[Hot Tabasco]

CC's owner had it exactly right about stacking the odds by skipping other races (i.e. his diagnosis of the problem's cause and effect was right) but gave probably the wrong prescription to fix it.

I'm so glad you brought that up, this morning on GMA he fully explained his criticism and put it into full perspective.

all the sports writers criticizing him have no conception about the Triple Crown process and the horses' requirement that they be nominated (that might not be the right word) as Triple Crown candidates.

.

20 such horses enrolled in the Derby and only three of those made their announcement that they were going for the Triple Crown.

Neither Tonalist nor Commissioner bothered to even run the first two races of the Crown.

That's the equivalent of entering the third stage of a triathlon and ultimately crossing the finish line ahead of all the other contenders who were burned out from the first two stages...........

[ridesthemiles]

20 such horses enrolled in the Derby and only three of those made their announcement that they were going for the Triple Crown.”””

MY understandig is slightly different:

ALL the horses had to ‘nominate” for the Triple Crown to run in the Derby.

I do not know the nomination fee or the cut-off date for the Triple Crown.

However, many ‘nominated horse’ owners did not then pay to ENTER the Derby in May, which is another fee.

Many horses owners also didn’t pay the entry fee for the Preakness & run them there.

11 horses went to the gate on last Saturday. The 1st & 2nd place horses did not run in either of the prior 2 races. Only 3 horses did all 3 races. Ride On Curlin-—General A Rod—and California Chrome.