Empire Maker, Kafwain news

[Valuist]

Empire Maker bruised his foot this morning but Frankel said he didn't think it would keep him from running and running well.

The same can't be said for Kafwain, who was scratched from the race this morning after suffering a leg injury. Kafwain was the last surviving member of the 2002 Breeder's Cup Juvenile with a shot at running in the Derby.

 

[kingfin66]

I doubt that this type of injury will have much, if any, affect. I'm no vet, but they wouldn't run that horse if there was a risk of further injury. Also, there are so many types of shoes to protect that type of injury that it should be a-ok.

Too bad about Kafwain. I thought he had a chance in the exotics.

Cant' wait for the post draw so that I can get my meat hooks on the past performances.

 

[Valuist]

Jay Privman of the DRF says that a scratch of Empire Maker is a very realistic possibility. I know you can't believe ANYTHING that Frankel, Baffert or Lukas say to the media, and that's compounded when one of them has an uncoupled entry.

 

[kingfin66]

Interesting. I just read an article by Joe Takach. He runs the SoCal horses to watch list. In an article about negative equipment, he discussed injuries to the frog and how trainers protect it. The use a device that covers the frog. This helps the horse feel better, but prevents it from getting proper traction. He likened it to a race car riding on only 3 tires.

If you think about it, what if an 800m runner had a problem with his foot, no matter how minor, before his Olympic final heat. Even with the best tape job, how would he be able to compete at his best.

 

[Valuist]

One thing about Frankel, if the problem is more serious than he's letting on, I think he'll scratch. In other words, this probably shouldn't affect your betting strategy.

 

[Valuist]

Now Sir Cherokee suffers a leg fracture and is out. I didn't consider him a serious win contender but I thought he could possibly run up for a slice of the trifecta or superfecta.

 

[Skanoochies]

Hi Guys, I am very skeptical about this bruised foot not being a factor in the Derby. I respect Frankels opinion, yet I think back to 1979. Spectacular Bid won the Derby and Preakness, then stepped on a pin in his stall the week of the Belmont. I heard all these same things about special shoes and such, and he would be fine at racetime. There is no doubt in my mind, that pin probably cost him the triple crown.

Just an opinion, Good luck on Saturday.

P.S. It`s just my nature to try to beat the chalk anyway.

 

[Valuist]

I don't remember his Belmont, although I remember him winning the Derby, but Beyer said in one of his books he felt The Bid was a victim of a bad ride, as Ronnie Franklin moved him too soon. Then there's the distance factor. Maybe he just didn't want 12 furlongs.

In any event, there's a million reasons why they can get beat. If EM loses, people will assume its the foot, which it could be. But he also could get beaten by a rough trip.

 

[kingfin66]

This EM thing just serves to make a hard race to handicap that much harder. If Frankel says he fine, I guess I have to take his word for it. EM had an "incident" while galloping today, but Frankel downplayed it as usual. I'm thinking along the lines of making a contrary exotics play with EM on the bottom and a saver win wager on EM.