Blue Grass Thoughts

[Badactor]

Top Conor      15/1
Be You         8/1
Seize the Grey 20/1
Dornoch        3/1
Good Money     20/1
Just a Touch   7/2
Lat Long       30/1
Epic Ride      20/1
Mugatu         30/1
Sierra Leone   2/1
Encino         12/1

[ozzy]

Is Danny G playing games stating they want Dornoch to sit behind horses and learn how to rate and take dirt today? If he is serious, why? Why take away his main weapon and do so the race prior to the Derby? If so he is a toss for me but in general I’ve never really been high on this horse as I don’t think he has a lot between the ears and if they attempt this I think he’ll fall apart fighting the rider. I honestly think it’s more gamesmanship however as Sierra Leone needs pace, Chad entered 2 others to help ensure some pace for that one and Garagan trying to not get extra pressure up front.

All that said, I like Just A Touch. This horse has been touted for quite a bit and I think he hated the track last out in the Gotham. He looked finished turning for home and yet came again, running in spots on talent alone. A dry track today, a couple nice breezes over the KEE strip…I am loving the 33-1 I can get currently in the Future pool on top of what I already have. Sierra 2nd as Chad either wins the Bluegrass or runs 2nd, and I’ll tab Be You for 3rd to shake things up.

[mysaladdays]

Sierra Leone,  all the trouble at the back and the outside post, coming past all those horses in the stretch like they were standing still, ears pricked.....he seems to love this work.....a true son of Gun Runner, another CHAMPION.  He just gobbles up ground.

I feel electified watching him.

[ozzy]

Dornoch did what I expected being forced to try to rate. I am
sure they will move on to Louisville and he could turn in a much better showing making the pace versus trying to rate.

Sierra Leone did much more going against the grain, closing on this track in a very impressive performance. He did get pace to close into, did run less than professional, but he sure does have some stride. He goes into Louisville no less than the 2nd choice and would be my betting favorite.

Just A Touch ran ok but seemed to tire, ran like a horse that needed the race or one who wouldn’t be best running 1 1/4 from the looks of his effort today. Shame as I thought he had a big shot today and again in 4 weeks but now not so sure.

[mysaladdays]

I will have to watch race a few more times, I thought your horse ran very well. I agree Dornoch did what we expected, they were tweaking / experimenting which is a good time to do it NOW with time to spare. This wasn't a true effort on his part. Sierra Leone as a deep closer in the KY Derby field of 20 is a tad worrisome. I almost put a little someting on epic ride since on his dam side the stamina looked rather complimentary...for an AW horse he ran very well.

[1hooper]

Similar initial reaction as Oz.
Thought Just A Touch was the play today. Ran fine, was thinking this will move him up but then looking at his dam she was black type at 8F and under. Mixed signals for sure but leaning towards skip Derby and wait 6-8 weeks at earliest for next start. Not sure his owner group will pass though.

[ozzy]

I also used Epic Ride underneath in the tri and glad I did as paid $86 for each $.50! Nice effort from that one for sure. Interested to see where they go next.

The one really bad thing with Sierra Leone was his antics at the gate. I didn’t watch him any prior to see if this is a habit, but if it is, this will be a problem magnified many times over in 4 weeks.

[mysaladdays]

Well trainer said they are going to do some gate training. But I also got to thinking about Dornoch. You know as the derby gets closer we're going to hear all about how he's full brother to Mage who won the KY Derby --- and I was thinking that siblings don't win KY Derbies back to back like that. I mean, has it ever happened?

[Badactor]