The Spiral this Sat 3-23

[Midnight Cruiser]

Anyone have any steam on the Spiral? I believe this is the same route that Motion took with Animal Kingdom a couple of years back. I'm interested in 2 horses"

Capo Bastone- dead closer out of Lemon Drop Kid

Balance the Books- So far only raced on grass.

Anyone?

[duncan04]

Anyone have any steam on the Spiral? I believe this is the same route that Motion took with Animal Kingdom a couple of years back. I'm interested in 2 horses"

Capo Bastone- dead closer out of Lemon Drop Kid

Balance the Books- So far only raced on grass.

Anyone?


It is the same route Animal Kingdom took to win the KY Derby. Team Valor and Motion has won two straight Spirals with Animal Kingdom and Went the Day Well who won last year

[BlueChip@DRF]

Uncaptured will win big or wilt badly in this race. It seems to be the pattern among the expected favorites.

[Valuist]

I will always consider this race The Beam. Remember one year it was called Galleryfurniture.com Stakes. Didn't flow smoothly off the tongue.

[horses4courses]

Capo Bastone is slower than molasses.

[BlueChip@DRF]

I will always consider this race The Beam. Remember one year it was called Galleryfurniture.com Stakes. Didn't flow smoothly off the tongue.

Maybe you're pronouncing it wrong. :)

[Robert Fischer]

Capo Bastone is slower than molasses.

True.

I think we'll get a better field than usual, due to the points system. Someone decent should at least be favored in the Spiral.


EDIT- maybe not ? I don't see a ton of good horses on the probables list for the web, but don't know how accurate they are.

Balance the Books and Cerro look like the best.

There's also Uncaptured, Capo Bastone ...

[Striker]

Lukas might get two horses in with Channel Isle and Red Wings.

[peeptoad]

Balance the Books will run here as well. The jury is out on the synthetic, let alone dirt, but he does seem to have a nice pedigree going long.

[precocity]

always bet GM colts on the derby trail but Cerro look like crap last time out. don't think he is going to win three straight.

[Valuist]

Capo Bastone is slower than molasses.

That does not preclude him from winning this race, however. I remember that race at Gulfstream where they crawled early on and he overcame it to win. Being by Lemon Drop Kid, he should love the Poly and his style fits. IMO, the favorite will be Uncaptured.

[Robert Fischer]

always bet GM colts on the derby trail but Cerro look like crap last time out. don't think he is going to win three straight.

I liked his effort last time. It was a nightmare trip and could help his odds big time in the Spiral. I learned absolutely nothing good or bad from that race, and there were some decent things to like before he ran that race. Last I checked he needed a scratch or two to get in the field.

[Robert Fischer]

That does not preclude him from winning this race, however. I remember that race at Gulfstream where they crawled early on and he overcame it to win.

I think you have Capo Bastone's race mixed up. His only race at GP was vs. Offlee Fast, in the slop where they went fast early-slow late. I thought Capo Bastone showed a response, and looked decent doing it. He's definitely well meant for a good barn.

[Striker]

:1: Balance the Books 7-2
:2: Channel Isle 15-1
:3: Uncaptured 3-1
:4: Fear the Kitten 15-1
:5: My Name is Michael 10-1
:6: For Greater Glory 20-1
:7: Mac The Man 5-1
:8: General Election 12-1
:9: Black Onyx 10-1
:10: Giant Finish 15-1
:11: Taken by the Storm 12-1
:12: Capo Bastone 9-2

[ManU918]

I'll be on Fear the Kitten in the Spiral but my big money will be on Crop Report in the Rushaway. Have been waiting for him to run back since last time out when Rosario got him caught in traffic against the rail. He is sitting on a big one.

[EJXD2]

Can't believe the only mention of Mac The Man in this thread was in the list of entries. He's the winner and is a major Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands threat

[ManU918]

Can't believe the only mention of Mac The Man in this thread was in the list of entries. He's the winner and is a major Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands threat

The entries were posted less then 2 hours ago... Give it some time, I'm sure you wont be the only one in this thread to like him.

