Digger

[MickJ26]

Anybody see Digger yesterday at Laurel? He reminds me a lot of Fabulous Strike. Once he gets the lead he's tough to run down. He could make a lot of noise in the sprint division this year.

[Backstretch Pirate]

Yes, I agree, this one is a monster.

[hbeck]

He is in a nice form cycle right now but is hardly a monster IMO. If he was racing agaisnt the better horses who are in the better climates right now he would be getting smoked. Will not be a factor whatsoever later on in the year. We shall see.

[Backstretch Pirate]

He is in a nice form cycle right now but is hardly a monster IMO. If he was racing agaisnt the better horses who are in the better climates right now he would be getting smoked. Will not be a factor whatsoever later on in the year. We shall see.

Ya, as if you have a clue about who or who not will have an impact.
Digger is a monster.

[Dahoss9698]

He's okay when he's allowed to set a slow to moderate pace by himself. But, monster isn't really the word I would use to describe a horse that was 6th at 4/5 to the likes of Cavallo Pazzo and More Than A Reason three months ago.

[Backstretch Pirate]

He's okay when he's allowed to set a slow to moderate pace by himself. But, monster isn't really the word I would use to describe a horse that was 6th at 4/5 to the likes of Cavallo Pazzo and More Than A Reason three months ago.

Ok folks, he's not a monster.
2 pro handicappers have now said so. I must be wrong.
Just make sure you don't bet on him next time out ;) .

[Cardus]

Ok folks, he's not a monster.
2 pro handicappers have now said so. I must be wrong.
Just make sure you don't bet on him next time out ;) .

He is not a monster.

Make it 3.

[firstoffclaim]

Digger is a very nice racehorse, but don't even mention him in the same sentence as Fabulous Strike.

[Backstretch Pirate]

He is not a monster.

Make it 3.

And you know this because......

[the little guy]

Here is a point of comparison for all the " Digger is a Monster " folks...

Yesterday's 2nd race at Laurel...


Next Post 1:33 Off: 1:04 | 6 Furlongs | 4 Year Olds And Up | Claiming ($25,000 - $20,000) | Purse: $18,000

# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
3 Citigambler Pimentel J 124 5.80 3.60 2.80
4 Hasufel Terrill A 113 3.80 3.00
6 Legit Passion Navarro J 119 6.40


Times in 5ths: :214 :45 :571 1:101

Times in 100ths: :21.94 :45.02 :57.23 1:10.31


Digger's now imfamous victory.....


Next Post 3:57 Off: 3:27 | 6 Furlongs | 4 Year Olds And Up | Stakes | Purse: $68,200

# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
1 Digger Luzzi M J 120 5.60 3.80 6.20
7 Celtic Innis Russell S 120 10.80 8.80
6 Malibu Kid Dunkelberger T L 120 5.20


Times in 5ths: :23 :46 :572 1:09

Times in 100ths: :23.06 :46.00 :57.41 1:09.13


Anything seem favorable about Digger's wire to wire victory?

[hbeck]

To anyone rational he does no look like a monster, Andy. Keep letting fools overbet bad horses - we will profit in the longrun.

[Backstretch Pirate]

Here is a point of comparison for all the " Digger is a Monster " folks...

Yesterday's 2nd race at Laurel...


Next Post 1:33 Off: 1:04 | 6 Furlongs | 4 Year Olds And Up | Claiming ($25,000 - $20,000) | Purse: $18,000

# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
3 Citigambler Pimentel J 124 5.80 3.60 2.80
4 Hasufel Terrill A 113 3.80 3.00
6 Legit Passion Navarro J 119 6.40


Times in 5ths: :214 :45 :571 1:101

Times in 100ths: :21.94 :45.02 :57.23 1:10.31


Digger's now imfamous victory.....


Next Post 3:57 Off: 3:27 | 6 Furlongs | 4 Year Olds And Up | Stakes | Purse: $68,200

# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
1 Digger Luzzi M J 120 5.60 3.80 6.20
7 Celtic Innis Russell S 120 10.80 8.80
6 Malibu Kid Dunkelberger T L 120 5.20


Times in 5ths: :23 :46 :572 1:09

Times in 100ths: :23.06 :46.00 :57.41 1:09.13


Anything seem favorable about Digger's wire to wire victory?

If you are talking about the 23 46 splits. You haven't shown us the variant for the day, and the normal running time for those fractions.

[hbeck]

To anyone rational he does not look like a monster, Andy. Keep letting fools overbet bad horses - we will profit in the longrun.

[the little guy]

If you are talking about the 23 46 splits. You haven't shown us the variant for the day, and the normal running time for those fractions.

I think showing his splits versus those from a $25K claiming race made the point fairly clearly.....at least for some.

[Backstretch Pirate]

Lava Man logic!

[hbeck]

Sorry about the double post.

[Robert Fischer]

he ran as fast as he can today, and Brown has him finishing well.

he still has to shake the label that he can only perform on a clear lead.

That race a few back at Aqueduct it looked like Dominguez's tactics were to press him early- the one where he was caught late


Ravalo gets second in this race if migs doesn't move too early

I don't know how fast they went early today vs. what the best sprinters would go. <--EDIT ouch at the clmr split comparisons

[hbeck]

Why are we debating a horses merits based on a race in Dec. on the AQU inner and the Maryland circuit? This isn't even worth discussing. Good for Digger and his connections for getting some winter purses. I wouldn't call it a reflection on positive merits of the horse.

