Travers Showdown: Bernardini vs. Bluegrass Cat

Both colts have always possessed vast qualities to be top racehorses, and the Travers is a fitting forum for the two best sophomores in training to meet for the first time to settle which colt is truly at the head of the class.

This sterling match-up pairs many things. It represents the owning juggernaut of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, and his Darley Stable vs. the leading trainer charge that is Todd Pletcher. It is top stallions A.P. Indy vs. Storm Cat. It is Jim Dandy winner vs. Haskell winner.

In fact, this year’s renewal of the Travers bills so much between these two stars of the sport that Saturday’s end result is certain to come after a thrilling duel between Bernardini and Bluegrass Cat at some point in the race. Or at least that is what many desperate fans of the sport hope for - the same fans that saw perhaps the best 3-year-old - Barbaro – grotesquely suffer a career ending injury in front of the world in the Preakness a little more than three months ago.

-Joel Cunningham

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Both colts have always possessed vast qualities to be top racehorses, and the Travers is a fitting forum for the two best sophomores in training to meet for the first time to settle which colt is truly at the head of the class.

This sterling match-up pairs many things. It represents the owning juggernaut of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, and his Darley Stable vs. the leading trainer charge that is Todd Pletcher. It is top stallions A.P. Indy vs. Storm Cat. It is Jim Dandy winner vs. Haskell winner.

In fact, this year’s renewal of the Travers bills so much between these two stars of the sport that Saturday’s end result is certain to come after a thrilling duel between Bernardini and Bluegrass Cat at some point in the race. Or at least that is what many desperate fans of the sport hope for - the same fans that saw perhaps the best 3-year-old - Barbaro – grotesquely suffer a career ending injury in front of the world in the Preakness a little more than three months ago.

-Joel Cunningham

I dont see a thrilling duel in the making here. I see the same exacta that was in the Dandy.

I can't see how Bernardini and Bluegrass Cat don't run one-two...I really don't...they are simply pounds faster tha the rest. Plus, they both fire every time....

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

I'm sitting the race out because chalk will win here. If I were betting, I would probably stake my car on Bernardini to win.

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

I can't see how Bernardini and Bluegrass Cat don't run one-two...I really don't...they are simply pounds faster tha the rest. Plus, they both fire every time....

BGC didn't exactly fire at Keeneland....

[1st_Saturday_in_May]

i like ministers bid for 2nd just as much as bluegrass cat...

There's no mystery here ...

... Bluegrass Cat will not win this race.

I like him a lot ... but there's the PKW factor ... which can't be overlooked.

Originally Posted by Pointg5

BGC didn't exactly fire at Keeneland....

Well, that says nothing about the consistency of the horse....you either get over it well or you don't...plain and simple....He is a hot-blooded Storm Cat and usually gives his best 999% of the time...that is his MO...he is all racehorse ad he likes his job...I learned a lot about him watching him train for two weeks at CD before the Derby...he trains slow because he is classy ad understands what is ghoing on in the morning...he does whatever required but in the afternooons he undersands that is when he has to show up...watch him in the paddock of the Travers....I betcha he is calm acting under a lip shank, but I betcha he will be hot on his withers and lathered up....he acts like all of the good Storm Cats do...they always get fired up or pumped up before the race but in a classy way...the good ones get really hot and sweaty but they don't act up ad rear up, etc.....he is all class ad will give a good account of himself....this colt doesn't quit, even whe Barabro broke his heart at the 1/4 pole in the Derby...he wasn't pulling up..he was still finishing.....

i just think Bernardini is in a different talent class than he and most horses that have graced a racetrack, thus Bernardini is my pick to win reltaively comfortably but really can't see Bluegrass Cat losing second to anyone else in this group...I just can't...

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Well, that says nothing about the consistency of the horse....you either get over it well or you don't...plain and simple....He is a hot-blooded Storm Cat and usually gives his best 999% of the time...that is his MO...he is all racehorse ad he likes his job...I learned a lot about him watching him train for two weeks at CD before the Derby...he trains slow because he is classy ad understands what is ghoing on in the morning...he does whatever required but in the afternooons he undersands that is when he has to show up...watch him in the paddock of the Travers....I betcha he is calm acting under a lip shank, but I betcha he will be hot on his withers and lathered up....he acts like all of the good Storm Cats do...they always get fired up or pumped up before the race but in a classy way...the good ones get really hot and sweaty but they don't act up ad rear up, etc.....he is all class ad will give a good account of himself....this colt doesn't quit, even whe Barabro broke his heart at the 1/4 pole in the Derby...he wasn't pulling up..he was still finishing.....

i just think Bernardini is in a different talent class than he and most horses that have graced a racetrack, thus Bernardini is my pick to win reltaively comfortably but really can't see Bluegrass Cat losing second to anyone else in this group...I just can't...