[Robert Fischer]

Balance the Books looks like the horse to beat.

The surprise to me is how good the John Battaglia was. Giant Finish ran a good one. That was a pretty tough pace. You see a horse run that good for a good barn and you have to have some respect in a field like this.

Then you have General Election who is the horse I went to originally look at in that race. The horse had a pretty good trip, but he made a nice drive and he looked good doing it. Gorder has some momentum lately. I have him as my 2nd most likely winner behind Balance the Books, and he should be a good price.

Lots of horses that look pretty competitive here especially if Balance The Books doesn't fire off the layoff.

[Leparoux]

Looks like a very good edition of the Spiral this year in what has turned out some good runners in the Derby the past two years. At first glance, I am interested in the :5: for Mott/Rosario

[Beachbabe]

:9: Black Onyx...saw him beat a pretty good field on the turf, Feb 23; has also won on the dirt. Looking for the hat trick on plastic.

[redshift1]

Balance the Books looks like the horse to beat.

The surprise to me is how good the John Battaglia was. Giant Finish ran a good one. That was a pretty tough pace. You see a horse run that good for a good barn and you have to have some respect in a field like this.

Then you have General Election who is the horse I went to originally look at in that race. The horse had a pretty good trip, but he made a nice drive and he looked good doing it. Gorder has some momentum lately. I have him as my 2nd most likely winner behind Balance the Books, and he should be a good price.

Lots of horses that look pretty competitive here especially if Balance The Books doesn't fire off the layoff.


We're on the same page for the Spiral and Balance The Books.

.

[letswastemoney]

I'm going to avoid the John Battaglia horses.

I was burned last year using the local horse Mr. Prankster. I just don't trust the level of competition in Turfway's own prep races leading up to their big race.

[Sysonby]

I still like Uncaptured, but somewhat worried about the layoff and whether this becomes a prep for the Bluegrass

[HoofedInTheChest]

I still like Uncaptured, but somewhat worried about the layoff and whether this becomes a prep for the Bluegrass
I'm with you, he is still my Derby horse and i don't see the layoff being that much of an issue. Gary Boulanger has been working the horse in the mornings for Casse, and they have been putting Uncaptured up against some really nice horses, and he has been smoking them all. As well, they have been training him at long distances, and he has been responding very well.

Go get em big guy!

[Valuist]

Get ready for the new name:

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes

Just doesn't flow off the tongue like "The Beam".

[Tread]

Can't believe the only mention of Mac The Man in this thread was in the list of entries. He's the winner and is a major Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands threat

Successful troll on the marketing, well played

[BlueChip@DRF]

Do they have any workout details for Uncaptured? Just wondering the weight of the exercise rider when he did all those bullets.

[Valuist]

Successful troll on the marketing, well played

LOL.

I've been a YUM shareholder since 2000 and I don't think I've said "Kentucky Derby Presented by YUM Brands" one time. Ever.

[EJXD2]

LOL.

I've been a YUM shareholder since 2000 and I don't think I've said "Kentucky Derby Presented by YUM Brands" one time. Ever.

Wow... major score

[HoofedInTheChest]

Do they have any workout details for Uncaptured? Just wondering the weight of the exercise rider when he did all those bullets.
Both Gary Boulanger and Patrick Husbands have been working together, Boulanger on Uncaptured and Husbands on the dog horse. Both riders are in race shape, so that isn't an issue. I have the workouts, both public and private. ;)

[BlueChip@DRF]

I'm just wondering how heavy Uncaptured's exercise rider is. If he's doing bullets with a heavy rider, then he should be sharp for the race.

[Leparoux]

:9: Black Onyx...saw him beat a pretty good field on the turf, Feb 23; has also won on the dirt. Looking for the hat trick on plastic.
Crop Report, who ran 3rd in that race for Graham Motion, is in the Rushaway (race 8) two races before the Spiral.

