Haskell and Jim Dandy preview

by TCI 296 days ago

The TCI Boys talk about the impact of this weekend’s Haskell Invitational (G1) and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on the 3-year-old division moving into the second half of the season.

Watch it. Comment.

TCI Top 5 Sprinters

Rank Name Comments
1 Amazombie Defending champ deserves this spot on his class, consistency and love for Santa Anita
2 Roman Threat Lightly-raced half to champion Indian Blessing has exploded onto the scene as a 4yo
3 Trinniberg Unquestionably the leading 3yo sprinter, but can he be effective against older horses?
4 Emcee Another talented and lightly-raced older horse; Set up for a big summer in NY
5 The Factor Loves Santa Anita, but his ability at six furlongs against top sprinters is very suspect

through 7/26/2012


- More posts: 2012 Breeders' Cup, Featured Horse Racing News

Discussion

  • Joe Polander

    Joel – I agree with you and Ed in believing that Paynter will win the Haskell. Dullahan wil be closing late , but has to catch Paynter. Gemologist is training well, but asking him to go 1 1/8 after having not raced since the KY Derby and to tackle Paynter who is in form I believe is asking too much. I feel that Payner will win the Haskell, and if he does, he has to be considered as a big time Contender for the 1 1/4 BC Classic. The exacta won’t pay much, so I am hoping to get 2-1 on Paynter and bet him to win. Also I will be betting Paynter on top of Gemologist/Dullahan for a trifecta. I believe Gemologist and Dullahan will finish 2 and 3, but either one could get second, the other should get third. Acclamation looked good in the Eddie Read. Do you feel that Silver Max is good enough to be a BC Turf contender against the likes of Acclamation, St. Nicholas Abby and Sea Moon?

    • Joel Cunningham

      Hey Joe!I agree with you on Paynter. I’ve liked this colt from the start so it’s nice to see him in this position now with a good chance to win a race like the Haskell. He obviously got behind on this crop but seems to have caught up by all accounts I have gotten as to how he’s training in California. I think he lost the Belmont because of the distance, but from 9-10 furlongs I think he could be the best 3yo in training. We’ll find out Sunday!

      I think you are spot on with Gem and Dullahan too. I believe Stealcase is a good horse, and I do think he didn’t fire his best race last time out, as I was there on Foster Day at CD and he was just sluggish throughout. My concern with him is that he may be a miler and not want to go this far…but his Sheet numbers from his two one-turn races would make him a contender in here.

      Acclamation was getting out but won easy. He’s America’s best BC Turf contender without question IMO, mainly because the race is in California so it’s a home game. With his speed, I do not see Silver Max as a contender…especially adding in Turbo Compressor, Little Mike and other speedsters. I didn’t care for Silver Max’s last race and I think he’s very vulnerable in the Secretariat next month at Arlington going 1 1/4 miles. He seems like a miler to me, which may be where he fits best in the Breeders’ Cup if he makes it to that weekend at SA. But even in there he’ll face some opposing speed from others most likely, and the Euros are usually much classier obviously.

      St. Nicholas Abbey will be tough again IMO…and if Nathaniel comes he has a big shot as well. Those are the two with a realistic shot of coming that I’m looking closest at. That race at Ascot last weekend was likely a key race to indicate the top 1 1/2-mile turf horses in Europe (unless a 3yo emerges like Camelot).


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