Part II of KY Derby panel discussion & workout report

Taylor Made Stallions
by TCI 389 days ago

Jon & Joel talk to Ray Paulick and Ed DeRosa in the second part of their Kentucky Derby discussion, and they opine on the Derby contenders that have made the best physical impressions and best training impressions the past week at Churchill.

Watch it. Comment.

TCI Top Ten with top speed rating

Rank Name Bris Comments
1 Union Rags 103 No longer the clear Derby fave; Need to see him train well in KY
2 Bodemeister 106 A “holy cow” breakthrough win in Arkansas Derby, but was it too fast?
3 Creative Cause 107 Consistent, classy, battle-tested and possesses a good style for the Derby
4 Gemologist 104 The fact that this colt is not in the Top 3 shows how good this crop is
5 El Padrino 111 He’s in now, and one who will benefit from Trinniberg’s pace presence
6 Hansen 105 A key Derby matchup will be the cruising speed of his vs. Nos. 2 & 4
7 Dullahan 102 His ability on real dirt remains a question, but Blue Grass winner is legit
8 I’ll Have Another 102 California 3yos have been dominant, and he won two big preps there
9 Alpha 104 Stepped up and passed a needed class test in the Wood, but figs are slow
10 Take Charge Indy 109 Took advantage of easy pace to win Florida Derby; Borel an obvious plus

through 4/23/2012


- More posts: 2012 Triple Crown

Discussion

  • JR

    Hi Joel,
    Great commentary, on my previous post you mentioned CC getting roughed up by the pony. In the BC he got kicked, what happened this time? I going to really look forward to your opinion on TCI, Alpha, and what did you think of Dullahan work? I’ve read a lot of comments not all favorable.

    El Padrino and Gem’s work in Florida being called a maintenance was pretty slow. I’ll be interested in what you have to say about how they look when they arrive.

    Thanks for everything Joel, look forward as always to what you have to say.

    Kind Regards,
    JR
    P.S Everyone was concerned about Shackleford last year being washed out looking in the post parade, now we know that’s just how he is. With CC being Hot in the morning do you have concerns, and do you equate being hot to nervous energy and what that could take out of him. 

    • Joelc

      JR,

      Creative Cause has been bounced around multiple days by the pony, and Monday he was lucky not to get cow kicked by it – ala Breeders’ Cup week – when the pony fired at him twice after he got onto the track. Bizarre.

      I didn’t like Dullahan’s work but it was just a maintenance work since he just ran so big 3 weeks ago. My problem with it was that he struggled over the track and didn’t look comfortable over it. I will say the track was very loose, cuppy and the ground was breaking away from many of the horses after the break when he breezed Saturday morning, but for a horse that moves like a turf horse and has never won on the dirt – I would have liked to have seen him prove my skepticism wrong. With that said, I have liked how he’s got over the track in his gallops, but galloping well and running well are two different things obviously..a lot of turf horses gallop great on the dirt. I can tell you this: Shackleford galloped and trained much better a year ago for Romans heading into the Derby.

      I’m not worried about Creative Cause getting hot. He’s a horse with enough experience and reliability that I feel he’ll be ok. Harrington confessed the horse doesn’t react well to crowds and it did work him up before he hit the track Monday, but a classy horse like him will get acquainted by race day IMO.

      Looking forward to seeing Gem, El Padrino and Take Charge Indy in the morning!


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