[Tee]

Imo the amount of trouble For Greater Glory had cost him the race. Now the question becomes, will that effort take away from his run in The Spiral?

My Name Is Michael - 2nd time out for Bill Mott, had no chance last out chasing a gate to wire winner setting comfortable fractions. Returning to a synthetic surface should not hurt his chances.

[OTM Al]

Going 9/3+5. I'm somewhat stupified by the morning line. Don't play Turfway much so don't know how it tends.

[ManU918]

Crop Report, who ran 3rd in that race for Graham Motion, is in the Rushaway (race 8) two races before the Spiral.

Mentioned this on page one. Crop Report was much the best in this race but got jammed on the rail.

[Valuist]

Mentioned this on page one. Crop Report was much the best in this race but got jammed on the rail.

I just watched the replay and didn't see any trouble at all, except for the start, where he hit the gate. I didn't see his momentum slowed at all, and he saved all the ground.

[Some_One]

As a general rule any fav coming off a layoff is one I will gladly oppose, so I'll try the :5: and :10: here

[Tom]

Get ready for the new name:

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes

Just doesn't flow off the tongue like "The Beam".

The Jim Beam used to be simulcast to Finger Lakes, back in the day of one major race being shown on Saturdays. It was usually the first week or two of the meeting, and it was usually snowing and cold, so we had a deal where we would all buy shots of Jim Beam and watch the "Beam of the Beam on Beam." Rolled down the tongue, off the tongue. :kiss: We called it Beamer Day. It was always a party day for us degenerates. I have some on hand for this weekend. Win or lose, I win.

[Ocala Mike]

I've been a YUM shareholder since 2000


Wow! If this were a stock market forum, you would have been soundly castigated for redboarding.

[Robert Fischer]

This race looks wide open.


I like too many horses here

:1: Balance the Books 7-2 -worthy fav, hard to key off layoff

:4: Fear the Kitten 15-1-Big Move SW Stks

:8: General Election 12-1-price is right

:11: Taken by the Storm 12-1-Last race career best

:12: Capo Bastone 9-2- strong last race, top barn, poly breeding

[iceknight]

Wow! If this were a stock market forum, you would have been soundly castigated for redboarding. Unless you state that you bought the YUM shares with the sale of your Apple shares in 2000 :lol:

[Leparoux]

Another notable return is Pure Fun in Race 9 the Bourbonette Oaks. She has been off since early December and closed as the 4th choice in KY Oaks Future wagering.

[EJXD2]

This race looks wide open.


I like too many horses here

:1: Balance the Books 7-2 -worthy fav, hard to key off layoff

:4: Fear the Kitten 15-1-Big Move SW Stks

:8: General Election 12-1-price is right

:11: Taken by the Storm 12-1-Last race career best

:12: Capo Bastone 9-2- strong last race, top barn, poly breeding

This is going to be an interestingly bet race. I don't like any of these five. Would probably be among my six picks for the bottom half of the field if we made picks on such things.

Not saying you're wrong (although I hope you are!)--just noting how different our opinions are, and I think that's illustrative of most people's views on the race as well.

[Robert Fischer]

This is going to be an interestingly bet race. I don't like any of these five. Would probably be among my six picks for the bottom half of the field if we made picks on such things.

Not saying you're wrong (although I hope you are!)--just noting how different our opinions are, and I think that's illustrative of most people's views on the race as well.

I agree. This a tough race. And a tough betting race.

I assume we'll see the public follow the morning line with maybe a wiseguy horse. There aren't really any "whale" obvious favorites that will take tons of money. Lots of angles.

I know you like Mac The Man. I'm going against, but he has strong numbers. He also should be near or on the pace. Pretty much my whole five are late runners. A horse with some speed could have another advantage here.


I went against Uncaptured, but he looked GOOD in the Iroquois. My instincts are telling me that he is the underlay here. Tough horse to toss. He also should be in touch with the pace.

