Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="IthacaBarrel, post: 5424940, member: 363"] I see both sides. You always want to see the winner of KY derby run in the Preakness. Years ago a two week turnaround for a horse was quite common and not a big deal. 3 races at different tracks in 5 weeks is grueling, it was back in the day and it's worse now. Shipping a horse 3 times in 6-7 weeks, getting them settled in, training them etc is not an easy task so much can go wrong. That said, it's not suppose to be easy and I don't think there is any question that it takes a ton out of the horse. The breed is definitely more fragile than it has ever been (different conversation for different time) In addition with the Belmont being run at Saratoga this year at a 1-1/4" mile versus at Belmont going 1.5 miles it kind of takes away from the mystique in my opinion and yeah if a horse won all three, I would say they are a triple crown winner with an asterisk. Unless you get the 1.5 miles at Belmont, not quite sure it's a true triple crown. That said, I don't think they should change the schedule, it's not suppose to be easy and never has been I will say that my opinion always starts and stops with anyone who own's a horse is entitled to do whatever they want with that horse when it comes to schedule of their races, etc. It's their horse and as long as the treatment of the animal is ethical and humane I truly have no issues. I have had horses that could run every 2 weeks and ones that needed 4-5 weeks. Good ones and bad ones all different. Keep in mind this isn't some feel good story, Sovereignty isn't some underdog small owner story. He is extremely well bred and is owned and bred by Godolphin, probably the wealthiest and largest group in the game globally, if they aren't they are damn close. Godolphin is owned by the Maktoum family of Dubai. They truly could care less about winning the Preakness, IMO or the spirit of the triple crown. The win last Saturday made the horse a stallion and they will win a couple more races with him. That said, I don't think he's some super horse by any means. The trainer Billy Mott is very well respected, and I am sure they are doing what they feel is best for the horse and it's future but that said, I fully expect the horse to be run 3-4 times and turned into a stallion at years end but who knows. The stallion of Sovereignty "Into Mischief" is known for producing fast younger horses the downside is they are also known for short racing careers due to injuries and soundness issues (I know right but the way the game goes these days) I have serious doubts that an Into Mischief colt would stay sound with 3 races in 5 weeks, it certainly isn't their MO. So I am not at all surprised that they aren't wheeling the horse back in 2 weeks, probably the smart move. IMO, Into Mischief is the poster child for what is wrong with American horse breeding, horses are bred for speed, not endurance or longevity. You make horses with 6 race careers into stallions and breed to mares that never made it to the races and this is what happens. Japanese have taken a much different approach and probably why they are killing it internationally these days. They also train much different that US trainers Godolphin calls the shots here though, not Mott and they certainly aren't going to cater to the fans or what the public wants because they simply do not care regardless of what is said publicly. I am not sure I would either. That said, if any trainer can keep the horse on the racetrack, Bill Mott would probably be Top 2-3 in the US with the acumen to do exactly that. He's done it with several horses before but the Into Mischief breeding is an issue, IMO Now, what would I do if owned the horse this year? If the horse came back in good shape, I would run the Preakness and if I was not successful there, I would skip the Belmont and take dead aim at the Travers because other than the Derby there isn't a 3 year old race that most owners would rather win. Winning the Belmont at Saratoga wouldn't mean much to me at all. Rather try to win Haskell and then Travers. Now, when it goes back to Belmont at 1.5 miles that's a different story. The Preakness unfortunately gets the short end of the stick because of all this [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?