too, but that was very sad what happened to him. Just Lincoln, without the Abraham is a good name.

If you like Teddy Roosevelt, or FDR, you will like Padua's 2yr old Roosevelt. Yes, his name is Roosevelt. I like Teddy more but FDR wasn't too shabby either. Roosevelt ran 3rd in his maiden at calder a few weeks ago.

[Betsy]

Oh I know, poor Horatio Nelson. It's sickening when a horse breaks down.

I do hope Abraham Lincoln does justice to his namesake and thanks for the tip about Roosevelt. I'll keep an eye on him.....and I much prefer TR, so for me, he'll be named after Teddy. I just hope the track announcers pronounce the horse's name correctly ....like ROSE -avelt and not ROOsevelt (like kangaroo).

Originally Posted by Betsy

Oh I know, poor Horatio Nelson. It's sickening when a horse breaks down.

I do hope Abraham Lincoln does justice to his namesake and thanks for the tip about Roosevelt. I'll keep an eye on him.....and I much prefer TR, so for me, he'll be named after Teddy. I just hope the track announcers pronounce the horse's name correctly ....like ROSE -avelt and not ROOsevelt (like kangaroo).

Abraham Lincoln ran well first time out. He was beaten by a nose at york.

Originally Posted by Hoisttheflag

Abraham Lincoln is a nice Danehill. They had Horatio Nelson too, but that was very sad what happened to him. Just Lincoln, without the Abraham is a good name.

If you like Teddy Roosevelt, or FDR, you will like Padua's 2yr old Roosevelt. Yes, his name is Roosevelt. I like Teddy more but FDR wasn't too shabby either. Roosevelt ran 3rd in his maiden at calder a few weeks ago.

Roosevelt runs on Saturday at Calder. #14 post though in a sprint. Not good.