Man O'War Stakes

[bdw0617]

Boy I gotta tell ya.. nothing screams Man O' War like a route on the grass.


anyway, what do you guys think?

1. Doctor Dino (FR), 126, Olivier Peslier
2. Sunriver (KY), 126, Garrett K. Gomez
3. Grand Couturier (GB), 126, Calvin H. Borel
4. Trippi's Storm (FL), 126, Javier Castellano
5. Shamdinan (FR), 121, Julien R. Leparoux
6. Marsh Side (KY), 126, Kent J. Desormeaux
7. Yellowstone (IRE), 121, John P. Murtagh


I'll offer my handicapping 2 cents... the Singapore International Handicap is one of the strongest races of the year anywhere. if you can place there you are a legit world class horse.

Doctor Dino came in 3rd earlier this year int he Singapore International. To me atleast, he has more class than anyone in this field, up and down. that and the fact that Olivier found his way across the pond for this one tells me they are expecting big things from him.

I saw yellostone race in France.... he has good kick but I think he needs a softer course, which I dont' think he will get this weekend.

[Maven]

Without looking at PP's or records, just on pedigree I like Grand Couturier and Shamdinan much the best.

[ah01]

Worth noting, while Murtagh has been riding a lot of Ballydoyle horses this year he is not retained by Coolmore, so presumably he would have had a pick of Doctorr Dino and Yellowstone having ridden both for the last few runs? Not sure to be honest...

Earlier on the card Costume ran 2nd behind a filly i rate really highly and before that ran with a huge weight in a listed handicap so is a bit of an unknown quantity - she could be open to a fair bit of improvement. I know Alexander Tango has been sent over there for the better ground, despite running well in the mud at the curragh lto.

Not really a great betting proposition, even more so as i dont know a lot about the domestic bunch.

[bdw0617]

Worth noting, while Murtagh has been riding a lot of Ballydoyle horses this year he is not retained by Coolmore, so presumably he would have had a pick of Doctorr Dino and Yellowstone having ridden both for the last few runs? Not sure to be honest...

Earlier on the card Costume ran 2nd behind a filly i rate really highly and before that ran with a huge weight in a listed handicap so is a bit of an unknown quantity - she could be open to a fair bit of improvement. I know Alexander Tango has been sent over there for the better ground, despite running well in the mud at the curragh lto.

Not really a great betting proposition, even more so as i dont know a lot about the domestic bunch.

you make a very good point and you are right.

i'm just going off of what I saw over in singapore.. at least on line.

I don't know enough about the jockey connections or anything to make a valid wager in this race. it's not the Dubai world cup where I will spend weeks studying. there are better betting opprotunities on the card

but I can tell you this.. dont' put an american horse on the top of your pick for the love of god.

[bdw0617]

I'll offer my handicapping 2 cents... the Singapore International Handicap is one of the strongest races of the year anywhere. if you can place there you are a legit world class horse.

Doctor Dino came in 3rd earlier this year int he Singapore International. To me atleast, he has more class than anyone in this field, up and down. that and the fact that Olivier found his way across the pond for this one tells me they are expecting big things from him.

one of these days... [/quote]

[Rokeby Forever]

I'm trying to figure out why the race is named after Man o'War - he never ran on the turf.

[Maven]

There was quite a funny piece on Bloodhorse I believe about some of the worst named races. There's quite a few who have nothing in common with their namesakes.

[ah01]

haha indeed...I hope Murtagh didnt have the choice! Seriously though, Yellowstone didnt show his running and im a bit confused why they decided to lead for much of the race, hes usually well off the pace. Was a nice performance by the winner though.

Did they say anything about whether Alexander tango would be staying over there on tv? I know Costume is being retired over there now. Thought it was crazy at the time how the french oaks winner missvinski is it? How she drifted out to 9s

[Rokeby Forever]

There was quite a funny piece on Bloodhorse I believe about some of the worst named races. There's quite a few who have nothing in common with their namesakes.

Off the top of my head some questions and thoughts concerning NY stakes:

NY doesn't have an Affirmed Stakes, a Secretaritat Stakes, or a Seattle Slew Stakes...but Cigar ran in NY only five times and there's a Cigar Mile. Why isn't there an Easy Goer Stakes in NY? Why does NY have a Whirlaway Stakes and an Assault Handicap but not a Count Fleet Stakes and/or Citation Stakes?

Ruffian never ran against older fillies, but the Ruffian Handicap is for fillies ages 3 and up.

Sword Dancer didn't race on the grass, but a grass race is named for him.

Red Smith was a sportswriter that hated turf racing and the Red Smith is a turf race.

Bernard Baruch owned only one stake winner in his life - Happy Argo, a dirt horse. Why is a turf stake named for him...or, any stake, for that matter?

Forego was champion Handicap horse four times and a sprint at Saratoga is named for him....and Forego NEVER won a race at Saratoga!

Woody Stephens won five Belmont Stakes in a row. Why was the Riva Ridge, a seven furlong sprint, renamed for him?

Why is Woody Stephens the only flat trainer to have a NY Stake named for him? Why not Ben Jones, Sunny Jim, Frank Whiteley....?

Who was Alabama? Why isn't the race called the New York Stakes?

The Test Stakes is often a prep...isn't the Alabama the real test?

King's Bishop won only one sprint stake and only four stakes in his career. What's so special about him to have a Grade 1 at Saratoga named for him?

The Champagne is for juvenile colts. Shouldn't a race named for an alcoholic beverage be for older horses?

Why is the Jockey Club Gold Cup made out of gold plated pewter?

Why was the Marlboro Cup a "Cup" and not an ashtray?

Final questions:

Suppose a champion were named "Medium Rare." Would there be a race called the Medium Rare Stakes? Suppose a champion were named "Eight Stroke." Would there be an Eight Stroke Handicap? What if a town in England were called, "Herbie"....would there be a Herbie Derby?

Please add if you can think of some more.

[Lucy]

If I remember correctly, the Alabama was named to honor the home state of the race's original sponsor....I don't recall who that was off-hand.