reviewing the southwest
Feb 18, 2014 0:17:21 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2014 0:17:21 GMT -5
started a new thread to try to clear the clutter from the other.
if anyone read my pre race thoughts, or just plain know me, they would know I did not like strong mandate before the race, nor did I like a few other horses In there. but regardless of what others thought before or after, I think he ran very well and I would put him in a lot higher regards after the race then I did before it. he ran exactly as I thought he would.........like a short horse. he bobbled and got brushed slightly leaving. not bad but just enough to keep him from sending to the lead, then he got caught 4-5 wide and got a little rank from the dirt in his face on the first turn, putting him in a tough spot the rest of the way. he then made an ill advised midrace move to get in contention while 5 wide on the backstretch and stayed that way the rest of the way. its not easy to make multiple moves in a race and he did, then he clearly was leg weary in the lane when getting in and out the last 1/8th, like a short horse would. he should improve off of this race and I have a lot more respect for him after this race then I did before. meanwhile the winner clearly ran well, but he got a perfect rail skimming trip trough leisurely fractions while the rest of the field weas stacked up 3,4,and 5 wid behind him. its hard to knock a horse that wins by 5, but I think if they ran again in a month, I would bet on strong mandate.
ride on curling ran well also after having a tough trip himself, but I don't think he is as good as the top two. after that, no one else in that field should be in any derby preps anytime soon. I do think the two horses I liked, walt and fire starter, can both run well and win with a drop in class. they were both trying to close and were wide themselves into a mediocore pace. just overmatched and in bad spots in the race..
basically my analysis I, if you liked strong mandate before this race, there is no reason not to like him after.
if anyone read my pre race thoughts, or just plain know me, they would know I did not like strong mandate before the race, nor did I like a few other horses In there. but regardless of what others thought before or after, I think he ran very well and I would put him in a lot higher regards after the race then I did before it. he ran exactly as I thought he would.........like a short horse. he bobbled and got brushed slightly leaving. not bad but just enough to keep him from sending to the lead, then he got caught 4-5 wide and got a little rank from the dirt in his face on the first turn, putting him in a tough spot the rest of the way. he then made an ill advised midrace move to get in contention while 5 wide on the backstretch and stayed that way the rest of the way. its not easy to make multiple moves in a race and he did, then he clearly was leg weary in the lane when getting in and out the last 1/8th, like a short horse would. he should improve off of this race and I have a lot more respect for him after this race then I did before. meanwhile the winner clearly ran well, but he got a perfect rail skimming trip trough leisurely fractions while the rest of the field weas stacked up 3,4,and 5 wid behind him. its hard to knock a horse that wins by 5, but I think if they ran again in a month, I would bet on strong mandate.
ride on curling ran well also after having a tough trip himself, but I don't think he is as good as the top two. after that, no one else in that field should be in any derby preps anytime soon. I do think the two horses I liked, walt and fire starter, can both run well and win with a drop in class. they were both trying to close and were wide themselves into a mediocore pace. just overmatched and in bad spots in the race..
basically my analysis I, if you liked strong mandate before this race, there is no reason not to like him after.