The other option, aside from staying the course at the classic distances is to try shortening him up on dirt where the early pace is usually snappy & would be a nice set up for his late run.  Could actually amplify it.

Sometimes the run style & the horse on the ground eclipses what we see in the breeding.

BTW, I have a ton of respect for Mott so all I'm doing is thinking out loud here in the cyber wilderness.  Little armchair trainer action.  :)

Hofburg looks to be coming into the summer just as Keen Ice did. He should get another chance to continue Saratoga's tradition of being the graveyard of champions.

That would work if Hofburg remembers to play his part.  No way he's the price of Keen Ice, though.

BTW, I don't know if you saw the Trakus for The Belmont but the difference & then some between Gronk saving ground early & cutting the corner late & Hofburg taking the overland route added up to about 5 standing lengths.

Thanks Steve ...The Dogs sees it that the colt Hoffy got rambunctious and Irad had to pull the reins in.

That is in the backstretch, guessing, the colt wanted to go sooner.

I had actually predicted this based on anecdotal info I read, was a bad boy gate load and change of mouth hardware. Plus the rateabllity needed for long ball distance of mile & half.

Not taking anything away from his last two...for sure. He performed very well, regardless.

Just that shorter G1s ahead of stature Haskell = field contenders  too fast, running with less weight, distance short 9 panels. Travers doesn't look likely as they would have planned and discovered any improvements or needs to be fixed if and a run in the Haskell. And not the Eddie Haskell!

As my Godfather would say to me after sound advice and direction, "the last guy who listened to me is batting 4th on skid row."

 Hoofnote: Grass for Hoffy will show if this one has a mind of his own, or all the stuff I wrote is just in my mind. Well, there's an opener for dah boys and girls.

Dwyer, Px Derby.

Say, in a lawn race, if Hoffy equibas e notes say raced early and tired or faded that to me would close the deal. End of story. BTW I obviously have not left him out of Fl Dby, Preak & Bel Stks.?

DogsUpBigE said:

Dwyer, Px Derby.

If you mean Hofburg in that direction. I wouldn't mind seeing him run against Mendelssohn because that's where Mendy is headed. too.

Maybe we'll have an interesting BC Classic...

We'll have to see if these two get a shot at each other. Dogs could be band wagoning here with The Hoffy, after Fl Dby pronouncement and rode his coat tails into Belmont. Horse players should not pat their back, rather pat their wallet.

The next couple of biggie races with this crop and PPs now mid-year, connections and the players see beating the entire field in front of them. And earning First money. Not just beating so-and-so. ; to include Justify.

So I'll maintain runners 2nd,3rd in Derby and other winners (last race was a win.. like Gronk) beat the Hoffy profile....LOL but I haven't left that Hofberg out. But he is not to scooch into beating G1 ~ G2 winners. His racing conditions book is still very wire open.

Dogs, you're the Phil "Knucksie" Niekro of the forum.  Your posts are like knuckleballs.  I've even got an over-sized catcher's glove & still 2 out of 3 are rolling to the backstop...  

Have no idea what you're talking about.  :)

It's gonna be a long day for the catcher with Hoyt Wilhelm on the hill...

LOL. Steve, you're killing me here. I was thinking Charlie Hough!

I think he put a little spit on that one.

Another maestro of that pitch...Didn't Charlie pitch in the majors until he was collecting Social Security?