Firing Line

[Bob S.]

This is a pedigree and performance article I wrote about Firing Line after his Grade One, $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity race.

http://regalbloodlines.com/2014/12/1...sville-in-may/

[Robert Fischer]

Really enjoy your Regal Bloodlines blog, and following along with these standout 3yos.

This will be a show-and-prove race today in the Robert Lewis.

Between Firing Line's natural stride, and the camera angle that recorded his latest workout, I was not able to see him change leads when entering and running through the stretch.
Now, that doesn't mean that it didn't happen, it was simply unclear, but it still bothered me a little bit. I'll want to see Firing line clearly change leads and erase that weird doubt completely.

Dortmund has something to prove to me as well, in that I want to see some electricity in the stretch to remove all doubt that he may have a tendency to flatten out in the lane.

Given Dortmund's anthropometric advantage, his trainer advantage, and his apparent distaste for the Los Alamitos track, he certainly has no excuses today.

Hopefully we exit this race the way we enter - Two Derby hopefuls.

[eddieb]

According to a report from clocker Toby Turrell, Firing Line's saddle appeared to slip in his last workout. Thus, he concluded Firing Line may not have changed leads because of the saddle slipping.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by eddieb

According to a report from clocker Toby Turrell, Firing Line's saddle appeared to slip in his last workout. Thus, he concluded Firing Line may not have changed leads because of the saddle slipping.

Thanks for the info. I hadn't heard anyone else mention it.

[Track Phantom]

I made one future book bet this year. $100 on FIRING LINE at 125-1. I bet it after he broke his maiden. His race in the Los Al Futurity was awesome. He was harassed all the way, got leaned on and bumped multiple times by Mr. Z. and had to try to hold off Dortmund, who got a perfect trip in the golden seat stalking a speed duel.

Having said all of that....for some reason I have a feeling he'll not run as good this time out. I hope I'm wrong. Would be nice to see him move forward.

[Rex Phinney]

No idea what happened today. Looks to me like he doesn't like the whip. Watch the race again. He is cruising seemingly has Dortmund covered then Gary gets him a few times with a left handed whip, the horse gives up ground at which time Gary goes to the right hand but to no avail. Any other thoughts?

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Rex Phinney

No idea what happened today. Looks to me like he doesn't like the whip. Watch the race again. He is cruising seemingly has Dortmund covered then Gary gets him a few times with a left handed whip, the horse gives up ground at which time Gary goes to the right hand but to no avail. Any other thoughts?

Its possible he got the lead too soon, sometimes horses just loaf a bit if they hit the front with the entire stretch to race, they could lose focus if they pass horses, some horses need a target. Probably a combo of his "slowing up" and Dortmund's gameness and willingness to fight back was why he lost a race that he looked like he had won.

[letswastemoney]

Dortmund loses ground on the turn. Quickens on the straightaway.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by Rex Phinney

Any other thoughts?

Looked like 2 very good horses.
Firing line was a little more tactical and Gary Stevens could feel he had a ton of horse, so he decided to move prematurely in order to have control at the top of the stretch.
Firing Line flattened out a little bit, and Dortmund was able to catch up.

Both looked great today. I don't think either horse stamped himself as the Triple Crown winner. Long way to go. Dortmund did show that he can be on or near the lead in a classic distance race, which is another feather in his cap. The finish for Dortmund was solid, but not spectacular.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

Looked like 2 very good horses.
Firing line was a little more tactical and Gary Stevens could feel he had a ton of horse, so he decided to move prematurely in order to have control at the top of the stretch.
Firing Line flattened out a little bit, and Dortmund was able to catch up.

Both looked great today. I don't think either horse stamped himself as the Triple Crown winner. Long way to go. Dortmund did show that he can be on or near the lead in a classic distance race, which is another feather in his cap. The finish for Dortmund was solid, but not spectacular.

Gary rode well, i think that the choice he had was either keep FL under a hold so he wouldn't get the lead too soon, or, let the horse gallop comfortably on his own, FL was doing it so easy that Gary didn't get in his way sort of speak, too many jocks grab and wrangle and try and get cute, if a horse has a high cruising speed and he's galloping comfortably, just let him roll and take your chances.

