I'm sorry but Friesian Fire has never run as fast as Dunkirk. They are in a different class ability wise. Dunkirk ran a Thorograph 0 in only his 2nd career start. Then followed it up with another 0. Dunkirks problem may end up being " too fast too soon" down the road but only time will tell that. Horses that run a 0 that early in their careers don't usually last too long.
im not using friesan fire as a comparison speed wise but as finding trouble and having an excuse. the only reason fire was the derby chalk was cuz it was raining and jones should have never ran him in the preakness getting as banged up as he " ALLEGEDLY" did in the derby. dunkirk just doesnt do it for me. i dont know what it is about him....big time breeding...big time price...big time connections....now what?
Grabbing a quarter is a little more than "getting banged up" that can sideline a horse for half a year.
Dunkirk ran in the FL Derby in only his 3rd career start with no foundation or seasoning as a 2yo and ran an exceptional race.I'm not sure what you were expecting of him in his 4th career start.
Dunkirk ran in the FL Derby in only his 3rd career start with no foundation or seasoning as a 2yo and ran an exceptional race.I'm not sure what you were expecting of him in his 4th career start.
big brown, smarty jones belmont dominant locks had full fields or maybe one short as I reall..lately this race is filling up even with a monster horse in it..but a big belmont field is 11 or so not 13 or 20 like the other two legs...is 12 tha max at belmont for this race?
John Velazquez will ride Dunkirk in the Belmont. On Sunday, Velazquez climbed aboard the gray colt for the first time, working him a half-mile. After starting about a length behind Monba leaving the four-furlong pole, Dunkirk quickly got to his company and put a head in front after an eighth in 12.62. Velazquez, instructed by trainer Todd Pletcher to give the colt an easy work, moved Dunkirk a few paths away from Monba so that he wouldn't get too aggressive.
After going a second in eighth in 11.72, Dunkirk did settle down while a few paths away from Monba in the stretch and got the last quarter in 25.34 while finishing a length in front of Monba. Dunkirk galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.92.
"He was a little strong," Velazquez said. "I was afraid he was going to go a little too fast so I had to get away from the company, I had to go in the five or six path, then sit there quietly. He actually worked really easy, though, and galloped out very nice."
Pletcher switched up workmates for Dunkirk, choosing Monba over Munnings because he wanted an easier work.
"I didn't want to do too much and I was afraid he and Munnings might go a little keen together," said Pletcher, who is pointing Munnings to the Woody Stephens on the Belmont undercard. "I was going to work him by himself, but I got to thinking I've never breezed him by himself. I didn't
After going a second in eighth in 11.72, Dunkirk did settle down while a few paths away from Monba in the stretch and got the last quarter in 25.34 while finishing a length in front of Monba. Dunkirk galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.92.
"He was a little strong," Velazquez said. "I was afraid he was going to go a little too fast so I had to get away from the company, I had to go in the five or six path, then sit there quietly. He actually worked really easy, though, and galloped out very nice."
Pletcher switched up workmates for Dunkirk, choosing Monba over Munnings because he wanted an easier work.
"I didn't want to do too much and I was afraid he and Munnings might go a little keen together," said Pletcher, who is pointing Munnings to the Woody Stephens on the Belmont undercard. "I was going to work him by himself, but I got to thinking I've never breezed him by himself. I didn't
