Transylvania Stakes - Keeneland R9 - Friday 4/04

[sharky17]

#1 MEDAL COUNT (12-1 ML) Odds are sure to drop as this one comes off the turf, but horse has worked well since 5th place finish behind Wildcat Red and General a Rod in the Fountain of Youth. Only beat 2.25 lengths in an off the turf G3 Bourbon here last fall as a 2yo so should not mind the poly.

 

[Sportsaholic]

Weak out of the gate, fought up the rail the whole trip.....Solid Win.....:0008

 

[sharky17]

Thanks Sports. That was just last Friday.

Now they are throwing this guy in the deep end on 8 days rest. He is entered in the Blue Grass tomorrow. :look:

 

[airportis]

this horse is one to watch this summer. if you have a virtual stable, add him now. he is going to be a big player in the 3 y/o division. maybe not on dirt, but he will be a tough one to beat on the lawn.

after running his lifetime best race 8 days ago, and coming back to run the race he ran yesterday, simply amazing. there wasnt a horse in the race who had a worse trip. 6 wide into the 1st turn and 5 wide coming home, and still came home strong.

this guy looks like he has the stamina to run all day. he is by dynaformer so, makes sense. even galloped out strong and past the winner yesterday.

he sneaks into the derby with his win yesterday and should be a definite unless they point him elsewhere but I cant see that happening after running in the Bluegrass on a weeks rest.

as much as I love his efforts, it is going to take a tremendous amount out of this guy and with the derby less than 3 weeks away, he will need a quick recovery if he is going to put up a good effort.

definitely interested in his pre derby works and love the fact he will probably be very big odds. over 20-1 id say for sure.

one thing I really dislike is his jock is one of my least favorites out there and known to give some absolutely horrible rides.

 

[airportis]

as expected, Medal Count confirmed to make next start in Derby.

will be 3rd start in 29 days :scared

 

[sharky17]

as expected, Medal Count confirmed to make next start in Derby.

will be 3rd start in 29 days :scared

They're gonna cook this poor bastard. :facepalm:

 

[airportis]

They're gonna cook this poor bastard. :facepalm:

yeah I really like this one and I think he has a bright future this summer but I would really need to see some encouraging works to consider him for a top 5 placing in the derby. he has run 2 monster races back to back and he HAS to bounce or regress at some point. 3 year olds that are still developing do not simply just get better and better with no regression.

depending on how he comes out of the Derby and what it takes out of him, he will be one to look at in the Belmont if he is pointed there.

I am quite certain the Derby wasn't in the cards for this guy but the plan changed when he ran well in the Transylvania and they decided to throw him in with the big boys a week later in the Bluegrass.

the pedigree says all day on turf, so I can almost guarantee this guy will show up in Virginia for the Virginia Derby in July.

could be a sleeper for the Belmont if they decide to run him there. or, if he lays an egg in the Derby, they would probably point him to something in June on turf. it is tough to find pricey races for 3 year olds on turf, so hed likely have to face older guys on turf at monmouth or something if they want a graded stakes on the lawn. otherwise theyll probably keep him at churchill and find a nice warmup on grass for the VA derby.

 

[sharky17]

I just hope to see any kind of work after what he's done this month...next weekend will be 2 weeks since Blue Grass, so I expect to see him breeze 4 or 5 furlongs Sat, Sun or Mon....curious to see what clockers say about his appearance as well.

I don't think there will be a Virginia Derby this year, as I don't believe Colonial is holding a meet? Could be wrong.

Anyway, I'll have a keen eye for him as well and agree with your comments on the jock...Romans also had a rough winter in Florida and I believe this guy has been his only winner at Keeneland so far.

 

[sharky17]

According to Mike Welsh at DRF, the best looking animal on the property is Asmussen's Oaks filly who is going to get pounded at the windows on Friday.

However, after that, he says Intense Holiday and Medal Count are the next best two...he loved both their works. Medal Count went 6F on Saturday, breezing in 1:13. Welsh had him "shading" 13 seconds on the gallop out.

Romans also on record saying this is the best horse he has ever brought to the Derby, a list that would include Paddy O'Prado, Shackleford and Dullahan. Not sure if he is just blowing smoke, but this would be a remarkable feat if this guy could get to the wire first on Saturday.

I'm leaving Wednesday for Louisville. Will be trackside Thurs-Fri-Sat. CAN'T. FUCKING. WAIT.

:00hour

 

[sharky17]

Trainer Dale Romans on the busy schedule Medal Count has kept in the last month: ?The big thing, coming out of the Transylvania was, he had to get right back into his feed tub, he had to have not lost any weight, and he had to be happy in training and aggressive in what he?s doing. And he couldn?t have been better. ? The eight-day turnaround, he improved in eight days, and came out of that race just as fresh and happy. He?s happy in what he?s doing, he likes what he?s doing. He?s one of these horses that the more you do with him, the better he gets. He?s kind of a throwback horse.. I think he?s a horse that the more we do, the better he?ll get.? .

 

[sharky17]

Stopped for gas and a Miller Lite in Bowling Green, OH enroute to Louisville...

