Pennsylvania Derby

[TJ]

Will Take Charge and Moreno to meet once again at Parx. Entries and past performances below. TJ

11th Race. (C11) Post 5:45PM STAKES
The 34th Running of
PENNSYLVANIA DERBY (Grade II)
Purse $1,000,000 Guaranteed 1 1/8 Miles
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
1 SPEAK LOGISTICS (L) Plesa, Jr., E Lopez, P 117
2a TRANSPARENT (L1) McLaughlin, K Ortiz, Jr., I 117
3 MORENO (L) Guillot, E Ortiz, J 122
4 BATTIER (L) Pletcher, T Castillo, A 117
5 JAVA'S WAR (L) Tagg, B Leparoux, J 124
6 FURY KAPCORI (L) Hollendorfer, J Smith, M 117
7a ROMANSH (L) Albertrani, T Maragh, R 119
8 WILL TAKE CHARGE (L) Lukas, D Saez, L 124
a -- Darley Stable; Godolphin Racing LLC

http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_viewe ... 2013-09-21

[Cree]

I like Fury Kapcori, don't know how he fits here, guess we'll find out.

[ratherrapid]

always Q whether Lukas keeps training once he wins. will be interesting how WTC performs. since he's such a nice striding horse.

[TJ]

always Q whether Lukas keeps training once he wins. will be interesting how WTC performs. since he's such a nice striding horse.

Hi Rather,
Yes, you're right about that....but if Lukas' is working with a sound horse, he usually trains them right along. Will Take Charge worked twice since his victory in the Travers (with a solid 5/8ths in 1:00.4 on 9/13), which was just 4 weeks ago today. On the other hand, take Oxbow for instance, who trained poorly going into the Haskell, he didn't perform well and exited the race with an injury.
Personally I think it's very troubling for racing that Will Take Charge races again without having the "buzzer" issue resolved one way or the other. It certainly adds to unnecessary rumors for the industry, no matter what the outcome of the race. Why is it taking this long to decide if Saez had something in his hand or not? It's over 3 weeks and the State Police, as well as the Racing Commission are investigating...this feet dragging just adds to racing's problems. If they haven't found anything by now, they aren't going to. This investigation should have been "fast tracked" and settled before this race, so the fans wouldn't have new fodder for conjecture after todays race. No matter what the outcome is on the track, the black cloud is still overhead. Thanks to this slow investigation, it's now expanded into both the Travers and todays Penn. Derby. TJ

[TJ]

Looking for an upset today with the Darley entry of Romansh and Transparent. I prefer Transparent who gets lasix for the first time and both get weight shifts from Will Take Charge and Moreno. TJ

[TJ]

Very easy win for Will Take Charge, Moreno finished second in a tight photo over Battier. Transparent was 4th. TJ

[Cree]

Ok, so just a question, not trying to raise any arguments. Now that this horse won this race over Moreno (again), and so far we haven't had any results into the buzzer issue, is it fair to say taking off the blinkers *may* have helped this horse? He is quite large and possibly slower to grow into his body, and I always think Unbridled's Song's get better with age.

What are your thoughts?

[TJ]

Ok, so just a question, not trying to raise any arguments. Now that this horse won this race over Moreno (again), and so far we haven't had any results into the buzzer issue, is it fair to say taking off the blinkers *may* have helped this horse? He is quite large and possibly slower to grow into his body, and I always think Unbridled's Song's get better with age.

What are your thoughts?

Hi Cree,
There's no doubt removing the blinkers helped him....he moved to triple digit beyer's the first time they were removed (with the other rider) and continued in the Travers and today in the Penn. Derby with Saez. He always was a decent horse and Lukas always said he needs clear sailing because of his size. We saw how it cost him a placing in the Derby when his run was interrupted. Once a horse like this figures it out they will go on a tear. Still no excuse for this buzzer issue to still be pending. Plugging one in was common practice years ago and once you plugged one in, it's not easily forgotten and they continue to be willing runners even without that inhumane coaxing. So, if he was hit, it could be as beneficail as the Blinkers.....it just leaves that doubt. Yet, there is little doubt in this horses ability to run. Watch the race below....what I find noteworthy is he gallops the horse out properly, without standing straight up in the irons and fumbling with the reins. TJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vAFrMSQEcg

[Cree]

I do agree with you that the Travers gallop out was odd.

