Valuist
11-01-2005, 10:41 AM
Juvenile Fillies- Folklore won as much the best, IMO. She dueled hard and actually went faster to the half and 6f than the males did. The runnerup had no excuse not capitalizing more on the pace.
Juvenile- How impressive was Stevie Wonderboy? The males went 1/5 slower to 6f but finished almost 2 full seconds faster than the Fillies. Another case where the winner was much the best.
FM Turf- Soft pace and wide draw compromised Ouija Board. I questioned her readiness but she ran a winning race. A solid race from 3rd place finisher Film Maker.
Sprint- I don't know if Silver Train should've been DQ'd or not but the trouble definitely cost Taste of Paradise the race. Still, I don't think it was ST's fault as much as TOP just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lost in the Fog's race wasn't bad, battling wide after a break that wasn't great but I didn't think there was that much speed in the race; certainly not for a BC Sprint race. There's also a case to be made that the outer part of the track was the place to be. It certainly didn't hurt to be a few paths off the rail.
Mile- Tough trip for Leroidesanimaux. Wide throughout and battling a solid pace all the way, he was narrowly beaten. Gorella had some traffic issues in the stretch, but the pace and ground saving trip did work in her favor. Like Ouija Board, Leroid was probably best.
Distaff- the most baffling of them all. The only case I can make for Pleasant Home is that she closed wide against a lone speed/soft pace in her last at Keeneland. Still she needed a pace meltdown (not unforeseen) but needed some closers and stalkers (like Happy Ticket) to not show up. She got her "Perfect Storm".
Turf- One noted journalist mentioned that the Euros might be overbet because Ace ran lousy in his US bow. Maybe he forgot Powerscourt blowing away all the top US grassers in August at Arlington. Still, I didn't necessarily think Shirrocco was the top of the Euros. Pace was not on the fast side which benefitted him.
Classic- Saint Liam was better than the winning margin indicated, overcoming a wide post and a soft pace by Flower Alley. Too bad we won't see Liam run anymore.
Juvenile- How impressive was Stevie Wonderboy? The males went 1/5 slower to 6f but finished almost 2 full seconds faster than the Fillies. Another case where the winner was much the best.
FM Turf- Soft pace and wide draw compromised Ouija Board. I questioned her readiness but she ran a winning race. A solid race from 3rd place finisher Film Maker.
Sprint- I don't know if Silver Train should've been DQ'd or not but the trouble definitely cost Taste of Paradise the race. Still, I don't think it was ST's fault as much as TOP just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lost in the Fog's race wasn't bad, battling wide after a break that wasn't great but I didn't think there was that much speed in the race; certainly not for a BC Sprint race. There's also a case to be made that the outer part of the track was the place to be. It certainly didn't hurt to be a few paths off the rail.
Mile- Tough trip for Leroidesanimaux. Wide throughout and battling a solid pace all the way, he was narrowly beaten. Gorella had some traffic issues in the stretch, but the pace and ground saving trip did work in her favor. Like Ouija Board, Leroid was probably best.
Distaff- the most baffling of them all. The only case I can make for Pleasant Home is that she closed wide against a lone speed/soft pace in her last at Keeneland. Still she needed a pace meltdown (not unforeseen) but needed some closers and stalkers (like Happy Ticket) to not show up. She got her "Perfect Storm".
Turf- One noted journalist mentioned that the Euros might be overbet because Ace ran lousy in his US bow. Maybe he forgot Powerscourt blowing away all the top US grassers in August at Arlington. Still, I didn't necessarily think Shirrocco was the top of the Euros. Pace was not on the fast side which benefitted him.
Classic- Saint Liam was better than the winning margin indicated, overcoming a wide post and a soft pace by Flower Alley. Too bad we won't see Liam run anymore.