Giant Finish is another horse I had a hard time tossing. He was on my bet-back list before the entries came out. He's kind of like the Oxbow of this field. Game speed.

Taken By The Storm was probably my weakest include. Has faults but enough things to like. Wide last race, but figures to be wide again. Has some tactical speed. Has won 9f turf. Can contend for lead at top of stretch.

A case can be made for/against almost anyone in this race.

[BlueChip@DRF]

I strongly consider For Greater Glory as a longshot special for both top and bottom.

[Valuist]

Wow! If this were a stock market forum, you would have been soundly castigated for redboarding.

I'm sure there's been quite a few bigger home runs. YUM is very steady, but that's why its such a great long term hold. IMO, the best way to invest in China (and maybe LVS also).

[Valuist]

OK, getting away from the market and the Rushaway, lets talk Spiral, or whatever they call it now.

This race goes thru a couple of Canadian based 2 year olds from last year. Uncaptured is the only horse in the race with Derby aspirations (realistically). He's the only runner of his generation who can claim two stakes wins at middle distances over the CD track. Oxley has won the Derby before and I'm sure he wants another shot. IMO, the layoff is zero concern. They HAVE to get Derby points tomorrow, so the horse has to be ready to fire. Having said that, I believe he's better on dirt. He's only lost once on synthetic, and he had an excuse, right? Yes and no. He definitely checked and it cost him position, but when he checked, at least one other horse appeared to have momentum, so I contend he was going to get beat anyways. He might've finished 2nd, or even 3rd or 4th.

My Name is Michael is now second time Mott. He ran an 89 Beyer at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine Poly. This was for 6% David Cotley. Now he's in the hands of a HoF trainer. Based on his potential, they decided to give him a shot on dirt in the Sam Davis at Tampa. He was 17-10 vs horses like Falling Sky and Dynamic Sky. Falling Sky got loose with a comfortable pace and wired while MNiM lagged back early and managed to finish 3rd. The race wasn't bad; probably just a matter of him running over a non-preferred surface. Saturday he moves back to the preferred surface, benefits from a second start for Mott, and Rosario heads north to ride him. There is no way this horse is 10-1. If he is, I'd unload.

Balance the Books should like the Poly, and was a very good turf 2YO. 4 1/2 month layoff here, and I wonder if the Blue Grass, VA Derby and Secretariat are the bigger objectives down the line. He could win, but IMO he's going to be an underlay.

Mac the Man might be worth tossing into the multi-race wagers. He loves the track, and his recent figs aren't bad.

I'm against Black Onyx, but he does like grass so it wouldn't be impossible.

[iceknight]

I feel that For Greater Glory might be a good value/longshot play and Uncaptured seems like a strong logical contender (for me). If he get a decent trip, he is going to be hard to beat.

Balance the Books is a great horse, but the combination of inner post and Leparoux makes me dread the trip scenarios.

On the trainer angle, the value plays would be My Name is Michael (Mott) and Channel Isle (currently hot Lukas)

[ArlJim78]

I like Giant Finish.
I'll go :10: / :3: :5: :7: :8:

[OTM Al]

My Name Is Michael is a must use in the exotics but I will not use him on top. He looks to me to be the exacta player's bet friend, a horse that runs in the money regularly but doesn't win much.

I do like Black Onyx. He looks to be in very good form and Bravo is skipping a GP Saturday card for this. Always like to see something like that with a shipper. Will use Uncaptured a little bit on top too, just in case.

Since I'm going Black Onyx, I'll also have Crop Report on top in the Rushaway and the hit for Lukas will be Broken Spell in the Bourbonette, not in the Spiral.