Dortmund was also impressive because he was ridden different this time vs last time...today, he was the target and he felt a big press from a quality horse and just kept digging.....Dortmund beat FL both ways, from behind and then from in front. Both horses very impressive visually imo.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Gary rode well, i think that the choice he had was either keep FL under a hold so he wouldn't get the lead too soon, or, let the horse gallop comfortably on his own, FL was doing it so easy that Gary didn't get in his way sort of speak, too many jocks grab and wrangle and try and get cute, if a horse has a high cruising speed and he's galloping comfortably, just let him roll and take your chances.

I agree 1000%.

If in fact he got the lead too soon, then this goes down as a "horse idiosyncrasy".

You can't fault a rider for a "horse idiosyncrasy".

Any time a horse idles on the lead, doesn't like the whip, doesn't like the inside, needs rough-handling to change leads, needs urging from the gate, can't be urged at all early, can't deal with any kick-back, - or any number of "horse idiosyncrasies", the first time they come up the jockey has to get a mulligan.

Now, in the future that is one thing that separates a great ride from a mediocre ride. - Sadly most jocks will continuosly allow their rides to underperform due "horse idiosyncrasies", while the best riders will watch film or keep a book and prepare, and then do their best to compensate.

This was the first time that Firing Line has ever shown that, so Stevens can't be criticized.

There is also the question about how much of this flattening out in the stretch was in fact a "mental" breakdown - where the horse was idling when he hit the front - or if he was a lot stronger on his left lead around the turn but did not carry that over to the stretch racing on his right lead.

Many times I've heard that "idling-on-the-lead" trait attributed to a horse, and it was bullshit. However, some of the time it seemed to be true as far as I could tell.

I really don't know with Firing Line specifically. We will know after the next race.

One last comment - as far as Dortmund "refusing to lose" and "fighting back courageously" - he was game, and he showed some good stamina, but the general rule is that when a horse "comes back" along the inside it is more a product of the leader flattening out a little bit.

[zico20]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

I agree 1000%.

If in fact he got the lead too soon, then this goes down as a "horse idiosyncrasy".

You can't fault a rider for a "horse idiosyncrasy".

Any time a horse idles on the lead, doesn't like the whip, doesn't like the inside, needs rough-handling to change leads, needs urging from the gate, can't be urged at all early, can't deal with any kick-back, - or any number of "horse idiosyncrasies", the first time they come up the jockey has to get a mulligan.

Now, in the future that is one thing that separates a great ride from a mediocre ride. - Sadly most jocks will continuosly allow their rides to underperform due "horse idiosyncrasies", while the best riders will watch film or keep a book and prepare, and then do their best to compensate.

This was the first time that Firing Line has ever shown that, so Stevens can't be criticized.

There is also the question about how much of this flattening out in the stretch was in fact a "mental" breakdown - where the horse was idling when he hit the front - or if he was a lot stronger on his left lead around the turn but did not carry that over to the stretch racing on his right lead.

Many times I've heard that "idling-on-the-lead" trait attributed to a horse, and it was bullshit. However, some of the time it seemed to be true as far as I could tell.

I really don't know with Firing Line specifically. We will know after the next race.

One last comment - as far as Dortmund "refusing to lose" and "fighting back courageously" - he was game, and he showed some good stamina, but the general rule is that when a horse "comes back" along the inside it is more a product of the leader flattening out a little bit.

Very nice post. Most horses would have gave way once past. Dortmund didn't quit, which is a huge plus going forward.

So here is a question for everyone. Just read on DRF that these two may meet again in the SA Derby. Would you skip the San Felipe and go into the derby with only two preps. The article is on DRF Plus which I don't subscribe to, but I think for Dortmund he should get three preps in this spring. The more he races the better. He still has a bunch more maturing to do. I don't see him getting tired off three preps. Firing Line may do better with a small break.

[tanner12oz]

His last 3 races have been as good as just about any of the major players