- Jun 5, 2014
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This is much better than the post you deleted earlier blasting me. Very wise, sir.
2022 Kentucky Derby / Preakness / Belmont Thread
- Thread starter Detroitgator
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- Jun 22, 2014
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So, be clear for this lowly government worker, was that an attempt at humor or did you just insult me?
- Jul 24, 2014
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That must have been from all of the hallucinogenics ingested in a previous life
- Jun 22, 2014
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- Jul 16, 2018
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- Jul 24, 2014
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You will have to breastfeed them due to the baby formula supply chain interruption
- Jul 2, 2014
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You have a little brown spot on the tip of your nose
- Jun 11, 2014
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It’s chocolate.
- Jul 2, 2014
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- Jun 10, 2014
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I looked up the principle owner of quick strike. His net worth is listed as 3M. If that's anywhere near close to true, he's been playing in the minor leagues. It's an expensive sport. You better believe he's making decisions based on $$$$$$$$$$$$$. If I were in his shoes, I'd be doing exactly the same thing.
- Jun 5, 2014
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Yes, we know you would. Trust me, we all know you would.
I'd have my incredible horse in the Preakness chasing history.
- Jun 10, 2014
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So you'd risk 10m a year in stud fees for say 5 years. That's 50m; and run the very high risk that the horse will embarrass himself in the Preakness and tank that fee? I'm all about some risk. But not that kind of risk. If I were the typical richer than God owner. I might not care. He's not a typical richer than God owner.
If Rich Strike does well in Belmont. He doesn't have to win. He'll pull a 100 grand for every mare he covers. It'll be 3 years before the quality of his horses come into focus. Meanwhile, he'll be banging 100 mares a year. He won't be quite banking 100K for every mare because in many agreements the mare pays up only when pregnant.
If Rich Strike does well in Belmont. He doesn't have to win. He'll pull a 100 grand for every mare he covers. It'll be 3 years before the quality of his horses come into focus. Meanwhile, he'll be banging 100 mares a year. He won't be quite banking 100K for every mare because in many agreements the mare pays up only when pregnant.
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- Jun 5, 2014
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My only concern for not running him would be him getting hurt and having to be put down on the track; I wouldn't even consider not running him because I thought he might do poorly. He's a freaking Kentucky Derby winner no matter how he does in the Preakness - I don't see his fees "tanking" because he doesn't win.
If the entire point of this "sport" was $$$$, I'd never run Rich Strike again. I think the fans are hoping there's more to it than that. A Triple Crown shot is a magical thing, and this horse seems to have the "it" factor to me. It's a real shame. There's zero reason to watch the Preakness now - the stands will be completely empty too, as they should be. Might as well cancel it.
Since they are sitting him, I see absolutely no reason to run him in the Belmont. Why risk it there? You already pussied out, boys. Take the horse to the farm where no one will ever see him again and count your pennies.
- Jun 10, 2014
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He's running in the Belmont because if he doesn't he'll be labeled a one hit wonder. He's got to do well. He doesn't have to win. But I get your position. No matter how long the odds, damned few owners ever get the chance to go for it.
Personally, money asside and knowing what I know about the horse, I'd rather he sit out the Preakness and find out what he's got in the longer Belmont. He might be a great horse. Odds of him winning the Preakness are lousy.
Personally, money asside and knowing what I know about the horse, I'd rather he sit out the Preakness and find out what he's got in the longer Belmont. He might be a great horse. Odds of him winning the Preakness are lousy.
- Sep 22, 2016
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Run the Derby another 100 times and Rich Strike only wins once. Without question, the Kentucky Derby set up perfectly for him.
Everyone thought that under the recently adopted points system, the sprinters of old that had no realistic change to win, but sneaked in and consequently wrecked the chances for the speed horses, while setting the table for closers (like Rich Strike) to come home late and seemingly blow away the front runners that had burned out their legs, were weeded out of this race because of the longer distances of the prep races they were required to win to qualify for the classics. Given that, over the past 10 or so years, owners and trainers who were focused on winning the Kentucky Derby focused on fast, precocious blood lines that could get out of the gate quickly to avoid the mosh pit of a 20 horse field, and could come home reasonably well. The primary assumption was that the closers wouldn't be able to get free from the tangled mess to run them down.
With that said, I think it is smart for the owners of Smart Strike to completely focus on the horse's recent training patterns AND genetic indicators. Smart Strike is a closer, plain and simple. That means longer races are better suited to his running style (there's a reason he didn't take the lead until late in the KD). Without the blazing pace, even 10 panels likely wouldn't have been enough. Even with the record setting pace, Rich Strike wouldn't have beaten Epicenter had the race ended 1/16th of a mile sooner (the distance of the Preakness), who looms large in the upcoming contest. Epicenter, along with other fresh horses are reason enough for me to think not running him here is a smart choice. If he did run, he would clearly miss all of the other great races that he could otherwise run this this summer and potentially secure the Eclipse award, and would only be left with the hope to run in the Breeder's Cup Classic, which is open to any horse, regardless of age and, in my opinion, is not a race in which the 2022 crop is going to fare well.
Everyone thought that under the recently adopted points system, the sprinters of old that had no realistic change to win, but sneaked in and consequently wrecked the chances for the speed horses, while setting the table for closers (like Rich Strike) to come home late and seemingly blow away the front runners that had burned out their legs, were weeded out of this race because of the longer distances of the prep races they were required to win to qualify for the classics. Given that, over the past 10 or so years, owners and trainers who were focused on winning the Kentucky Derby focused on fast, precocious blood lines that could get out of the gate quickly to avoid the mosh pit of a 20 horse field, and could come home reasonably well. The primary assumption was that the closers wouldn't be able to get free from the tangled mess to run them down.
With that said, I think it is smart for the owners of Smart Strike to completely focus on the horse's recent training patterns AND genetic indicators. Smart Strike is a closer, plain and simple. That means longer races are better suited to his running style (there's a reason he didn't take the lead until late in the KD). Without the blazing pace, even 10 panels likely wouldn't have been enough. Even with the record setting pace, Rich Strike wouldn't have beaten Epicenter had the race ended 1/16th of a mile sooner (the distance of the Preakness), who looms large in the upcoming contest. Epicenter, along with other fresh horses are reason enough for me to think not running him here is a smart choice. If he did run, he would clearly miss all of the other great races that he could otherwise run this this summer and potentially secure the Eclipse award, and would only be left with the hope to run in the Breeder's Cup Classic, which is open to any horse, regardless of age and, in my opinion, is not a race in which the 2022 crop is going to fare well.
- Sep 22, 2016
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Here's a crazy stat, and a primary indicator of how complicated a horse race is; Smart Strike ran further (I think like 60 yards further) than any other horse in the Kentucky Derby. Still, if they lined up tomorrow,he would be listed no better than 20/1.
- Jun 10, 2014
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Where'd you get that. He did to immediately to the rail from the outside post and he was in the middle of the crowd on the last turn. Other than that, best I could tell he was saving ground. Maybe 10 or 15 yards?? I don't know. I ran some numbers on the difference between being on the rail on the turn and where he was. It was something relative to the leaders but not much. His initial quick run to the rail was a no stress hand ride.
- Jul 24, 2020
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