[maclr11]

Just thinking about it Uncaptured is an Ontario breed, by prepping him on the Poly they stay on the surface he will need to run well over again in the Queens Plate. Obviously a hugely prestigious race here. Casse buys the breeds for the incredibly rich ontario bred pots and the Canadian bred races. The north american breds are for the open races and therefore the Derby.
Uncaptured has had some set backs and this feels like if he runs lights outhe will be Derby pound, but any non stellar effort will let Casse run him in the Blue Grass and then a prep in Toronto for the Queens Plate where he will be a huge favorite. So if Uncaptured isnt totally ready its because Casse does like to run them into shape especially at Woodbine.

That being said I like Balance the Books who had a tough trip in the Juvy Turf and Fear the Kitten who ran well in the Southwest along with Uncaptured.

[Valuist]

IMO, Battaglia's line is way off. Here's what I have:

1 Balance the Books 4-1
2 Channel Isle 25-1
3 Uncaptured 3-1
4 Fear the Kitten 25-1
5 My Name is Michael 6-1 (10-1 m/l is a joke)
6 For Greater Glory 10-1 (20-1 is way off)
7 Mac the Man 12-1
8 General Election 9-1
9 Black Onyx 15-1
10 Giant Finish 10-1
11 Taken by the Storm 15-1
12 Capo Bastone 10-1 (9-2 is way too low a price)

[BlueChip@DRF]

IMO, Battaglia's line is way off. Here's what I have:

1 Balance the Books 4-1
2 Channel Isle 25-1
3 Uncaptured 3-1
4 Fear the Kitten 25-1
5 My Name is Michael 6-1 (10-1 m/l is a joke)
6 For Greater Glory 10-1 (20-1 is way off)
7 Mac the Man 12-1
8 General Election 9-1
9 Black Onyx 15-1
10 Giant Finish 10-1
11 Taken by the Storm 15-1
12 Capo Bastone 10-1 (9-2 is way too low a price)


If your line is more accurate, then For Greater Glory is worth taking a shot with.

[HoofedInTheChest]

Valuist hit the nail on the head, great analysis.

The only setback that i can see with Uncaptured, is the fact that he had sore feet after the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Having the month of December off pretty much solved that problem, and his works through January to present day shows me he is as sound as ever. He had his front quarters knocked out from underneath him in the Grey Stakes, and that certainly gives him an excuse in that outing, but i am with Valuist, he was boxed in before the check and i am not sure if he would have actually scored in that race, 2nd or 3rd maybe.

[GaryG]

Looks like a good chance for a longshot....I will try these:

:8: GENERAL ELECTION
:10: GIANT FINISH

[davew]

I like Capo Baston but not sure if the post position will hinder going into first turn or if stretch is long enough to pass all those slowing horses.


kinda like these
:1: :3: :7: :9: :12:

but probably just a good race to watch...

[Robert Fischer]

I'll be on Fear the Kitten in the Spiral but my big money will be on Crop Report in the Rushaway. Have been waiting for him to run back since last time out when Rosario got him caught in traffic against the rail. He is sitting on a big one.

Should be a good one between your :9: Crop Report and my :2: Divine Ambition. Good Luck.

[Loserdave]

I'm not crazy about anyone in here. I'm planning on taking Fear The Kitten. He was best of the rest in the Southwest and I think moves forward with his 3rd start of the year and the switch to poly and will be a nice price.

[picojim]

after watching the races today..ill go with

:7: MAC THE MAN to win

trifecta
:7:
w
:1: :9: :11:
w
:1: :9: :11:

[Tom]

:4: Fear the Kitten
:3: Uncaptured

[PhantomOnTour]

I can't handicap poly to save my life, but this is a very nice race...i like Breen's :9: somewhat and 14-1 is a good price...gotta use the :3: :5: as well.
Only the absolute best are coming from out of it today at TP so hopefully Bravo will lay close enough and finish up well.

ex:
3-5 w 9
win: 9

[Tom]

They could rename this the "Pokin' and Hopin' Stakes."
Looks like a lot of nothing looking for a check. the Casse horse might have so future, but why is he starting so late in the year? Does the metric system apply to dates, too?

Two words - Lu Kas.