[Backstretch Pirate]

he ran as fast as he can today, and Brown has him finishing well.

he still has to shake the label that he can only perform on a clear lead.

That race a few back at Aqueduct it looked like Dominguez's tactics were to press him early- the one where he was caught late


Ravalo gets second in this race if migs doesn't move too early

I don't know how fast they went early today vs. what the best sprinters would go.

He pressed the pace for a victory on a 44.4 pace back in July at Belmont.

[Dahoss9698]

He pressed the pace for a victory on a 44.4 pace back in July at Belmont.

Yes, a 5 horse field where he beat the mighty Shoptate. He's a nice horse. Capable of running a good race when the conditions suit. But he's not a monster.

[Backstretch Pirate]

I think showing his splits versus those from a $25K claiming race made the point fairly clearly.....at least for some.

Really why didn't you show us the splits for the Allowance Optional that ran later during the day? Quite obvious to anyone paying attention, that as the day progressed the track was getting slower.

[the little guy]

To anyone rational he does not look like a monster, Andy. Keep letting fools overbet bad horses - we will profit in the longrun.

Sadly, the pools are not made up of money from people with opinions like this.

What's funny is that when I saw a thread about Digger I thought someone might be pointing out that he has now gotten away with murder on the front end in two straight races and that he will be a great bet against down the road. Silly me.

[Cardus]

Sorry about the double post.

Seeing how your posts appeared sequentially -- both before and after absurd posts by the B-Pirate -- I thought that it was intentionally... and funny.

[Spalding No!]

Yes, a 5 horse field where he beat the mighty Shoptate. He's a nice horse. Capable of running a good race when the conditions suit. But he's not a monster.

Here's a better measuring stick:

Would Mike Smith bother to keep Zenyatta within range of Digger on a speed-favoring surface?

[Cardus]

Here's a better measuring stick:

Would Mike Smith bother to keep Zenyatta within range of Digger on a speed-favoring surface?

My kingdom for a thread without "Zenyatta."

[Robert Fischer]

He pressed the pace for a victory on a 44.4 pace back in July at Belmont.
i give him more credit for pressing the pace, than for wire jobs although neither race had very good sprinters.
The following race were he also pressed and inherited the lead, and gayego put him away was telling.

[Backstretch Pirate]

Sadly, the pools are not made up of money from people with opinions like this.


Sadly, you are again in the majority here. Typical of what a public handicapper does.

[the little guy]

Really why didn't you show us the splits for the Allowance Optional that ran later during the day? Quite obvious to anyone paying attention, that as the day progressed the track was getting slower.

Not so clear if you look at the pps from the 2nd race versus the 8th....or the 1st versus the 9th ( both of those were at 5 1/2 furlongs ). At the most any change wouldn't alter the fact that Digger set a very slow pace in relative terms.

[Backstretch Pirate]

i give him more credit for pressing the pace, than for wire jobs although neither race had very good sprinters.
The following race were he also pressed and inherited the lead, and gayego put him away was telling.

I thought that was a good run first time over the Saratoga course.

[Dahoss9698]

I thought that was a good run first time over the Saratoga course.

His first time over the Saratoga course was a good run. Won by 6 3/4 in August of 2007.

[Backstretch Pirate]

His first time over the Saratoga course was a good run. Won by 6 3/4 in August of 2007.

Good point, my database only goes back to the first of January 2008 :blush:

[Dahoss9698]

Good point, my database only goes back to the first of January 2008 :blush:

Your database missed his start at Saratoga in August of 2008 also.

[Backstretch Pirate]

Your database missed his start at Saratoga in August of 2008 also.

No problem, I've got his last 10 starts. Should be good enough.

[classhandicapper]

Digger may not be anything special, but I think he might be able to beat Zenyatta at 6F on dirt if the track was honest or speed favoring. So I guess that means Zenyatta isn't as great as her supporters think. :bang:

[Backstretch Pirate]

Times in 100ths: :23.06 :46.00 :57.41 1:09.13


Anything seem favorable about Digger's wire to wire victory?

I don't know, but the 23.13 final quarter is faster than most horses run their first 2 furlongs. Pretty impressive!

[senortout]

Didn't even see the race, but Digger got away with slow fractions, as sometimes happens when other speed horses and their connections decide not to forfeit their chances of winning by challenging him early!

I often wonder about races which are chock full of early speed types, and the mindset of connections when they realize what they're up against.

On the one hand, unless there's a genuine stone closer in the race, it might be smart to have your speed horse in there. After all, if he gets the lead, not too much to worry about horses coming late. How many front runners have you looked at in the pp's thinking....oh he's cheap, he's never passed a horse. Once he's caught thats all she wrote?...yet, with nothing coming late, what's not to like...you get my drift..

senortout

[cj]

I don't know, but the 23.13 final quarter is faster than most horses run their first 2 furlongs. Pretty impressive!

Figures wise on the Beyer scale, I gave him an 82 to the half mile and a 98 finish. After that pace, he should have finished very fast. Dream trip if there ever was one.

[Backstretch Pirate]

Figures wise on the Beyer scale, I gave him an 82 to the half mile and a 98 finish. After that pace, he should have finished very fast. Dream trip if there ever was one.

Ya, I gave him a 98 speed on a 10 variant track. After sleeping off last night's hooch, the performance no longer seems monster worthy. :D

[the little guy]

Ya, I gave him a 98 speed on a 10 variant track. After sleeping off last night's hooch, the performance no longer seems monster worthy. :D


Apology accepted.