Beyer on Mo in Classic: Bold but ill-advised

[NTamm1215]

The most important decision that owners and trainers can make when managing a racehorse is the choice of when to be conservative and when to be bold. The people in charge of the three most prominent horses in the Breeders’ Cup – Uncle Mo, Goldikova, and Havre de Grace – have all opted for boldness, ensuring some great drama, and probably some intense second-guessing, at Churchill Downs...

http://www.drf.com/news/beyer-uncle-...l-advised-move

[Indian Charlie]

Yawn.

[RockHardTen1985]

Did I miss something? What is bold about Goldikova and Havre De Grace? I guess the decision to run Mo in the Classic to some extent could be considered bold, but I'm not really buying that either. The consensus is he is the most talented horse. He should be given a chance to show that as long as he is healthy.

[Clip-Clop]

"Fortune favors the bold."

[freddymo]

I typically am a huge fan of Beyer...I didnt get this article at all

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by freddymo

I typically am a huge fan of Beyer...I didnt get this article at all

Perhaps the finest compliment Beyer has ever been given.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Did I miss something? What is bold about Goldikova and Havre De Grace? I guess the decision to run Mo in the Classic to some extent could be considered bold, but I'm not really buying that either. The consensus is he is the most talented horse. He should be given a chance to show that as long as he is healthy.

Much was made about Lure staying in training and attempting a three-peat in the BC Mile. Goldikova, a 6yo, is going for her fourth straight victory in that race.

Much was made about Zenyatta being the first female to win the BC Classic in 20+ runnings. Havre De Grace is skipping the anemic Distaff and trying to become the second.

Uncle Mo is about as well spotted as the similarly campaigned French Deputy was in '95. At least he doesn't have to run against Cigar.

Then again, Larry Jones thinks Havre De Grace is as perfect a racehorse as Secretariat...

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Much was made about Lure staying in training and attempting a three-peat in the BC Mile. Goldikova, a 6yo, is going for her fourth straight victory in that race.

Much was made about Zenyatta being the first female to win the BC Classic in 20+ runnings. Havre De Grace is skipping the anemic Distaff and trying to become the second.

Uncle Mo is about as well spotted as the similarly campaigned French Deputy was in '95. At least he doesn't have to run against Cigar.

Then again, Larry Jones thinks Havre De Grace is as perfect a racehorse as Secretariat...

Havre De Grace has already faced the boys and won. Her connections talk about her as the best horse in the world.... She belongs in the Classic. Not to mention Rachel and Z both faced the boys, and they both won HOTY. That's what HDG connections want, again she is where she belongs, where they have been pointing her. I don't see anything bold. Goldikova has been pointed to the Mile again for a year now. She has had no set backs, no injuries and has run pretty similar races as years past. Whats bold? Mo decision might be bold only because he was sick and he is coming off 7f and 8f preps. That's asking a lot, but he is the best horse if healthy. I think he belongs in the Classic.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Uncle Mo is about as well spotted as the similarly campaigned French Deputy was in '95. At least he doesn't have to run against Cigar.

I know what you are trying to say by comparing those two horses, but the circumstances are vastly different.

[Calzone Lord]

If So You Think wins this race -- it will add to what has been a brutal on-going drought of consistant top class male dirt horses since Curlin retired.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Havre De Grace has already faced the boys and won. Her connections talk about her as the best horse in the world.... She belongs in the Classic. Not to mention Rachel and Z both faced the boys, and they both won HOTY. That's what HDG connections want, again she is where she belongs, where they have been pointing her. I don't see anything bold. Goldikova has been pointed to the Mile again for a year now. She has had no set backs, no injuries and has run pretty similar races as years past. Whats bold?

Take the blinkers off.

It's the bare bones scenario. Wasn't it bold of Freddie Head to declare right after the 2010 Mile that she would remain in training and target a 4th Mile? How many 6yo foreign mares do you see staying in training long enough to win the same race in the USA 4 years running? She could have dropped 1 or 2 foals worth millions apiece by now.

Wasn't it bold of Rick Porter to target the Woodward after getting beat by females in the Delaware Handicap? Isn't it bold of him to take on males a second time in the same year, when she's already got the Woodward victory in tow and with a Distaff victory nearly a foregone conclusion?

You seem to think that just because Porter and Head are actually following through with the plans they made several months ago, that somehow those plans are no longer bold. I guess they should have taken a cue from John Shirreffs and waited til a couple of days before the race to announce their intentions.

Mo decision might be bold only because he was sick and he is coming off 7f and 8f preps. That's asking a lot, but he is the best horse if healthy. I think he belongs in the Classic.

Maybe. For all we know, Secret Circle is the best juvenile out there, and may end up as a major Derby contender this winter. But Baffert wasn't bold enough to try him in the two-turn Juvenile.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I know what you are trying to say by comparing those two horses, but the circumstances are vastly different.

I was talking from simply a training standpoint, which relies significantly on the time factor. Both were off from March to late summer. Each had 2 one-turn comeback races leading up to a 10f attempt.

The rest of it you can compare in a number of ways. For example, both earned the highest BSF (119 and 118 respectively) of any 3yo that year in one of those comeback races. The big difference is that French Deputy pulled out his top Beyer in his first start back (the Jerome), while Uncle Mo unleashed his in his second (the Kelso).

French Deputy, not surprising, deflated quite a bit and got beat in his second start, a money allowance. What does that suggest for Uncle Mo in his next out (the BC Classic) following his career top?

[ellpol]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Take the blinkers off.

It's the bare bones scenario. Wasn't it bold of Freddie Head to declare right after the 2010 Mile that she would remain in training and target a 4th Mile? How many 6yo foreign mares do you see staying in training long enough to win the same race in the USA 4 years running? She could have dropped 1 or 2 foals worth millions apiece by now.

Wasn't it bold of Rick Porter to target the Woodward after getting beat by females in the Delaware Handicap? Isn't it bold of him to take on males a second time in the same year, when she's already got the Woodward victory in tow and with a Distaff victory nearly a foregone conclusion?

You seem to think that just because Porter and Head are actually following through with the plans they made several months ago, that somehow those plans are no longer bold. I guess they should have taken a cue from John Shirreffs and waited til a couple of days before the race to announce their intentions.



Maybe. For all we know, Secret Circle is the best juvenile out there, and may end up as a major Derby contender this winter. But Baffert wasn't bold enough to try him in the two-turn Juvenile.

Well said Rollo

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Perhaps the finest compliment Beyer has ever been given.

[MisterB]

so? I guess I am with the forces. Imagine that

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by MisterB

so? I guess I am with the forces. Imagine that

I can't imagine that.

Mostly cause I don't care, but also because your reference to forces seems cryptic to me.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I can't imagine that.

Mostly cause I don't care, but also because your reference to forces seems cryptic to me.

"Force" is the brand of drug on the back stretch that Mr B markets

[Indian Charlie]

Now I'm even more in the dark!

[pmayjr]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

If So You Think wins this race -- it will add to what has been a brutal on-going drought of consistant top class male dirt horses since Curlin retired.

Not saying he's as good as Curlin, but I really was disappointed when Tizway was scratched/retired. If he races/won, people will say he beat a highly inferior field, still you could make a case that the horse was halfway decent.

I'll watch the race but would rather watch turds hit the water than read another article mentioning Uncle Mo and Havre de Grace. Spare me the polishing of said turds.