[Robert Fischer]

trying something fun here :cool:

dime super double key (:1: and :12: )

1,12
1,3,4,8,9,10,11,12
1,3,4,6,8,9,10,12
1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12

1,3,4,8,10,11,12
1,12
1,3,4,6,8,9,10,12
1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12

1,3,4,8,10,11,12
1,3,4,8,9,10,11,12
1,12
1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12

1,3,4,8,10,11,12
1,3,4,8,9,10,11,12
1,3,4,6,8,9,10,12
1,12

$246 total

[Robert Fischer]

lot of money on Mott's #5My Name is Michael

[Tom]

:2: :3: :5: :10: $5 box....what the heck.

Who's the Vega Showgirl in the winner's circle?
She looks cold! :lol:

[Sysonby]

Yeah, very interesting the amount of money going on My Name is Michael.

Re why Uncaptured is starting so late, he's had foot abscesses which appear to be behind him now, as discussed earlier in this thread.

[BlueChip@DRF]

Box all the Battaglia runners with those odds. :cool:

[BlueChip@DRF]

:2: :3: :5: :10: $5 box....what the heck.

Who's the Vega Showgirl in the winner's circle?
She looks cold! :lol:


We need more of that.

[PhantomOnTour]

I can't handicap poly to save my life, but this is a very nice race...i like Breen's :9: somewhat and 14-1 is a good price...gotta use the :3: :5: as well.
Only the absolute best are coming from out of it today at TP so hopefully Bravo will lay close enough and finish up well.

ex:
3-5 w 9
win: 9
The king of poly! :D

[BlueChip@DRF]

Black Onyx kept edging to the outside keeping Uncaptured at bay.... :mad:

[iceknight]

I can't handicap poly to save my life, but this is a very nice race...i like Breen's :9: somewhat and 14-1 is a good price...gotta use the :3: :5: as well.
Only the absolute best are coming from out of it today at TP so hopefully Bravo will lay close enough and finish up well.

ex:
3-5 w 9
win: 9 Good call! Did you box the 3 horse exacta too?

[Robert Fischer]

I can't handicap poly to save my life, but this is a very nice race...i like Breen's :9: somewhat and 14-1 is a good price...gotta use the :3: :5: as well.
Only the absolute best are coming from out of it today at TP so hopefully Bravo will lay close enough and finish up well.

ex:
3-5 w 9
win: 9

good call

[Tom]

All Hail the King!

Nice hit.

[MNslappy]

cancelled my bet with 3/9 on top with 3 minutes to post and used 3/10 on top instead

all of my :bang:

[PhantomOnTour]

Good call! Did you box the 3 horse exacta too?
I wish...made a small bet.
Only had two $2 ex underneath the 3-5 and $6 to win

next poly race i will play is the Blue Grass, and that's likely it for the year :D

[OTM Al]

Going 9/3+5. I'm somewhat stupified by the morning line. Don't play Turfway much so don't know how it tends.

Exacta for $10. Black Onyx has made me $1900 in his last two races. I'm buying the new iPad!

[Vinnie]

I can't handicap poly to save my life, but this is a very nice race...i like Breen's :9: somewhat and 14-1 is a good price...gotta use the :3: :5: as well.
Only the absolute best are coming from out of it today at TP so hopefully Bravo will lay close enough and finish up well.

ex:
3-5 w 9
win: 9

Nice call PhantomOnTour:

As Todd T Shruppolino says "Big Balloons". Nice Exacta, but wonderful Tri's and Supers... :)

[PhantomOnTour]

Exacta for $10. Black Onyx has made me $1800 in his last two races. I'm buying the new iPad!
Nice one Al...i hit him at GP also and that's the main reason i played him again.
Love Bravo on the GP turf and he's a Rock Hard Ten - the bet in his last was automatic for me.

[Robert Fischer]

Exacta for $10. Black Onyx has made me $1900 in his last two races. I'm buying the new iPad!

