tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613928904051586034.post2344449411091858898..comments2023-04-28T04:16:12.900-04:00Comments on The ThoroughMetrics Blog: 2009 Kentucky DerbyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613928904051586034.post-2698680787680579062008-11-13T09:41:00.000-05:002008-11-13T09:41:00.000-05:00I think that you have a point this year in particu...I think that you have a point this year in particular. I was at Saratoga when Vineyard Haven won the Hopeful and at the BC for Midshipman's win and they both looked head and withers above the competition. But one of the problems that I see with Sheikh Mohammed's "plan" is that the horses that he picks to go back to Dubai are usually the ones that are peaking as two-year olds and not necessarily will be peaking in May of their 3-year-old season. Another example of this coming into play is BC Juvenile winners. The reason that we don't see more Juvenile winners win the Derby is that is very difficult for a horse to maintain his peek for that length of time. His plan doesn't take into consideration horses like Curlin that hadn't even raced yet as a two-year-old bad enough started to peek (although it took Curlin two additional weeks...and I believe that if his wins were reversed (winning the Derby and finishing third in the Preakness) and then went on to have the same career, even non-diehard racing fans would know about him and he would be a national hero. But that is for a different posting. Anyway, if not this year...when? I like Sheikhs Mo and Hamdin and all of the $$$ that they pump into the sport, but will it be better for them to win or will it be better for them to still be chasing the dream. - Paul PiersonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com