[Glimmerglass]

In case anyone ever downplays the impact that having dirt (or in the 139 KY Derby, mud) tossed into a novice horse's face: (image) this is Falling Sky with Luis Saez up.

[Gestalt]

In case anyone ever downplays the impact that having dirt (or in the 139 KY Derby, mud) tossed into a novice horse's face: (image) this is Falling Sky with Luis Saez up.

Horses never cease to amaze me. That is some seriously nasty back splash.

[Glimmerglass]

For those data geeks - America' Best Racing/Pat Cummings has some Trakus analysis on the Derby measurements.

In the Derby, Orb covered the third-most ground of any horse (just less than Frac Daddy and Vyjack, who covered the most). He went 80 feet more than second-placer Golden Soul, and 84 feet more than third home Revolutionary. There are many factors that go into a race’s results, but Orb’s extra ground coverage is remarkable considering the results.

Overall, Orb traveled the equivalent of approximately 9 ½ lengths more than Revolutionary, and about 9 ¾ lengths more than Golden Soul, but actually beat both rivals by more than 2 ½ lengths.

In fact, Orb was the fastest horse over every “final” segment in last four furlongs of the Derby – the final half, seven-sixteenths, three-eighths, five-sixteenths, quarter, three-sixteenths, eighth, and sixteenth.

Their view on the next race:

Orb’s biggest threat in the Preakness?

Post position. No doubt.

You can talk about horses all you want, the biggest threat to Orb’s hopes in the Preakness seemingly has little to do with his competition. As proven in all four of his wins in 2013, this horse needs to be outside where he gets a clear run – a bad (inside) draw, along with the right (wrong) combination of competitors around him, could spell trouble for the impressive Derby winner.

[Vibrant Black]

Does anyone know the story behind Orb's right nostril? Deformed? Or torn? If so, how?

[findeight]

Yeahbut... sometimes they figure out what it was they were supposed to do and learn how to win so when they draw a PP that was never to their liking before? They don't care. Five straight wins on this one, I assume he might "get it" more then he did last fall/winter. Probably not a big field either to collapse in on him if he lags out of the gate.

I remember reading of a colt who kept finishing in the money but not winning who went way down in condition. They figured he might be depressed so started treating him like he won every time he came off the track even when he was never better then 2nd or 3rd. Showered the pats and carrots, groom made a big deal over him when he took him from the jock/outrider, jock gave him a hug on dismounting. He perked right up and started winning. They can learn and once they know, try harder.

I remain skeptical after the last 40 years of disappointment but I would not necessarily assume a return to the form of his first 4 races on this fast maturing colt who may be the real deal. Or not, we'll see.

ETA, as reported earlier in this thread, handlers have no idea how he tore the edge of his nostril but he did. Best guess in the stall on something or on a fence in pasture during a break. He is a horse after all and they can be good at mystery boo boos despite all precautions. If you wrapped them in bubble wrap they'd probably eat it and colic or have an allergic reaction.

[bdj]

With the mention of Malibu Moon its worth suggesting to anyone who hasn't picked up a copy but a good read is Josh Pons books on their Country Life/Merryland Farm.

Exclusively Equine is having a sale, so you can score a very good deal on Merryland: http://www.exclusivelyequine.com/Vie...ategory=10-Day SALE&category=10-Day SALE&categoryName=10-Day SALE(BHP) as well as the Thoroughbred Legends series...

I've got both Country Life Diary and Merryland - they're some of my favorite racing reads! (And Josh Pons was really nice when I met him at the Horse Expo a few years ago!) So happy for Orb's connections!

[Vibrant Black]

<snip>ETA, as reported earlier in this thread, handlers have no idea how he tore the edge of his nostril but he did. Best guess in the stall on something or on a fence in pasture during a break. He is a horse after all and they can be good at mystery boo boos despite all precautions. If you wrapped them in bubble wrap they'd probably eat it and colic or have an allergic reaction.

Thank for the info. I wonder if he did it as a foal/weanling/yearling, or fairly recently.

[Lady Counselor]

ETA, as reported earlier in this thread, handlers have no idea how he tore the edge of his nostril but he did. Best guess in the stall on something or on a fence in pasture during a break. He is a horse after all and they can be good at mystery boo boos despite all precautions. If you wrapped them in bubble wrap they'd probably eat it and colic or have an allergic reaction.

Truer words were never spoken. And it seems like, the nicer the horse, the faster they get hurt or otherwise compromised.

[Glimmerglass]

Photos from Barbara Livingston (DRF) with Orb and his connections at the Derby - a lot perspective not seen elsewhere

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Photos from Barbara Livingston (DRF) with Orb and his connections at the Derby - a lot perspective not seen elsewhere

I can't directly link to the photos, but if you go about half way down the page there are three photos in a row that are credited to Barbara L. They are all taken in the last furlong/right before the line. There is no way that one person could physically have taken all three of those pictures, as they are from different angles.... inside rail and outside rail etc. Do photographers have extra cameras set up that they can remotely control to take pictures? Or maybe an assistant, but the main photographer gets the credit?

[Griffyn]

The pics of the grooms and their horse just choke me up. Their private moments just so sweet.