Good Call

[OTM Al]

Nice one Al...i hit him at GP also and that's the main reason i played him again.
Love Bravo on the GP turf and he's a Rock Hard Ten - the bet in his last was automatic for me.

Bravo is still somehow underrated on the turf there. Used to love betting him there in the old schedule when they ran the month after the Fla Derby. Now not so much opportunity, but he still bears watching.

[Robert Fischer]

:9: Black Onyx...saw him beat a pretty good field on the turf, Feb 23; has also won on the dirt. Looking for the hat trick on plastic.

good one

[Beachbabe]

good one


Thank you, Robert. :jump:

[Vinnie]

:9: Black Onyx...saw him beat a pretty good field on the turf, Feb 23; has also won on the dirt. Looking for the hat trick on plastic.


Excellent call Beachbabe... :)

[Investorater]

:9: Black Onyx...saw him beat a pretty good field on the turf, Feb 23; has also won on the dirt. Looking for the hat trick on plastic.

Black Onyx pays $33.40 for the win in the Spiral.

So level with me ..... Beachbabe how much money are you counting ? :cool:

[Sysonby]

Nice race for the winner and nice race for Uncaptured, coming back off four-month layoff.

[BlueChip@DRF]

Nice race for the winner and nice race for Uncaptured, coming back off four-month layoff.

If that's coming up "short" off a layoff, I'm wondering what he's going to be like fully cranked. I heard it's on to The Bluegrass for him and then The Derby - 3rd start off the layoff which has been a successful pattern for the Derby winner for the past six consecutive years.

[rastajenk]

I took a chance on him (Uncaptured) yesterday in the Future Pool; looks like he's 33-1 at the moment. :ThmbUp:

[burnsy]

Nice race for the winner and nice race for Uncaptured, coming back off four-month layoff.

I agree, and a shrewd move by the connections of the winner....right track, right time....hes in the dance. Congrats to the board members that hit him....of course i didn't. I'm the worlds worst on the synth. Probably why i rarely play it at all. But all the angles were there. This is where this points system gets interesting. Horses like this running in the under the radar races that are also not dirt. It adds to the mix just like the earnings system did. You will get horses that are a complete guessing game come derby day.....like this one.

[OTM Al]

I agree, and a shrewd move by the connections of the winner....right track, right time....hes in the dance. Congrats to the board members that hit him....of course i didn't. I'm the worlds worst on the synth. Probably why i rarely play it at all. But all the angles were there. This is where this points system gets interesting. Horses like this running in the under the radar races that are also not dirt. It adds to the mix just like the earnings system did. You will get horses that are a complete guessing game come derby day.....like this one.

I actually hate seeing him go to the KY Derby. Distance shouldn't bother him but he looks a better turf horse to me. Would rather see him pointed to the VA Derby.

[Robert Fischer]

I think Black Onyx ran a solid race.
http://0.tqn.com/d/horseracing/1/5/-/0/4/spiral13-1a.jpg
He's a tough horse for me to judge, because he doesn't have a brilliant turn of foot , he just mows down the leaders. And he's a big horse with a big stride, so his stride isn't going to look as quick.

Big horses anecdotally seem to do well at Turfway. Went The Day Well won last year, earlier in the card Crop Report overhauled the pace setter, and Black Onyx.

He doesn't stand out as far as talent, but he could be a horse who runs mid-pack in the Derby, and just continues a steady advance.

[iceknight]

I think Black Onyx ran a solid race.
http://0.tqn.com/d/horseracing/1/5/-/0/4/spiral13-1a.jpg
He's a tough horse for me to judge, because he doesn't have a brilliant turn of foot , he just mows down the leaders. And he's a big horse with a big stride, so his stride isn't going to look as quick.

Big horses anecdotally seem to do well at Turfway. Went The Day Well won last year, earlier in the card Crop Report overhauled the pace setter, and Black Onyx.

