Tom

So now Dunkirk doesn't make it in the Derby, but they give a free pass to some Euro-TRASH in a win and you're in race??????

What is this, the Kentucky Derby or Bowling for Dollars????

Is anyone in this game got a brain larger than a a canary?

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Relwob Owner

Quick answer....no....


The win and you're in deal, in allsenses is absurd.....in the Breeders Cup, one of the relatively randomly assigned races can be won by a mediocre horse and shut good ones out. What has always amazed me about horse racing management in general is that when they do get off their butts to do something or think of a creative idea, it usually blows....good point with the Dunkirk deal

Watcher

Still a chance for Dunkirk to get in with the money for 2nd in Florida Derby?

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Tread

By far one of the most ridiculous marketing scams in the history of sport. It's the equivalent of letting a softball bush-leaguer come play in the world series.

toussaud

that "euro trash" has as much right to the derby as any other horse. the kentuckiy derby is not manifist destiny. it's not a god given privilage to hroses we like.

Plecther could have ran him in a softer spot. he didnt'


he could have ran him in the arknasas derby instead. he didn't

he could have ran him in a stakes race instead of an allowence race. he didn't.

if the derby was the plan, he has no one to blame but himself for not getting in.

the little guy

I, too, think it's foolish, but it may be a somewhat moot point this year, as the connections of the English race winner said they plan to run him in the Blue Grass to see if he belongs in the Derby ( I know.....we already know he doesn't ).

On the other hand, Dunkirk is owned by the Coolmore people....and Shadwell owns the Euro.....so that could conceivably color their ultimate decision.

I find it interesting that the Euro gets $100K if he runs in the Derby. It feels like they added that to attempt to prevent the owners from theoretically selling their spot to the first semi-AE. The problem is, $100K pales in comparison to what someone could offer. Now, Shadwell won't sell, but someone else could. Why not?

W2G

Still a chance. Not a strong chance by any measure, especially this year with the automatic Euro and possibly 2 Godolphins from Dubai.

But I imagine that Pletcher and his owners could be very "persuasive" if Dunkirk is sitting right there on the bubble during Derby week.

DJofSD

I hope Dunkirk gets in. And I hope Hank bets another $100 on him.

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slewis

There are some interesting arguements both ways, but I'll tell you what.

Dunkirk will get in. I doubt you will need the $$$$ this yr you needed last year.

There will be injuries and some others wont go who could.

I have a bigger problem with POLY-SHIT races then I have with a euro-horse, (and I know his race was run on the carpet fiber) because that was a very competitive race.

You'll have horses qualify like in the Lane's end and Toyota BG stakes that may just be poly-shit horses.

They might kick a horse like Dunkirk out, which would be bad for racing.

There is this push to move this industry in the Poly direction, and it's already proving to be backfiring. I've asked some VERY VERY prominent trainers and the consensus is : OK to train, inconsistant to race, don't like or want.

Of course, I haven't met a SINGLE bettor that really likes it, but then, they dont factor into to the industry... they just flip the bill.

Tom

No, but entry should be earned fairly - the same rules for all horses.
If the Euro trash wanted to run in the Derby, he COULD have come over here and competed with everyone else. He didn't. So screw him.

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Relwob Owner

I was talking about the Win and You're In Nonsense, not Dunkirk's situation....it is the dumbest idea and doesnt make any sense, especially when used for the Derby.....they make the whole criteria about earnings and then stick in a race with an automatic entry----dumb, dumb idea

DJofSD

Last year there were I believe twelve runners, with BB on the outside post. This year the field size was half of last years. What's up with that?

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"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer (with many thanks to Barry Ritholtz)

slewis

DJ,

Funny thing is that on another thread someone blasted Zito for running.

It's a horse race, and you never know. Some are willing to wing it, most are not.

But in a race of this magnitude, you need to "point and train" to it.

I dont think there were enough talented runners around to take a shot, especially when you have easier spots coming up.
I looked at the nominated horses and many would have been wasting their time.

I know Im playing monday morning trainer, but the way the race played out, any other horses nominated who didn't run, would have wasted their race, which now makes a shot at the Ill. Derby, Wood, Blue Grass, impossible.

The best you could hope for is the Lexington (to qualify), and those who go into that race have a bigger problem. It's too close to Derby day.

DrunkenHorseplayer

The "win and you're in" concept is nothing more than an extension of the graded stakes earnings criteria. How many times has the BC Juvenile winner, the Delta Jackpot winner or the winner of a particular race for females been granted a spot even though they clearly didn't belong?

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