He lost all position at a pivotal point in the race. He just didn't handle the second turn. But if there is a good time to get beat, this was one of them. |
He might appreciate the longer stretch at Hawthorne. |
He ran a dynamite race, |
He ran a dynamite race. We're delighted with his effort. He came up on the wrong end of the bob. This is a big race for him and he will probably go on. |
He ran a great race, |
He ran much-improved races last fall and has continued to develop physically. They stamped him as a horse moving toward the top of the handicap division. |
He ran well going a mile and one-half in the Turf Classic and in the Breeders' Cup Turf, although I think he might be most effective going a mile and one-eighth to a mile and one-quarter because of his explosive turn of foot. |
He really came to hand for me late in the year. I don't know if he would have been able to turn in that kind of effort before. |
He stacks up well against a field of nice horses. I think there's enough speed that he'll be laying in a stalking position. And he's got an inside post (No. 2). We're happy with the position we're in. |
He was a fresh horse and ran exactly the way we wanted him to. |
He's a patient rider and we would like to see the horse settle in mid pack. I don't think he's a very difficult horse to ride. |
He's a pretty forward horse and the key is just really if they can relax just enough to make their speed dangerous and keep carrying it. |
He's doing well. I think maybe we were bringing him back too quick [in the Cigar Mile] after the Breeders' Cup. |
He's just an enormously talented horse that's able to do those kinds of things without being totally focused just yet. Even though he's come a long way in a relatively short number of races he's still not battle seasoned. |
He's matured physically and mentally and handles the distance. He's the whole package. |