mikemoss13

Smarty Jones, with Curlin close behind. The year Smarty was here was just magical!!

Should have had 7 finalists. But the one thing I want people to remember, just because Penny and her other 'board' members call this a "Voice of the People" award, it is still their award. They get to nominate who they see fit. Don't vote. Send a message with why you think Shack or Paynter or Hansen or Animal Kingdom or whoever deserved consideration. I have no doubt that they DID consider your favorite. But, for whatever reason, these are the 5 horses that made the cut. Disagree all you want, but please keep it civil....I'm not referring to the comments left here, I'm referring to comments on Facebook. But I just wanted to post here once, and not everywhere I see something that makes me cringe.

I don't know the jocks, but Orfevre did not exactly run a straight path to the finish line either. He moved in toward the rail LONG before Gentildonna pushed him out. Then after the contact, continued to move towards the rail. Had there been NO CONTACT, it's of my opinion that Gentildonna wins the race by a larger margin.

It's hard not to like Jinks and Penny Fires!! Hated? I've not met anyone I hate....

I think I should box the Danger, Will Robinson level.

Thanks to a statement from an Oaklawn trainer yesterday, I'm reminded why proper weight assignments are so crucial. If HDG is assigned too low a weight here, how many of the other horses are going to run against her? Only 10 horses were nominated in the first place, and if she is assigned 117-120 along with the top 2 or 3 competitors, how many of the other nominees are NOT going to run? If her weight is too low, Oaklawn runs the risk of having an Apple Blossom race that has 3 or 4 entries. And then HDG wins by 6 lengths at odds of 1-9. The racing secretary, among other things, has to protect not only Oaklawn's interest in a competitive race, but also the bettors.

I never know where to start on these. At least I see an Oaklawn reference!

I'll try to be nice here, but it won't be easy. To those that continue to discount Amie's Dini's victory over Now I Know....I get it. Your horse got hurt in a big race. It's something that I had to deal with just last year, as Archarcharch was injured at the start of last year's Kentucky Derby. Do I talk about how the 14 or 15 horses that finished in front of him, and how they didn't really deserve their placings because my horse was injured? No...get over. I'm sorry for ANY horse to get hurt, period. Now, about the Apple Blossom, no horses go as fast on the lead in the 1 1/16 mile distance as Amie's Dini did, and are able to hold off a great filly such as On Fire Baby. Should they meet again, watch to see which horse pounces down the stretch....

SWEET SIXTEEN Union Rags Adirondack King Our Entourage Najaar El Padrino Secret Circle Castaway Alpha Jake Mo Sabercat Gemologist On Fire Baby Hansen News Pending Mark Valeski Dullahan FINAL FOUR Union Rags El Padrino On Fire Baby Hansen CHAMPIONSHIP GAME On Fire Baby defeats El Padrino by a buzzer beater (length)

Brian....that's another unfortunate effect of Now I Know's injury. AD's victory is tainted.