JC / Railbird - Pyro, Counter-Puncher

Pyro, Counter-Puncher

Dick Powell hits on what remains my biggest reservation about Pyro, despite his Risen Star and Louisiana Derby wins:

In boxing terms, Pyro is a counter-puncher. He responds to what the other horses are doing but doesn’t dictate his own circumstances. Until we see him in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where against a large field he’ll get a fast pace, we won’t know how he’ll respond.

Three Derby preps today: War Pass takes on a weak field in the Tampa Bay Derby; Z Fortune looms the favorite in the Rebel; and several sprinters stretch out at Santa Anita. I’m most interested in Georgie Boy, who gets a new jockey for the San Felipe due to rider Rafael Bejarano’s unfortunate accident. If the son of Tribal Rule proves he can go two turns, he becomes a very interesting potential Kentucky Derby contender in this spring of pallid prospects.

Posted by JC in Racing on 03/15/2008 @ 12:30 pm / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Follow @railbird on Twitter

3 Comments

I think Pyro is the only one holding strong for the Derby!! I’m really disheartened about today’s race with War Pass. Then Z Fortune didn’t race well today either — it wasn’t a very good day at all!! I just hope War Pass is feeling OK since he came in dead last. I heard he had a fever this week so hopefully he was just a bit under the weather!!???
Cheryl

Posted by Cheryl on March 16, 2008 @ 1:01 am

If War Pass had had a fever, Zito would have scratched him. The horse broke poorly, rushed between leaders ridden by jockeys only too happy to squeeze him a little, then went to the outside where he looked like a kid taking his first swimming lesson in an Olympic pool. Once War Pass couldn’t get third to keep bridge jumpers from embracing their name, Cornelio wisely closed up the shop for the day. Why beat on him for fourth? He’s still the champ and fastest among a weak bunch and should not fall from the top 5. – J.S.

Posted by J.S. on March 16, 2008 @ 10:42 am

Cheryl,
It wasn’t a good day for who? You because War Pass and Z Fortune lost? If so, then you need to take a hard look at your life if a horse like Z Fortune determines the type of day you’re going to have.
It was a good day for Barclay Tagg and Jeff Bonde. It’s like the 2004 Belmont. Everyone was boo-hooing because Smarty lost, but hello, someone DID win a Triple Crown race and Whitney, Zito, Prado, et al deserved the spoils, not people’s tears.
Afleet Alex threw a clunker in the Rebel and came back to be champion. Still, I can’t keep War Pass in the top five off that performance.

Posted by EJXD2 on March 16, 2008 @ 11:27 am

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