Played these offshore:

HOPPERTUNITY 13-1
INTENSE HOLIDAY 20-1
MEDAL COUNT 40-1

 

[airportis]

Medal count pointed on to the Belmont. 5 weeks rest and has proven he can run big figures. distance will be no problem. could be a spoiler at a giant price. will be keeping an eye out for how hes doing these next 2 weeks. definitely worth consideration.

 

[sharky17]

He worked 4F in 49.00 on 5/17 at Churchill (29/67) and then fired a bullet last Saturday morning, breezing 5F in 59.40 (1/42)....I suspect we will see him work again this coming Saturday.

I thought they would find someone for him back on the lawn.

 

[sharky17]

A few other things I came across that I found interesting:

PALACE MALICE finished 2nd in last year's Blue Grass stakes, ran in the Kentucky Derby and won the Belmont.....

MEDAL COUNT entered the Kentucky Derby as his 3rd race in 5 weeks.....CALIFORNIA CHROME now in that position and Medal Count a little fresher....

MEDAL COUNT'S actual foal date is May 1st....he just turned 3 two days before Derby......DYNAFORMERS will only get better with age and distance.....

Wynn Las Vegas has listed MEDAL COUNT at 15-1.

 

[airportis]

A few other things I came across that I found interesting:

PALACE MALICE finished 2nd in last year's Blue Grass stakes, ran in the Kentucky Derby and won the Belmont.....

MEDAL COUNT entered the Kentucky Derby as his 3rd race in 5 weeks.....CALIFORNIA CHROME now in that position and Medal Count a little fresher....

MEDAL COUNT'S actual foal date is May 1st....he just turned 3 two days before Derby......DYNAFORMERS will only get better with age and distance.....

Wynn Las Vegas has listed MEDAL COUNT at 15-1.

if I were betting straight on Medal Count theres no way im taking 15-1. hes going to be up closer to 30-1 on race day, depending on the field.

Chrome will be under even money sightly, but wont be a ridiculous price.

Smarty Jones and Big Brown went off at 2-5 and 1-4 in the Belmont respectively. Both absolutely blitzed the competition in the Derby & Preakness where Chrome has not. Both also faced only 8 foes, Chrome will most likely face a full field.

Commanding Curve is fresh and closed fast in the Derby. He will take some good money.

Tonalist is the wise guy horse. Put on a dazzling effort in the Peter Pan and is trained by one of the best.

Ride On Curlin will take a good amount of money as well. Was closing late in the Preakness and the public usually perceives that as he will do better at a longer distance.

Wicked Strong has been training brilliantly and is a huge threat. He will undoubtedly take money and rightfully so. He is a tough read though and you really want to see him acting fine in the post parade until you commit to him because he has a history of acting up before the race and in the gate.

If Social Inclusion goes, he will take some money. I really hope they send him because he will definitely make sure the pace isnt a jog.

Samraat is gritty and a New York favorite. Can expect big odds but will get some play.

Pletcher horse will get money because he is a Pletcher horse.



Would love to see just about any other jockey on Medal Count to be quite honest. Not a fan of Albarado at all.

Chrome is not going to be the huge favorite on the tote board that some might expect. This is not an easy field. Medal Count will certainly be a very big overlay and certainly included in the majority of my plays.

 

[Jimboski]

WOW

WOW

A "DREAM" thread for a forum. Best thread/posts I've seen here in a long time.

NICE JOB.

Good luck with the Belmont.

 

[sharky17]

Only beat a length for the mile and half.

Romans says the summer goal for MEDAL COUNT will be the Pacific Classic against older on the poly at Del Mar at the end of August.

I love the move back to poly for this guy, but wish they could have found a little softer spot for him.

I am guessing he will get a little rest for a few weeks and will appear back on the work tab sometime mid to end of July.

:toast:

 

[sharky17]

http://www.drf.com/news/haskell-medal-count-still-enigma

 

[sharky17]

Well, the poor bastard appears at Kentucky Downs on Saturday 9/06.

At least he's back on grass, and is the ML fave going 1-5/16 miles for an overnight stake and $250,000.

I really think he'll like the surface switch, but this guy's been in training since April and been chasing some nice horses all over the country.

Proctor's horse will be very tough in here.

 

[Wastan]

if I were betting straight on Medal Count theres no way im taking 15-1. hes going to be up closer to 30-1 on race day, depending on the field.

Chrome will be under even money sightly, but wont be a ridiculous price.

Smarty Jones and Big Brown went off at 2-5 and 1-4 in the Belmont respectively. Both absolutely blitzed the competition in the Derby & Preakness where Chrome has not. Both also faced only 8 foes, Chrome will most likely face a full field.

Commanding Curve is fresh and closed fast in the Derby. He will take some good money.

Tonalist is the wise guy horse. Put on a dazzling effort in the Peter Pan and is trained by one of the best.

Ride On Curlin will take a good amount of money as well. Was closing late in the Preakness and the public usually perceives that as he will do better at a longer distance.

Wicked Strong has been training brilliantly and is a huge threat. He will undoubtedly take money and rightfully so. He is a tough read though and you really want to see him acting fine in the post parade until you commit to him because he has a history of acting up before the race and in the gate.

If Social Inclusion goes, he will take some money. I really hope they send him because he will definitely make sure the pace isnt a jog.

Samraat is gritty and a New York favorite. Can expect big odds but will get some play.

Pletcher horse will get money because he is a Pletcher horse.:00hour:0008:0002