How About Hard Spun Now?

[Foggytrip]

Hes peaked. Hes ran his best dirt races, he wont get any better on the dirt.

What do you want to bet?

[Rokeby Forever]

I don't understand your thinking, Foggynote - he's first getting to distances that he was bred for. I wouldn't give you 10 cent for Scat Daddy getting 1 1/4 mile.

Foggynote, who do you like for the KY Derby as of now?

[Foggytrip]

If you forced me to pick one right now I would take Street Sense, but Im hoping something happens to change my mind between now and Derby. I can tell you who I wont take.

Circular Quay, and Hard Spun.

[jagger]

Once again, Rokeby, we are both of exactly the same thinking as regards Hard Spun and Scat Daddy as well. Finally, Hard Spun is running distances where he will really shine. I keep remembering Brother Derek from last year - the co-favorite for the Derby. I predicted that he would not hit the board - and... . That final furlong is what separates the greats from the goods - the pretenders. Foggytrip's Street Sense pick is one I can agree with. Eliminating Hard Spun and Circular Quay when Scat Daddy, Notional, Liquidity, Any Given Saturday and Stormello are still in the running...?

[George William Smith]

Have you checked out Hard Spun's GSV and GSV2 scores. He should love turf and going long on the dirt should be no problem. Second highest is Street Sense so we could have a whopper of race...


Great things to look forward to! Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Rokeby Forever]

Exactly, Jaggar. I just don't see a lot of these 3 year olds wanting that extra furlong. The end of the Fountain of Youth was a crawl, the Gotham didn't give anyone goosebumps, and Great Hunter looks like a colt that wants 10 furlongs, but who finishing behind him does? Will two races in six months be enough to get Street Sense fit enough to run 1 1/4 mile? Who knows?

It's OK to argue that Hard Spun hasn't yet been tested, but he really did everything the right way yesterday and galloped out like 1 1/4 mile is right up his alley. He didn't win by as much as some people would have liked, but why ask the colt to run a career race in March? The idea is to have him ready for a career race on May 5.

I was never crazy about Brother Derek because he was always loose speed with not much behind him (AP Warrior, Latent Heat, and Point Determined). That crew never impressed me as Grade 1 types.

[llbean]

Have you checked out Hard Spun's GSV and GSV2 scores.

Hi George,

I have checked out his GSV Score (and was certainly very impressed) but haven't been able to find his GSV2 Score and in fact, I was going to ask you what it is but ended up doing something else instead.

So anyway, what is it and/or where is it available? (Thanks...)

-llbean

[jagger]

Good to see Mike and George engaged so that we (the common folk) can learn from their wisdom. Now, if we can entice Bill into the fray, we will really have a grand time.

I know who George's pick will be for the Derby but I won't rain on his parade. I have a reasonably good guess who Bill likes for the first Saturday in May. Mike......hmmmm......that will take some work. Looking forward to the picks/thoughts/rationale from this much and rightfully lauded threesome. George, Mike and Bill.... or is it Mike, George and Bill.....or Bill, Mike and George.

[George William Smith]

You can find the GSV and GSV2 numbers on my webpage
http://www.members.shaw.ca/thematchmaker

Hard Spun has a GSV of 77.37 and a GSV2 of 76.59

Street Sense has a GSV of 74.29 and a GSV2 of 75.49

Both hugely high for horses that can run at the top level on dirt.

Most dirt horse are much less well bred than turf performers.

All the Derby prep numbers can be found on my site

good luck all

[jagger]

George,

Hard Spun's GSV has been listed as 79.96 on this forum for some time. Why the conflict?

[George William Smith]

That's the 2005 number that listed on pedigree if you have a subscription