Much agreed cigar. I really hope Quality Road gets past both mental and physical issues. I, too, think that his run in the Florida Derby was the most impressive Kentucky Derby prep that I saw any of the Derby contenders race. When Dunkirk rolled up on him and for a brief second stuck a head in front, then just as quickly Quality Road shifting gears and leaving Dunkirk in his wake. I know Mike Smith often speak's of not yet having gotten to the bottom of Zenyatta, and of that I don't doubt. But I really think Quality Road is a colt that provided he overcomes the Breeders Cup trauma, we haven't seen his best race yet as well. I look foward to him coming back as a mentally and physically healthy 4yr.old and watching his first start on a dry conventional dirt track. Taking nothing away from Summer Bird, because he was clearly the better horse on those day's in both the Travers and the JCGC, but Quality Road was a horse that clearly did not respond with his best on an off track, which both were. To still be able to stay in the money, 1 show, and 1 place when he was clearly battling the mud says something about his talent. IMO.
This horse is so talented... to compete in both the Travers off that goofy layoff/prep and then run well in the JCGC, it's a shame he wasn't able to run in the Classic. Truthfully, his Fla. derby win is the most impressive dirt win of the year for 3-year-olds. Hopefully re comes out of this okay.
I truly hope that Quality Road will be able to overcome his physical and emotional injuries to continue on racing next season as a 4yr.old. This is a colt that I feel has a world of potential ahead of him provided the psychological trauma he experienced in the Breeders Cup Classic doesn't force him into early retirement. I really do feel we haven't seen his best race yet and I personally wish Todd Pletcher and Quality Road's connection's all the best in getting him back to racing shape and getting him past his starting gate issues.