Afleet Alex and Lost in the Fog are the top three year olds but the Belmont was a mediocre field considering nine of the 11 could not even win a Grade II stakes race and a maiden runs third. There were better horses in the Riva Ridge Stakes for the most part. Nothing against Giacomo but he is not near the horse that Afleet Alex is in the way he won so easily. Apparently Giacomo flipped his pallet so hope all goes well for Giacomo. Giacomo ran the race of his life in the Kentucky Derby but he is an honest horse who hits the board but not as good of horse as Afleet Alex or Lost in the Fog.
Keith
Afleet Alex Great but beats a mediocre field
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Re: Afleet Alex Great but beats a mediocre field
[quote="Keith"]Afleet Alex and Lost in the Fog are the top three year olds but the Belmont was a mediocre field considering nine of the 11 could not even win a Grade II stakes race and a maiden runs third. There were better horses in the Riva Ridge Stakes for the most part. Nothing against Giacomo but he is not near the horse that Afleet Alex is in the way he won so easily. Apparently Giacomo flipped his pallet so hope all goes well for Giacomo. Giacomo ran the race of his life in the Kentucky Derby but he is an honest horse who hits the board but not as good of horse as Afleet Alex or Lost in the Fog.
Keith[/quote]
I agree Keith-The field looked like horses competing in a N2x rather than a Grade 1 excluding Alex.
But damn AA has a swift turn of foot. very impressive.
Keith[/quote]
I agree Keith-The field looked like horses competing in a N2x rather than a Grade 1 excluding Alex.
But damn AA has a swift turn of foot. very impressive.
I thought I heard the announcer say that AA ran his final 1/4 in 24-2/5, best final 1/4 for the Belmont since Arts and Letters in 1969. A good turn of foot indeed.
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher...You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse." C. S. Lewis
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louis finochio
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Its not AA fault he ran against inferior TB, but the way he won and finished he could have beaten superior foes on this day.
AA is a courageous, agressive, motivated, determined TB, as he will fight to the end, even if it means his death, as this is the makeup of a champion TB.
I am looking forward to a GZ and AA match up later in the BC, I hope it comes off as it will be the race of the year.
AA is a courageous, agressive, motivated, determined TB, as he will fight to the end, even if it means his death, as this is the makeup of a champion TB.
I am looking forward to a GZ and AA match up later in the BC, I hope it comes off as it will be the race of the year.
Those without sin cast the first stone.
Louis Finochio
Louis Finochio
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yukidragon
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*AA is a courageous, agressive, motivated, determined TB, as he will fight to the end, even if it means his death, as this is the makeup of a champion TB.*
I think he's just a very good, sound horse with a super mind, and that's what had impressed the trainer when he bought him. It was written up in the Bloodhorse. Previous owners dumped him at auction because they didn't know how to get the best out of this horse. To me, it looked like Afleet Alex and his jockey just had a great time. He just left everybody in the dust as I had predicted, based primarily on the way he was being trained. This horse is dead fit, and he minds his own business. Very mature for his age, but then he's alredy got a good many races under his belt. Frankly, I can't understand why he let the Derby get away... Will be most interesting to see what the rest of the year will bring. WOW, now over $3 million in honest earnings, and all that for a $75K. Smart trainer, I say.
I was disappointed about Giacomo, but then he was so nervous already in the post parade. Not really like him? He started to go to the front too early is my guess. What does a flipped palet really mean?
SB
I think he's just a very good, sound horse with a super mind, and that's what had impressed the trainer when he bought him. It was written up in the Bloodhorse. Previous owners dumped him at auction because they didn't know how to get the best out of this horse. To me, it looked like Afleet Alex and his jockey just had a great time. He just left everybody in the dust as I had predicted, based primarily on the way he was being trained. This horse is dead fit, and he minds his own business. Very mature for his age, but then he's alredy got a good many races under his belt. Frankly, I can't understand why he let the Derby get away... Will be most interesting to see what the rest of the year will bring. WOW, now over $3 million in honest earnings, and all that for a $75K. Smart trainer, I say.
I was disappointed about Giacomo, but then he was so nervous already in the post parade. Not really like him? He started to go to the front too early is my guess. What does a flipped palet really mean?
SB
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doublete
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I particularly liked the quote by his jockey when he said he felt bad that AA lost the Derby. When the interviewer asked why he felt bad, he replied that he can't blame the horse, the trainer, or anyone else, so he blames himself, because he knew he was sitting on the best 3 y/o in the country.
Racing and retraining.
Let's not forget that Alex got caught up in the speed duel on KY Derby day. Most of us were surprised he held on for third after that effort; quite a feat considering.
I agree with Keith that the Belmont field was much less than sterling, and the crowd numbers proved it. Only about 67,000 fans turned out, because there was no one to get excited about other than Alex and Giacomo; and it didn't really seem like a rivalry. Where were the earlier touted distance-bred horses with winning histories? Maybe the cream of the 2002 crop was absent due to the MRLS outbreak in KY that year.
Where were the Europeans? In the past we've seen them come over especially for the Belmont due to racing long distances in Europe.
I'll never understand why owners and trainers with quality horses don't step up for a million-dollar-purse Grade 1 race. If winning horses had been entered, maidens would have been excluded. I'm glad the connections of Andromeda's Hero and Nolen's Cat got to share in the bounty, as the best of the rest.
I take nothing away from Afleet Alex, just too bad he had no real competition to challenge him.
I agree with Keith that the Belmont field was much less than sterling, and the crowd numbers proved it. Only about 67,000 fans turned out, because there was no one to get excited about other than Alex and Giacomo; and it didn't really seem like a rivalry. Where were the earlier touted distance-bred horses with winning histories? Maybe the cream of the 2002 crop was absent due to the MRLS outbreak in KY that year.
Where were the Europeans? In the past we've seen them come over especially for the Belmont due to racing long distances in Europe.
I'll never understand why owners and trainers with quality horses don't step up for a million-dollar-purse Grade 1 race. If winning horses had been entered, maidens would have been excluded. I'm glad the connections of Andromeda's Hero and Nolen's Cat got to share in the bounty, as the best of the rest.
I take nothing away from Afleet Alex, just too bad he had no real competition to challenge him.
Rocking H