I hope he didn't use a buzzer, I feel sorry for the big fella, he's beautiful with a nice pedigree, and hopefully he's just coming into his own.

I am really looking forward to this year's Classic. It will (hopefully) answer questions.

[TJ]

I do agree with you that the Travers gallop out was odd.

I hope he didn't use a buzzer, I feel sorry for the big fella, he's beautiful with a nice pedigree, and hopefully he's just coming into his own.

I am really looking forward to this year's Classic. It will (hopefully) answer questions.

Hi Cree,
I agree with you concerning the buzzer, the horse and the exciting Classic we will have to look forward to. Right now I'm focused on the mile and a quarter Jockey Club Gold Cup next Saturday at Belmont. I wish Moreno and Will Take Charge waited for that one....it would have made the race very interesting. Right now only two 3YO's, Palace Malice and Orb are scheduled to take on their elders in a stellar cast including, Flat Out, Ron the Greek, Alpha, Cross Traffic, Paynter and Last Gunfighter. TJ

[FOS]

hi TJ...hi Cree...

I do agree with you that the Travers gallop out was odd.

I hope he didn't use a buzzer, I feel sorry for the big fella, he's beautiful with a nice pedigree, and hopefully he's just coming into his own.

I am really looking forward to this year's Classic. It will (hopefully) answer questions.

Hi Cree,
I agree with you concerning the buzzer, the horse and the exciting Classic we will have to look forward to. Right now I'm focused on the mile and a quarter Jockey Club Gold Cup next Saturday at Belmont. I wish Moreno and Will Take Charge waited for that one....it would have made the race very interesting.

Buzzer? There may have been a stink emitted into the air...but why buy into a stink, and the accompanying whining/speculation/conjecture? Where's the beef?

Fast forward to today's G2-Pennsylvania Derby...a very nice win for Will Take Charge. I assure you, D Wayne Lucas went to Parx because the money was VERY good, and the competition was not.

As for the three-year-olds in general, I am beyond confident that Wayne wanted no part of Palace Malice right now...who is (as you know) G1-Jockey Club Gold Cup bound. I have no doubt Wayne did not want his colt (Will Take Charge) to take on seasoned, accomplished older horses in the JC Gold Cup either.

Wayne can evaluate with the best of 'em; and made what I believe was an easy decision/choice for him, to go to the $1mil G2-Pennsylvania Derby. The waters were shallow in Pa...and the purse was VERY big...simple as that.

Right now only two 3YO's, Palace Malice and Orb are scheduled to take on their elders in a stellar cast including, Flat Out, Ron the Greek, Alpha, Cross Traffic, Paynter and Last Gunfighter. TJ

Bull's Eye ...okay, you've convinced me as to why Wayne ducked the Grade 1-JC Gold Cup .

Best to ya.

Respectfully

[ratherrapid]

nice win. horse looked great. unknown that this field was weak. there were some really nice horses and nicely bred horses. something up with Java's War? unknown to me how Saez could have been using buzzer in travers. someone will have to explain to me how you hit horse at 3/8 with ur hand on buzzer, twirl the whip in ur right hand, switch it to left, and hold on to the buzz. how does that work?

[FOS]

hi ratherrapid

unknown to me how Saez could have been using buzzer in travers. someone will have to explain to me how you hit horse at 3/8 with ur hand on buzzer, twirl the whip in ur right hand, switch it to left, and hold on to the buzz. how does that work?

I'm beyond confident that a number of riders, some well known, some not so well known (maybe even the Amazing Randy , known for years as an illusionist, skeptic and debunker extraordinaire), could explain (maybe even show us how)...but why should anyone participate (even with a proverbial 10 foot pole), or join in, on the finger pointing at Saez/Lucas/Will Take Charge until/unless there's more than a slight, yet maybe tasty, morsel of real beef on the bones re any allegation/claim? Hey, how about let's give Penn and Teller a call, maybe Penn can tell us ...maybe Teller can show us ...they always seems game .

Doesn't seem to make sense to lose any sleep over it...although NYRA security/investigators and/or others may beg to differ . I suggest, let them do the heavy lifting for now .

Respectfully