Danza

[PhantomOnTour]

Here's a colt who may burn me come Derby day, but I just can't have him on top or in the exacta.
Yes - he ran a nice final fig in the Arky Derby (but nothing jaw dropping)
Yes - his dam side is stamina stamina stamina

But doesn't anyone else think he got a dream trip right up the rail stalking a slow pace?
The rail totally opened up for him around the 5/16 pole. Bayern's jock tried to shut him down when he moved inside but it was too late...he already had position (and momentum).

He did look good drawing away from that bunch, but the only other runner in the field who will even make the gate for the Derby is Tapiture, and his luster has worn off.
Only four lifetime starts.

UNDERLAY

[SecretAgentMan]

What did he have, like a 20 point jump in his beyers from previous race? I don't like horses going into the derby with a big jump like that.......I also don't like Wicked Strong with his huge point jump.

Funny Cide jumped 11 points previous to the derby but he also popped a 103 figure earlier as a 2 year old & he was running against the best 3 year old, Empire Maker.

If Danza or Wicked had raced & beaten Chrome in the Santa Anita derby, I would think about it.

[Smarty Cide]

100% agree on the trip but DANZA is the boss


I will play him. Yes, he got a great trip but that dont mean he isnt good. Cant fault a horse/jockey for doing what he was supposed to do...

[lamboguy]

the biggest improvements you see in horses are between the 2 and 3 year old years. he looks like he is on the improve, probably latter than others in his crop.

[Tall One]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

But doesn't anyone else think he got a dream trip right up the rail stalking a slow pace?
The rail totally opened up for him around the 5/16 pole.

UNDERLAY

You got that right, PoT. Garden spot doesn't do it justice. It's like they moved off the rail for him..Bravo would've never rode another Pletcher horse again if he didn't make his move.

Again, I don't think WS' trip in Wood was as easy as some on here are touting. He was 4 wide on the turn and, found another gear down the middle of the lane. Danza, the opposite. He was on the rail entering, leaving, and down the lane.

[BlueChip@DRF]

Kind of like Street Sense in the Derby. The overview cam showed horses moving off the rail "in time" for Street Sense to pass through.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by Tall One

You got that right, PoT. Garden spot doesn't do it justice. It's like they moved off the rail for him..Bravo would've never rode another Pletcher horse again if he didn't make his move.

Again, I don't think WS' trip in Wood was as easy as some on here are touting. He was 4 wide on the turn and, found another gear down the middle of the lane. Danza, the opposite. He was on the rail entering, leaving, and down the lane.

Yes, but Wicked Strong saved ground the entire first half of the race. The rail is for saving ground, while the outside is for gaining momentum, so I see WS's trip as optimal.

(I'm using Wicked Strong too, as well as the other Wood Memorial horses.)

[taxicab]

Danza was going to win the AD regardless if the rail opened up or not.
He's a nice Colt.
Nice way of traveling and all that.
It looks like 10 furlongs should be right in his wheelhouse.
His splits and final time were legit.
Will Take Charge went 1:49.2.
Danza went 1:49.3.
And don't forget,the rail was dead on closing day @ Oaklawn.
The entire card the jockeys avoided the inside portion if at all possible.

[Leparoux]

My gut says to never use a horse like this but my eyes tell me otherwise. Can't find any flaws with the AD

[Tall One]

Threads like these really makes this board stand out. In the AD thread, I had commented about his final time, but wasn't aware of that, taxi. Rewatching his race, he was rolling. I hadn't planned on not using him, but he just went up a couple spots in the wager.

[taxicab]

As far as Wicked Strong goes he had the best trip possible.
They went fast from the jump, and continued quickly throughout.
With the wind blowing, jockey Maragh wisely drafted behind horses in a nice little pocket before swinging out to the better outside portion of the track to make his closing run.
Maragh is a bit of a race rider, but he's also a very smart rider.
He really understood the elements and the surface Wood day.
WS is a good looking talented horse, but he received the absolute best trip any horse got in a 3yo prep race this year.
Can he win the Derby?
Yes.
But I think his Wood is a little counterfeit.
I thought his Remsen was very impressive though.

[depalma113]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

He did look good drawing away from that bunch, but the only other runner in the field who will even make the gate for the Derby is Tapiture, and his luster has worn off.
Only four lifetime starts.

UNDERLAY

Someone better tell the connections of Ride on Curlin they are no longer in the Derby.

[PhantomOnTour]

Originally Posted by depalma113

Someone better tell the connections of Ride on Curlin they are no longer in the Derby.

Oops

[precocity]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

Oops

the only other colt running in that race!

[Tall One]

Originally Posted by taxicab

As far as Wicked Strong goes he had the best trip possible.
They went fast from the jump, and continued quickly throughout.
With the wind blowing, jockey Maragh wisely drafted behind horses in a nice little pocket before swinging out to the better outside portion of the track to make his closing run.
Maragh is a bit of a race rider, but he's also a very smart rider.
He really understood the elements and the surface Wood day.
WS is a good looking talented horse, but he received the absolute best trip any horse got in a 3yo prep race this year.
Can he win the Derby?
Yes.
But I think his Wood is a little counterfeit.
I thought his Remsen was very impressive though.

I see your point. I believe I was focusing more on WS' trip as opposed to the pace in the race. Also, this snippet from the Times on the Wood gives you cause to pause:

Jerkens had noticed that in the previous races, the outside paths seemed to be rocketing come-from-behind horses down the lane as if they were on a conveyor belt. “It’s great to save ground all the way, but if you can get him to the crown on the stretch, go ahead,” Jerkens told Maragh in the paddock.