Patena

[NTamm1215]

Patena completed his final workout this morning for the La Derby with a 5f move at Gulfstream in :59 and 2/5 handily. His first start for Dutrow will come Saturday.

Let me just say I don't think Friesan Fire will see this as the same Patena he beat in January.

NT

[AeWingnut]

thanks for the reminder. I have both Patena and FF in my Road To The Roses
stables

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I thought Patena was better than Fresian Fire that day even in defeat.

Patena should move up going to Dutrow - but FF, is also supposedly training just great according to the cowboy hat guy - and he has a history of moving them way up off of himself.

[the_fat_man]

If the Patena crew's objective is to beat Friesan Fire, then they didn't really need to change trainers. The added distance and some more early action in the race should take care of that.

Any notion that FF is the horse to beat in the upcoming race is misguided.

[Travis Stone]

I'm anxious to see how Flying Pegasus does. He was really up against it with the post draw, layoff and first time going two turns in the Risen Star. Now he's second off with a better post, figures to have good enough speed to put himself in a good spot early and just adds another interesting dynamic to the race.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

If the Patena crew's objective is to beat Friesan Fire, then they didn't really need to change trainers. The added distance and some more early action in the race should take care of that.

Any notion that FF is the horse to beat in the upcoming race is misguided.

I'll go ahead and say that my pick here is Friesan Fire.

Patena certainly wouldn't be a surprise, he was moving beautifully in the Lecomte, and ANY HORSE 1st Dutrow must be respected much less a good horse like Patena. I think Patena is better at a mile than than at a 1 1/16th or farther. Not sure it will hurt him in the La. Derby. They only have to run about 6 or 7 seconds longer than in the Lecomte - it's not a huge difference today, and you figure Dutrow is going to move him up anyway.

Right now Friesan Fire is my pick for the Derby. He will remain so after the Louisianna Derby unless he throws in a poor performance. He doesn't have to win here if someone else runs a really big race, but I expect a solid effort similar to the Risen Star.

Flying Pegasus is also under the microscope. Papa Clem is a horse that I haven't really examined, but if he runs great, he earned himself a closer look. I think this will be the last derby related race for Giant Oak, unless he goes to the Blue Grass regardless of his finish position here.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I'm anxious to see how Flying Pegasus does. He was really up against it with the post draw, layoff and first time going two turns in the Risen Star. Now he's second off with a better post, figures to have good enough speed to put himself in a good spot early and just adds another interesting dynamic to the race.

I certainly think that he got a worse trip than FF last out. He was wider on the turn and, while Albarado had him nicely drafting upon entering the backstretch, he put him outside of FF before the turn and had him moving before that one. My problem with him is

1) he went to lead EASILY, wasn't asked at all, and still couldn't hold off FF

2) OUTSIDE, IMO, is the place to be at FG

3) the race held well: the frontrunners collapsed but those just behind them finished 1-2-4 (and even the 3rd horse was just behind the stalkers early).

The horse that ran best in that race, IMO, was Giant Oak. Though he saved ground, he didn't particular care being inside; he got checked and STOPPED twice, and was the only horse running from off the pace late. And, from the run to the 1st turn, it appeared that he wasn't really handling the track well.

Just put him outside of horses, with a clear run in the lane. I don't think he has a problem handling those he faced last out. If he's not good enough against the Dutrow magic, so be it.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I'm anxious to see how Flying Pegasus does. He was really up against it with the post draw, layoff and first time going two turns in the Risen Star. Now he's second off with a better post, figures to have good enough speed to put himself in a good spot early and just adds another interesting dynamic to the race.

I had tossed him from my exacta in the Risen Star because of the post position, and the idea that he would be wide into the 1st turn.

He was in fact forced to use a little early speed and go wide into the 1st turn - and he still ran a competitive 2nd - so obviously he I misjudged his ability and/or he ran pretty well in the Risen Star.