Wood Memorial

[VeryOldMan]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Beautiful Exacta Smash Palace!!! Way to GO!!

+1!

That was an ugly spill in the stretch - early reports are that Deposition walked off on his own power. Sure hope that's the case. Clipped heels rather than a breakdown, so hopefully he'll be relatively OK. Prayers up for him and Dexter Haddock, who likewise walked off under his own power.

[zico20]

Great score Palace!

[Someday Silent]

Originally Posted by VeryOldMan

+1!

That was an ugly spill in the stretch - early reports are that Deposition walked off on his own power. Sure hope that's the case. Clipped heels rather than a breakdown, so hopefully he'll be relatively OK. Prayers up for him and Dexter Haddock, who likewise walked off under his own power.

I hope Deposition is ok and comes back to the races successfully.

I’ve noticed that this year’s Derby field is one of, if not THE, most lightly raced bunch in history. Makes me worry that many of these horses won’t stand up to 10 furlongs next month.

[Robert Fischer]

Good job guys.

First time in a while I was semi-competent. Also got a fair amount of walking in.

Wood was good.

[PalaceOfFortLarned]

So why the ?

This is where old school handicapping and decades of experience has its benefits.

Gargan has had a solid meet 20(4-5-3) clipping along at 20% and 12 for 20 in the money. A very underrated trainer that had saddled some solid horses this weekend, and things just hadn't really gone his way.

As for the actual horse? One of my all time favorites in Good Magic on top with Colonel John on the bottom. Breeding screams distance and 'stayer'. They started him out at 'Toga in a big time $137K Maiden. He got caught inside and obviously didn't like it like many 1st timers don't like getting caught on the rail getting crowded and getting all the kickback.

Then? They shove him into a 9F Maiden as they knew they had a distance horse. And again, more trouble, but runs a respectable 3rd. Obviously they like this horse as they turn around and put him in the G3 Withers at 9F. Unfortunately they catch a sloppy track, he has more trouble again, and was a non-factor.

So they regroup, get him back in a Maiden race, and he breaks his maiden last out, but yet again on an off track, and had trouble again, but prevailed and pulled away to a 3 length win.

All the while during a rough and troubled 4 starts to his career, his Sheets/Thoros numbers were improving and Rivera had rode him on his 2 best races to date and his late pace figs were solid amid all the trouble he was encountering. So the question I really had for myself was, "What does this horse really have if he actually gets a decent trip on a dry track"? Well, we found out yesterday that he is a pretty decent horse, and at 107/1 you also get paid.

[burnsy]

Originally Posted by Someday Silent

I hope Deposition is ok and comes back to the races successfully.

I’ve noticed that this year’s Derby field is one of, if not THE, most lightly raced bunch in history. Makes me worry that many of these horses won’t stand up to 10 furlongs next month.

This has been the trend for years now . And like many things in life. Horse racing is no different, people would not want to own up to it or even admit there are changes needed . It’s damn near the “American way “ ……. Problem ….. what problem ? And horse racing excels at that . I’ve brought it up on here for years now . Why do so many horses get injured at this young age and so early in their racing career ? They don’t race but they have to get the hell trained out of them to measure up . Lacking a foundation built on real racing and competition. Rarity to make all three legs , at this point rare to come back in two weeks for Preakness unless you’re the winner . Crying out loud , the trainers are telling you they don’t want to run older stakes and handicap horses without 8-12 week breaks and their sending these younger, greener horses out to race in a Triple Crown chase ?!?! Cmon . It’s almost common sense …… but it isn’t ?

For me saying that there are always goobers that are gonna come out and poo poo that . I’m a realist . No alter realities , sugar coat or blinkers on . Some people don’t want the truth if it punches them in the face . There’s pretending to be done, denial and money to lose .