Best Derby prep so far ?

[PhantomOnTour]

Only a few more rounds of preps until the big day.
Which prep has been the best overall in your opinion?

1) Field quality
2) Pace/speed figs
3) A race where you found your Derby horse.

So far I like the Southwest from OP & the Fountain Of Youth from GP.
Also, a sleeper race is the Miracle Wood from Laurel on Jan 25th.
I have it as a very fast race (only one turn though) and the winner runs in the Gotham this Saturday.

[ManU918]

Have not been impressed with one yet.

[iceknight]

Originally Posted by ManU918

Have not been impressed with one yet.

In case anyone has not said it yet.. "worst 3 yr old crop ever"

[horses4courses]

Originally Posted by iceknight

In case anyone has not said it yet.. "worst 3 yr old crop ever"

You said it first - except it's for the 36th year in a row

The Derby trials are in their early stages - hard to get worked up for at least another month.
That's when the truly "ready" horses make their presence felt.

[ManU918]

I'm patiently waiting to see how Bobby's Kitten runs off the turf with a new rider.

[rastajenk]

I miss the Road to the Roses contest. It made me pay much closer attention, since I'm not much of bettor these days. Headlines and summaries are all I see, not the subtleties that lie deeper.

[Cholly]

Doesn't seem to be much respect being directed at Wildcat Red & General A, but they damn sure showed they have heart on Saturday...in contrast to all the love being showered on Top Billing who may or may not have shown he can be a hanger.

[nijinski]

Originally Posted by Cholly

Doesn't seem to be much respect being directed at Wildcat Red & General A, but they damn sure showed they have heart on Saturday...in contrast to all the love being showered on Top Billing who may or may not have shown he can be a hanger.

I think people would take WR more seriously if they felt Gulfstream
played more fairly . Hearing a lot of remarks about the speed bias and
and some who cannot imagine the outcome could be the same at Churchill .

Still early , but I am tossing out the FOY !

[theguarantee]

Originally Posted by Cholly

Doesn't seem to be much respect being directed at Wildcat Red & General A, but they damn sure showed they have heart on Saturday...in contrast to all the love being showered on Top Billing who may or may not have shown he can be a hanger.

Maybe I'm secluded but I've actually seen way more people knocking Top Billing (and always saying that they are in the minority doing so) then anyone really going over the top about Top Billing's FOY. In fact, I've seen many people saying that Mexikoma made the better run of the two.

I can see what you mean about overall hype on a horse that hasn't really accomplished that much..but I actually think his FOY was much better than I've been seeing/hearing about it. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right spots though.

[Bullet Plane]

Originally Posted by theguarantee

Maybe I'm secluded but I've actually seen way more people knocking Top Billing (and always saying that they are in the minority doing so) then anyone really going over the top about Top Billing's FOY. In fact, I've seen many people saying that Mexikoma made the better run of the two.

I can see what you mean about overall hype on a horse that hasn't really accomplished that much..but I actually think his FOY was much better than I've been seeing/hearing about it. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right spots though.

Well, have you read this?

Here is Haskin's Derby Dozen:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentu...well-farm.aspx

This opinion is pretty much the same one that I've been reading everywhere. Also, I watch a lot of Horse racing related TV such as HRTV... . ditto on radio...seems to be an industry wide consensus

And I'm not saying that I disagree... but it may be an indication, that if you want to bet this horse next out, that there will be no price...

Of course, I do not know who will run against him, or where he will run next; but I think it is extremely likely... that wherever, whenever, and if ever that is... he will be the chalk.

[classhandicapper]

The Cash Call was the best Derby prep so far, but some of the horses may be better on synthetic.

[theguarantee]

Originally Posted by Bullet Plane

Well, have you read this?

Here is Haskin's Derby Dozen:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentu...well-farm.aspx

This opinion is pretty much the same one that I've been reading everywhere. Also, I watch a lot of Horse racing related TV such as HRTV... . ditto on radio...seems to be an industry wide consensus

And I'm not saying that I disagree... but it may be an indication, that if you want to bet this horse next out, that there will be no price...

Of course, I do not know who will run against him, or where he will run next; but I think it is extremely likely... that wherever, whenever, and if ever that is... he will be the chalk.

Thanks for the link. I don't have HRTV/TVG anymore so most of what I read is either on twitter or message boards. I'll take your word for it..I do think exactly what Haskin wrote is true of Top Billing's FOY...though I'm well aware of the overall hype on the horse and am not particularly inclined to want to bet next out (nor do I think he is the top derby contender at this point)...

[raybo]

It's still early, but I'm not impressed much by any of the horses I've seen so far, not just the winners, any of the horses. Lots can happen between now and the Derby, and many times we don't see "impressive" until the Derby itself.

[CincyHorseplayer]

I was impressed with Cairo Prince's Holy Bull and Tapiture's Sothwest but the thing that I'm finding interesting so far is that nearly all the winners have hardcore distance limits.In the last 3 years of the 4 big races=Triple Crown/Travers,9 of 12 were won by the top 3 in overall stamina rank(via Helm).Only Genral A Rod(GP Derby),Noble Moon(Jerome),and Intense Holiday(Risen Star) qualify.Lot of the fringe contenders are bred for the distance so I'm salivating over the 9f preps and TC itself.

[raybo]

Originally Posted by CincyHorseplayer

I was impressed with Cairo Prince's Holy Bull and Tapiture's Sothwest but the thing that I'm finding interesting so far is that nearly all the winners have hardcore distance limits.In the last 3 years of the 4 big races=Triple Crown/Travers,9 of 12 were won by the top 3 in overall stamina rank(via Helm).Only Genral A Rod(GP Derby),Noble Moon(Jerome),and Intense Holiday(Risen Star) qualify.Lot of the fringe contenders are bred for the distance so I'm salivating over the 9f preps and TC itself.

I agree, especially in the Derby, you have to be able to be there "for the long haul" and we won't really know much more until some of these horses have run longer distances. With so many horses in the mix in the Derby, the winner has got to contend with a lot of traffic early and mid, and still have the endurance to finish strong, despite all that traffic related early/mid energy expenditure. Those that can handle the traffic well, while not getting too excited, or intimidated, and have lots of endurance left will probably be there at the wire.