He doesn't stand out as far as talent, but he could be a horse who runs mid-pack in the Derby, and just continues a steady advance. This is a good point you talk about and I have a question about this. On equibase/bris/drf charts, is there any mention anywhere of the horse's size? (how many hands or peak stride length?) If is available and listed somewhere, would that be a useful handicapping factor?
I searched the web but maybe I am not using the right terms to find this info. I do find this information on all the stallion sites, but for active racehorses :(

[BlueChip@DRF]

I think Black Onyx ran a solid race.
http://0.tqn.com/d/horseracing/1/5/-/0/4/spiral13-1a.jpg
He's a tough horse for me to judge, because he doesn't have a brilliant turn of foot , he just mows down the leaders. And he's a big horse with a big stride, so his stride isn't going to look as quick.

Big horses anecdotally seem to do well at Turfway. Went The Day Well won last year, earlier in the card Crop Report overhauled the pace setter, and Black Onyx.

He doesn't stand out as far as talent, but he could be a horse who runs mid-pack in the Derby, and just continues a steady advance.


I wonder how he would compare in size next to Verrazano.

[Leparoux]

I agree, and a shrewd move by the connections of the winner....right track, right time....hes in the dance. Congrats to the board members that hit him....of course i didn't. I'm the worlds worst on the synth. Probably why i rarely play it at all. But all the angles were there. This is where this points system gets interesting. Horses like this running in the under the radar races that are also not dirt. It adds to the mix just like the earnings system did. You will get horses that are a complete guessing game come derby day.....like this one.
I get the point you are trying to make but the winner of this race typically makes the Derby in previous years also.

[nijinski]

Carl Domino convinced Herzberg the owner of Balck Onyx to bid and purchase for him and he was his original trainer .
Now I copied this from a Kentucky journal article ...


Black Onyx is the first outside horse that Breen has had for a client other than George and Lori Hall, for whom he has been a private trainer. Breen met Herzberg through Bravo, a poker-playing buddy of the owner's, when the three attended a Miami Heat game together.


You gotta love how this whole trainer switch went down at a Miami Heat game and poker is in the mix too . Kind of feel bad for Domino , but thats how the business flows and goes .

The owner had his mind made up that the horse was to leave Domino's
barn after a 4th place finish anyway . But Breen got lucky , he never met Herzberg before .

[Robert Fischer]

Carl Domino convinced Herzberg the owner of Balck Onyx to bid and purchase for him and he was his original trainer .
Now I copied this from a Kentucky journal article ...


Black Onyx is the first outside horse that Breen has had for a client other than George and Lori Hall, for whom he has been a private trainer. Breen met Herzberg through Bravo, a poker-playing buddy of the owner's, when the three attended a Miami Heat game together.


You gotta love how this whole trainer switch went down at a Miami Heat game and poker is in the mix too . Kind of feel bad for Domino , but thats how the business flows and goes .

The owner had his mind made up that the horse was to leave Domino's
barn after a 4th place finish anyway . But Breen got lucky , he never met Herzberg before .
great story

[raybo]

Redboarding again, but I didn't have an RS workbook for TP created yet. Did that and ran the Spiral card through it just to see what horses might be KD possibilities. As some of you know, in these high dollar stakes races I always use the FVIV ranking column (Average of FV and IV rankings columns), with the top 3 or 4 as my win contenders (3/1 is my minimum betting odds). Black Onyx (#9) was ranked 3rd and Uncaptured (#3) was ranked 2nd, with My Name is Michael (#5) ranking 1st. Take this for what it's worth to you!

[Valuist]

Key race fans have to be waiting for Redwood Kitten to run back. He ran 2nd in the Feb 23 NW1X at GP, won by Spiral winner Black Onyx, and just ahead of Crop Report, who came back to win the Rushaway.

[BlueChip@DRF]

Key race fans have to be waiting for Redwood Kitten to run back. He ran 2nd in the Feb 23 NW1X at GP, won by Spiral winner Black Onyx, and just ahead of Crop Report, who came back to win the Rushaway.

They will get their wish this Friday at Keeneland. :cool: