It's weird. This time last year, I was all over Upstart based off his runner up finish in the Florida Derby. Sure American Pharoah would win the AR Derby, but I personally wasn't sold on him yet.
This year though... I have no clue. Mohaymen laid an egg in the FL Derby, Gun Runner won on an uninspired LA trail, the AR route is a mess, this year's Wood well was the same and Exaggerator won on a track condition that most Cal horses are unfamiliar with. Yes, Nyquist is the leader but what do you know I'm not 100% sold on him. It just feels like that this is an underwhelming class, a bit like 2008's was when it was Big Brown and then everyone else.
The fillies to an extent feel the same way just based on the fact that Songbird is so dominate. Lewis Bay as well as Terra Promessa won the Aqueduct and Oaklawn routes, but the 2nd best filly may still be Rachel's Valentina even after her runner up finish today at Keeneland. Land Over Sea needed to get away from Songbird in order to win, then again so did Exaggerator from Nyquist.
Overall, I hope my opinion of this class changes when they go in the gates on the First Friday and Saturday in May... but not getting my hopes up just yet. I'll be ready to eat crow if I'm dead wrong on this.
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