bdw0617 wrote:... in retrospect lukas running MTB in the firecracker is probably the stupidest training decision i have ever seen.
because?
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bdw0617 wrote:first, mine that bird has about the same chance of winning a turf race as i have winning a spelling bee. it's just not there in the pedigree.
DDT wrote:bdw0617
Mine That Bird went south long before Lukas had him. His win in the Kentucky Derby was more related to Calvin's ride than to any talent he may have had. At any rate, he did not win another race and he could only manage a 3rd in the West Virginia Derby, that should give you an idea of his true level of performance. I am not a Lukas fan, but Mine That Bird's lack of winning efforts is not because Lukas mismanaged him just to keep his name in the papers.
DDT
bdw0617 wrote:DDT wrote:bdw0617
Mine That Bird went south long before Lukas had him. His win in the Kentucky Derby was more related to Calvin's ride than to any talent he may have had. At any rate, he did not win another race and he could only manage a 3rd in the West Virginia Derby, that should give you an idea of his true level of performance. I am not a Lukas fan, but Mine That Bird's lack of winning efforts is not because Lukas mismanaged him just to keep his name in the papers.
DDT
as stated he had an excuse in every last one of his loses. he had sugury after the WV derby. borel moved an 8th too soon in the belmont. in the good wood and the BC classic he was running on a surface he hated.
MTB was like a lot of horses, who have their own form cycle. The Triple Crown forces a different cycle on them and most horses have big trouble, running poorly. MTB was dead game in the Preakness and should have won it and as BDW notes, might have got the Belmont mile and a half with just a little more patience. Even so, wise trainers, after such a grueling run, make major changes/adjustments - even the BCup Classic should not be a given. Those that do work to bring them back into form,m gradually and are sensitive to it, can make a horse like MTB go a long, time, gamely. Maybe not the very top of the heap - but a worthy racehorse. Recall that Rachel cycled out and washed out after her glories.
jm
he was not "going south". he was mismanaged.