#commanding curve

[downthehomestretch]

Commanding Curve (by Eric Kalet)

[ukhorseracingtipster]

Belmont champion Tonalist back in the hunt in Jim Dandy at Saratoga

Belmont champion Tonalist back in the hunt in Jim Dandy at Saratoga

Belmont champion Tonalist back in the hunt in Jim Dandy at Saratoga

kentucky.com By Alicia Wincze Hughes

It has been nearly seven weeks since the final leg of the Triple Crown was contested and the landscape of the 3-year-old division is almost unrecognizable from where it was the morning of Tonalist’s breakout triumph.

Prior to June 7, it was all about California Chrome, he of the Kentucky Derby

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[thatsnottveryraven]

Triple Crown rant oops

I doubt many of my followers are interested but I have plenty of equine blogs following me, so

I will come right out and say I do not think CC’s gonna take it today lol. Not that it’s out of a general disliking, because obviously he’s talented, he looks great, I saw his workout and he looks better than ever, but as we saw in the Preakness, he clearly cannot do the distance. And that wasn’t even a 1 1/2 mile race, so just imagine today. Yikes.

Also his pedigree. I am a firm believer that no matter what the pedigree, skill level is completely independent of that. I mean it may help, of course, but then just look at The Green Monkey lolol. Cannot even believe. Anyway, California Chrome has got a super pedigree, but there is cross breeding down the line. Which is (unfortunately) the norm nowadays, but with his, the cross breeding is really close together. I’m not about that, for the health of the horse, first of all, and second of all I can see it in his conformation. I’m not into it. I’m not expecting a breakdown today with those thin bones, as I know he’s tougher than that, but I don’t trust that he can do this distance without a fluke, ya know. And that is because of his greatly cross-bred pedigree.

I have also noticed that he’s got quite the bounding stride, but it’s not long at all. Or it is, because he’s decently big, but not as long as it should be for his size, and not as long as necessary to cover the distance of the Belmont without exhausting himself. A stride like that needs to be monstrous, and this horse is not a monster.

I’d bet as low as third place for him, at least, just because of his short and slowing stride due to exhaustion that I noticed in the Preakness by the wire, and he also closed up his lead in the Derby. I don’t trust it for this one either. And to be totally honest, though I don’t too much like the post he was given, I’m all about Wicked Strong lol sorry (but Ride On Curlin is also quite the closer though so watch out for him I’d say, and also Commanding Curve)

Then again, I’m more than prepared to eat my words.

[sublimecerebration]

There has not been a Triple Crown Winner since 1978. During a five-year stretch of the 1970s, there were three of them: Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977, and Affirmed in 1978. California Chrome has captured the first two legs of the 2014 Triple Crown, by winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He is favored to win today's Belmont Stakes. Here is No. 1: Medal Count (Morning-line odds: 20-to-1) Trainer: Dale Romans Jockey: Robby Albarado No. 2: California Chrome (Morning-line odds: 3-to-5) Trainer: Art Sherman Jockey: Victor Espinoza No. 3: Matterhorn (Morning-line odds: 30-to-1) Trainer: Todd Pletcher (Won 2007 Belmont with Rags to Riches, 2013 Belmont with Palace Malice) Jockey: Joe Bravo No. 4: Commanding Curve (Morning-line odds: 15-to-1) Trainer: Dallas Stewart Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan No. 5: Ride On Curlin (Morning-line odds: 10-to-1) Trainer: William Gowan. Jockey: John Velazquez (Won 2007 Belmont on Rags to Riches, 2012 Belmont on Union Rags). No. 6: Matuszak (Morning-line odds: 30-to-1) Trainer: Bill Mott (Won 2010 Belmont with Drosselmeyer) Jockey: Mike Smith (Won 2010 Belmont on Drosselmeyer) No. 7: Samraat (Morning-line odds: 20-to-1) Trainer: Rick Violette, Jr. Jockey: Jose Ortiz No. 8: Commissioner (Morning-line odds: 20-to-1) Trainer: Todd Pletcher (Won 2007 Belmont with Rags to Riches, 2013 Belmont with Palace Malice) Jockey: Javier Castellano No. 9: Wicked Strong (Morning-line odds: 6-to-1) Trainer: Jimmy Jerkens Jockey: Rajiv Maragh No. 10: General A Rod (Morning-line odds: 20-to-1) Trainer: Michael Maker Jockey: Rosie Napravnik No. 11: Tonalist (Morning-line odds: 8-to-1) Trainer: Christophe Clement Jockey: Joel Rosario In-depth breakdown at the Sporting News. Sublime Cerebration ~ Shot-in the-Dark Belmont Stakes Picks: 1. Commanding Curve 2. Wicked Strong 3. California Chrome

[racinglegends]

Belmont Stakes runners, 7 June 2014:

