Curlin/Jess Jackson throw down

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:17 am

I am reading a book about bold ruler as we speak. It really helps you put things in perspective.

Bold Ruler, Iron Leige, Gen Duke, who was quite possibly the best horse in this crop talent wise and Federal Hall, horses who all ended up being less than 10 to 1 in the derby (Gen duke didn't run, had the wobbles but was the M/L Fav) ran against each other at the very least 4 times BEFORE the derby. They went out looking for each other.

put that in today's perspective, why should you have to offer EXTRA money to entice a CHALLENGER to come and race you? The Whitney stable had more class than that. it shouldn't have to BE an offer to get a horse to face another one, besides a bunch of Optional Claimers.

that whole way of thinking, is what's wrong with the sport.

xfactor fan · Postby **xfactor fan** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:18 am

Curlin's connections have said from the beginning that they don't like the surface at SA. Given the problems with the track surface can they be blamed for not wanting their horse to run there?

I'm kind of dreading this year's Breeder's Cup, and hope that no one breaks down.

Dave C · Postby **Dave C** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:30 am

If BB's connection want HOY for BB, they have to find Curlin and outrun him. A BCC win on an iffy surface or one of the turf races won't be enough to get BB HOY. The BB connections have irritated too many voters to get HOY without knocking off the king. Curlin doesn't need another BC win to clinch HOY. That JJ offered an opportunity for BB to take a shot at the king is sporting, whether the offer was presented in a gentlemanly fashion is another matter.

steward · Postby **steward** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:01 am

Dave C wrote:If BB's connection want HOY for BB, they have to find Curlin and outrun him. A BCC win on an iffy surface or one of the turf races won't be enough to get BB HOY. The BB connections have irritated too many voters to get HOY without knocking off the king. Curlin doesn't need another BC win to clinch HOY. That JJ offered an opportunity for BB to take a shot at the king is sporting, whether the offer was presented in a gentlemanly fashion is another matter.

1. BB would have to destroy Curlin in order to sway the establishment that swoons over Jackson and despises Dutrow. An impossible hurdle. You can see it all over this board. Dutrow has horns and Jackson has a halo, and people throw away their good judgment by adhering to that simplistic vision.

2. I'll quibble that Jackson's offer was even sporting. He basically announced where he was sending his horse, ponied up a paltry sum, and told the nation that his opposition would be ducking if they didn't comply.

"Sporting" requires doing something substantial that is outside your normal box, not badgering the opposition to go inside of it. Meeting halfway, not "my way or the highway."

Does Jackson give a nickel to the March of Dimes?

Dave C · Postby **Dave C** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:29 am

For a lot of people it isn't BB's connections that is the problem, it's BB himself who is more hype than horse. Personally, I've never been very impressed with the horse. It wasn't just in the Haskell that I found his stride to be awkward, I thought it looked goofy in all his previous races as well. He won by big margins and you can't take that away from him, but I always felt it was because the competition was weak not because BB was something special. That his owner/trainer engaged in a small amount of hyperbole didn't really irritate me as much as all the people with no connection to the horse who proclaimed him the second coming of Big Red.

steward · Postby **steward** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:59 am

I have never been particularly enthralled with Big Brown. I'd love to own him, though. :lol:

I take a view detached from both camps and their supporters. One group is not angels and the other is not satan. Curlin was my KD horse, and I thought he would be the best horse last year before that race. I also have complimented JJ for many of his actions, but that doesn't mean he isn't above criticism. Lately he has done things that don't meet my approval, and just because of the other positive things I won't brush them aside. That being said, he's not a villain either.

BB naysayers should give him more slack. He's just a horse that brings us entertainment. He's not 100%, and yet ran big in huge races. Dumping on him for the Belmont doesn't make sense. A LOT of other great horses - fully healthy ones - had clinkers in that race, let alone in races of shorter distances.

Nothing that supporters of any horse will color how I view any particular horse. We will find what Big Brown is made of soon enough, if his talented team can keep him patched together.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:02 am

steward wrote:[halfway, not "my way or the highway."

Does Jackson give a nickel to the March of Dimes?

Gee I don't know.. are you his accountant? I would have to assume that that kind of a question might be left up to his people finance department

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:06 am

Stewie, I will dump on for not only the Belmont, though not his fault alone, but who's to say that when the stakes are high Kent won't choke. It's not like the Belmont behaviour is anything new to his repertoire.
Then the Haskell was almost as awful.
Now ducking at the opportunity to go toe to toe with a horse he has to beat to beat in order to be HOY.
Three strikes...