Some notes from today:
- I have learned to not buy in to the hype. In the earlier big races of the year(KY Derby, Preakness, etc.) I did my own work and didn't listen to anyone else and did well, today I bought the hype machine on a few horses. Dominican is a horse many people liked in the KY Derby but I tossed him immediately but today I put him on top hesitantly and left off the one I really liked in Zanjero. I've liked Zanjero all year and thought he was the best in the Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill even though he let up early and gave way to Chelokee. I will, from now on, not listen to the hype machine.
- Todd Pletcher horses continue to disappoint me. Sam P had the rail and he just had nothing.
- Delightful Kiss was sent wide after letting the pack get a little too far away from him. I should've known that a stretch runner wouldn't fare that well at Mountaineer as the second turn is longer than most and the final straight away is the shortest of any track.
- I really thought Slew's Tizzy had a chance to hold on and hit the board in this one, but he tried to run with Norjac early and it burned him.
- I thought Bwana Bull was just a pace setter in this thing and really thought he was an easy toss. I really thought he would try to stalk the pace rather than go from the start and Zanjero as well as Domincan were better stalking options for the ticket. He got near the lead though and hung on, and I actually felt he ran better down the stretch than Zanjero did. Dana Whitney is a brilliant jockey. Horses bred through Holy Bull have been very good.
- It looked like Moyer's Pond had a chance to take it and cash me a ticket when they broke for home but he just didn't have enough in the tank. I really think he is going to get a stakes win or two before his time is up. He has been lightly ran so far in his career but has been a consistent board hitter.
This really was a great field for a Gr. III race. I doubt if Zanjero is a viable option in the Classic but I'll be happy to see him there.
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