1: Medal Count 2: California Chrome 3: Matterhorn 4: Commanding Curve 5: Ride On Curlin 6: Matuszak 7: Samraat 8: Commissioner 9: Wicked Strong 10: General A Rod 11: Tonalist

Good luck and safe trips to all! :-)

Photo sources: X -- X -- X -- X -- X -- X -- X -- X -- X -- X -- X -- X

[ukhorseracingtipster]

California Chrome Draws Post 2 for Belmont

California Chrome Draws Post 2 for Belmont

California Chrome Draws Post 2 for Belmont

bloodhorse.com By Blood-Horse Staff

Photo: Rick Samuels California Chrome Order This Photo

Dual classic winner California Chrome drew post position 2 and was installed the 3-5 morning-line favorite for his attempt at the coveted Triple Crown when he faces 10 other 3-year-olds in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

The 1 1/2-mile Belmont, known as…

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[ukhorseracingtipster]

West Point Hopes to Throw Curve at Chrome

West Point Hopes to Throw Curve at Chrome

West Point Hopes to Throw Curve at Chrome

bloodhorse.com By Lenny Shulman

Photo: Anne’M. Eberhardt Commanding Curve Order This Photo

A few days before this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), conditioner Dallas Stewart and West Point Thoroughbreds president Terry Finley stood on a trainers’ stand waiting for their Commanding Curveto make an appearance on the track.…

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[ladyoftheturf-blog]

Belmont Contender: Commanding Curve

Commanding Curve galloping over Churchill Downs prior to his runner-up finish in the Derby. (photo: Reed Palmer)

Pros: Most recently second to California Chrome in the Kentucky Derby, Commanding Curve put on an impressive display of willingness and turn of foot in his rally from the back of the pack. A horse potentially on the improve, his closing abilities seem to have become more refined between his 3rd in the Louisiana Derby and his Kentucky 2nd. He recently put in a snappy 4 furlongs at Belmont Park, and is said to be eating up his food. Up against horses potentially weary from the fierce rigors of the Triple Crown, Commanding Curve holds the edge of fresh, yet race readied, legs.

Cons: Many comparisons have been drawn between Commanding Curve and last year's Derby runner-up, fellow deep closer Golden Soul. Not unlike Commanding Curve, Golden Soul skipped the Preakness in favor of the Belmont, where he put in a sharp work prior to a crushing defeat. Golden Soul has yet to hit the board in his 5 subsequent starts. Both Golden Soul and Commanding Curve have enjoyed just one victory in their careers, in spite of their respective late running efforts.

While it is not uncommon for these sort of horses to achieve a level of success in the Derby (usually second or third), the grueling straights of Belmont Park - where it does not bode well to be caught off the pace - prove a more daunting challenge. Commanding Curve will need to utilize the early speed that he showcased for a brief time in his earliest starts to get a favorable position in the 1 1/2 mile "test of champions". If he falls back further than a handful of lengths from the early lead, there is enough class in the rest of the field for someone else to steal the race while Commanding Curve plays an unfavorable game of catch-up.

Pedigree: Commanding Curve is sired by Master Command, a son of A.P. Indy who was a dominant force in Grade 2-3 middle distance routes, specializing at 9 furlongs. Master Command's dam, Lady Lochinvar (also a fan of the 9 furlongs), is a daughter of Lord At War, who won the 10 furlong Santa Anita Handicap in 1985. Lady Lochinvar's dam, Lady Winborne, is a daughter to 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat, whose talent has been passed down mostly through his female offspring.

Commanding Curve's distaff line is headed by his somewhat bluntly named dam, "Mother", who was twice a winner at 6 furlongs. His damsire is Lion Hearted, who spent the bulk of his career running second in short sprints. Curiously, Lion Hearted's damsire is Alydar, famously second to Affirmed in all three jewels of the Triple Crown, and later a victor in routes such as the Travers and Arlington Classic.

Conclusion: Much of whether Commanding Curve can carry his new-found success over into the Belmont Stakes hinges on his ability to stay near the pace. There is a great deal of class present in this year's field, and any horses stuck in the back when the action begins to unfurl may find themselves left behind out on the expanses of Big Sandy, a track not near so kind as Churchill to late-running upsetters in its biggest race. Contrary to the belief that closers flourish as distance increases, in reality added ground can take a huge toll on horses who rally late, particularly those with a habit of only making it "almost there". Historically, few Derby runner-ups have gone on to win the Belmont, only 4 having done so since 1980.

While Commanding Curve has the look of a promising horse, and is bred decently to stretch out, he will need to validate his class in the Belmont to prove himself something other than a one hit wonder. I will not be crossing him off completely as a factor in the Belmont, but until proven otherwise, I am skeptical of his ability to become something other than a "wise-guy horse" that never quite makes things happen.