Have you ever eaten tofu chicken? It was presented to me on a lovely plate, accompanied by some vegetables and dressed up with some type of sauce that would typically cover chicken. When the impostor hit my mouth and began that dance I automatically began to revolt. This isn't chicken and my mind and body knew it. Horse racing has been eating some fake chicken over the past few years, and as a result the Kentucky Derby and even a Breeders' Cup classic race were hijacked by horses who wouldn't otherwise be entered. Gio Ponti almost won on the fake dirt but Zenyatta restored order that day. Gio Ponti was a very nice horse but wasn't a dirt horse, and even the fake stuff couldn't help him beat one of the great horses that we have seen in a while.
The Kentucky Derby over the past few years has become a mixture of dirt horses and horses that really don't like dirt but who have accumulated enough money or points to qualify. The Bluegrass ran at Keeneland, and the Spiral who does its business at Turfway, are the main contributor to this disruption of purity. We have seen some horses ran well at Churchill who were mainly fake dirt and turf horses, but those horses are usually really good horses who can compete on levels that superstar compete. Animal Kingdom and his dominant win in the derby gave false hope to trainers and owners. They began to believe that their horses can run over the dirt, but most quickly find out that their horses aren't Animal Kingdom. Another horse that send out the wrong message was Dullahan. He ran third in the 2012 derby and came back to win the Pacific Classic at DelMar a few months later. His best finish after that win was a third place finish in the Arlington Handicap. Paddy O' Prado also gave false hope to many. He ran third in the derby after finishing second in the Bluegrass Stakes, but his most accomplished performances were done on the grass. Not a true dirt horse.
Over the years other horses have tried the fake dirt to real dirt method but failed. Dominican finished eleventh in the derby, Stately Victor finished seventh, Brilliant Speed finished seventh, Java's War was taking notes from the back finishing a rousing thirteenth, but those results have not deterred many. They keep coming hoping to strike gold. This year's fake dirt to Kentucky Derby hope and dreams are Dance With Fate, We Miss Artie, and Harry's Holiday. We Miss Artie came running at the end of Spiral under a strong ride by Johnny Velasquez. He nosed out Harry's Holiday who came back to finish off the board in the Bluegrass Stakes. But onward march to the derby. Dance With Fate seems to be the most talented of all the fake dirt to Kentucky Derby dreamers. He took apart a good field in the Bluegrass Stakes, and the horse who ran behind him, Medal Count, is a pretty good horse, but he too may love the lawn and fake dirt more than the Real McCoy.
I am all in for owners and trainers who want to get dressed up and show up with their charges on derby day hoping and dreaming. If you earn the points then its within your rights to participate, but I did a little reggae dance when I heard that Keeneland who had lost their mind in the last few years is abandoning fakeness for the real stuff. I understand the mentality behind the fake dirt. I understand safety issues and all the studies did by someone in a lab somewhere. This is horse racing. Dirt and grass. Ditch the impostor.
When the odds are laid out this year by Mike Battaglia I believe We Miss Artie and Harry's Holiday will be in the midst of 50 to 1 and Medal Count and Dance With Fate much lower. On derby day We Miss Artie and Harry's Holiday will probably be higher, but they give hope to someone somewhere until the finish line come calling. I am curious about how Medal Count will perform. I think he has the ability to be a freak. He is strong and powerful, and Dale Romans has talked him up all winter. I wouldn't be surprised if he charged home like Dullahan or Paddy O' Prado. Dance With Fate looks like a runner. He did some nice work in California before strutting his attitude in Kentucky. If he loves the dirt then his chances goes up immensely. I am going to pass.
Do the best horses always win the derby? Of course not, but I am willing to take my shot against those who are really up against it, especially when so many horses who love the real dirt seem capable of dominating. I am throwing out the fake dirt madness this year. Mine That Bird. I know. Not Real. Just an aberration.
I look forward to the races at Arlington Park and Colonial Downs this summer. I look forward to touting horse like Dance With Fate and Medal Count. I look forward to the Ramseys winning another turf race with We Miss Artie, but for the derby I want real chicken and what those three horses are serving I am not just eating.
Over the years other horses have tried the fake dirt to real dirt method but failed. Dominican finished eleventh in the derby, Stately Victor finished seventh, Brilliant Speed finished seventh, Java's War was taking notes from the back finishing a rousing thirteenth, but those results have not deterred many. They keep coming hoping to strike gold. This year's fake dirt to Kentucky Derby hope and dreams are Dance With Fate, We Miss Artie, and Harry's Holiday. We Miss Artie came running at the end of Spiral under a strong ride by Johnny Velasquez. He nosed out Harry's Holiday who came back to finish off the board in the Bluegrass Stakes. But onward march to the derby. Dance With Fate seems to be the most talented of all the fake dirt to Kentucky Derby dreamers. He took apart a good field in the Bluegrass Stakes, and the horse who ran behind him, Medal Count, is a pretty good horse, but he too may love the lawn and fake dirt more than the Real McCoy.
I am all in for owners and trainers who want to get dressed up and show up with their charges on derby day hoping and dreaming. If you earn the points then its within your rights to participate, but I did a little reggae dance when I heard that Keeneland who had lost their mind in the last few years is abandoning fakeness for the real stuff. I understand the mentality behind the fake dirt. I understand safety issues and all the studies did by someone in a lab somewhere. This is horse racing. Dirt and grass. Ditch the impostor.
When the odds are laid out this year by Mike Battaglia I believe We Miss Artie and Harry's Holiday will be in the midst of 50 to 1 and Medal Count and Dance With Fate much lower. On derby day We Miss Artie and Harry's Holiday will probably be higher, but they give hope to someone somewhere until the finish line come calling. I am curious about how Medal Count will perform. I think he has the ability to be a freak. He is strong and powerful, and Dale Romans has talked him up all winter. I wouldn't be surprised if he charged home like Dullahan or Paddy O' Prado. Dance With Fate looks like a runner. He did some nice work in California before strutting his attitude in Kentucky. If he loves the dirt then his chances goes up immensely. I am going to pass.
Do the best horses always win the derby? Of course not, but I am willing to take my shot against those who are really up against it, especially when so many horses who love the real dirt seem capable of dominating. I am throwing out the fake dirt madness this year. Mine That Bird. I know. Not Real. Just an aberration.
I look forward to the races at Arlington Park and Colonial Downs this summer. I look forward to touting horse like Dance With Fate and Medal Count. I look forward to the Ramseys winning another turf race with We Miss Artie, but for the derby I want real chicken and what those three horses are serving I am not just eating.
No comments:
Post a Comment