Good post


I wish I would have had BGC in the 2nd spot in the tri, not the 3rd, would have been a nice payout...It's interesting that you say how hot blooded Storm Cats are. I was at Gainesway a couple of years ago and a groom was leading a horse up to us, he stops and tells us all to get out the way, because "he's a Storm Cat"...the horse looked like he had fire in his eyes, so he didn't have to tell me twice to get out of the way...

Bluegrass Cat will not hit the board. This is my bold prediction.

Originally Posted by Pointg5

Good post


I wish I would have had BGC in the 2nd spot in the tri, not the 3rd, would have been a nice payout...It's interesting that you say how hot blooded Storm Cats are. I was at Gainesway a couple of years ago and a groom was leading a horse up to us, he stops and tells us all to get out the way, because "he's a Storm Cat"...the horse looked like he had fire in his eyes, so he didn't have to tell me twice to get out of the way...

Most all of them are EXTREMELY hot-blooded ad that is why they are so competitive....Unfortunately, most of them have horrible knees too, buit the good ones ru through them.....I love how most of them are that beautiful black color too, usually with a white sock or two.....they are beautiful animals....

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Bluegrass Cat will not hit the board. This is my bold prediction.

You will have to excuse for categorizing your predictions as a joke, last week you said that the Red Sox would sweep the Yanks. This one sounds about as good as that prediction turned out.

Originally Posted by oracle80

You will have to excuse for categorizing your predictions as a joke, last week you said that the Red Sox would sweep the Yanks. This one sounds about as good as that prediction turned out.

However, I also predicted that someone would sweep someone and I was right. I just picked the wrong team.

BTW, I don't really think Barbaro was the best 3-year-old..I just inferred that he POSSIBLY was to add to my piece for Wire to Wire digest..this was just a few graphs a pulled from that story...

I obviously believe that Bernardini is better on the dirt and Barabro was thebest grass horse - yes,even far better than stablemate Showing Up....

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Well, that says nothing about the consistency of the horse....you either get over it well or you don't...plain and simple....He is a hot-blooded Storm Cat and usually gives his best 999% of the time...that is his MO...he is all racehorse ad he likes his job...I learned a lot about him watching him train for two weeks at CD before the Derby...he trains slow because he is classy ad understands what is ghoing on in the morning...he does whatever required but in the afternooons he undersands that is when he has to show up...watch him in the paddock of the Travers....I betcha he is calm acting under a lip shank, but I betcha he will be hot on his withers and lathered up....he acts like all of the good Storm Cats do...they always get fired up or pumped up before the race but in a classy way...the good ones get really hot and sweaty but they don't act up ad rear up, etc.....he is all class ad will give a good account of himself....this colt doesn't quit, even whe Barabro broke his heart at the 1/4 pole in the Derby...he wasn't pulling up..he was still finishing.....

i just think Bernardini is in a different talent class than he and most horses that have graced a racetrack, thus Bernardini is my pick to win reltaively comfortably but really can't see Bluegrass Cat losing second to anyone else in this group...I just can't...

OK this is the kind of post I really like. Thanks for the observations on Blue Grass Cat. Appreciate the sharing.

[Rupert Pupkin]

The drf.com poll is usually a pretty good predictor of what the closing odds will be in big races. According to the poll, it looks like Bernardini will go off at around 3-5 and Bluegrass Cat will be around 2-1 or 5-2. Everyone else will be huge odds.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by oracle80

You will have to excuse for categorizing your predictions as a joke, last week you said that the Red Sox would sweep the Yanks. This one sounds about as good as that prediction turned out.

"bold predictions" kind of annoy me, too. Maybe because I seldom see a poster come back to say his/her "bold prediction" was wrong. If it happens to come through, though, they are quick to point out how right they were.

In this case, it's hardly "bold" to predict that a horse won't win when even his admirers probably give no more than a 40% chance for the horse to win.

--Dunbar

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

I obviously believe that Bernardini is better on the dirt and Barabro was thebest grass horse - yes,even far better than stablemate Showing Up....

Barbaro was the best 3YO turf horse of the Spring ... when very few quality 3YOS ... almost none ... are running on the turf.

We'll have to see what Showing Up and After Market do from here out ... before handing out any awards.

[2MinsToPost]

Looking forward to watching the replay of this race. If I put together a Pick 3, I am going to have to decide if I am going after BC or Bernardini. Seems obvious, Bernardini does it not? Horse fires on 7 cylinders and I still see him winning by 3 or 4. I don't think, in my humble opinion, that BC 's running style will do him any favors tomorrow. Then again if it's a crazy early pace and BC keeps plotting along?

Originally Posted by Dunbar

"bold predictions" kind of annoy me, too. Maybe because I seldom see a poster come back to say his/her "bold prediction" was wrong. If it happens to come through, though, they are quick to point out how right they were.

In this case, it's hardly "bold" to predict that a horse won't win when even his admirers probably give no more than a 40% chance for the horse to win.

--Dunbar

I dont even think I have ever come back to boast about a prediction. I think I forget about them. But my prediction isnt that BC wont win, I say he wont hit the board.