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Hoping against hope that his horse could make the Travers, Zayat finally let go of the dream Monday morning, announcing on Twitter that Paynter would not make the race.
Paynter, who spent more than a week in a New Jersey veterinary clinic, arrived at Belmont Park on Friday. On Monday, he began walking under tack, the first time he’s had a saddle on his back since the Haskell on July 29.
Zayat finally realized that by pushing Baffert into running Paynter in the Travers it would likely compromise the colt’s chances for any success the remainder of the year.
“It’s not the right thing to do,” Zayat said.
Zayat said that Paynter could make his next start in either the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept 22 or the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sept. 29. Paynter did run a huge race in the Belmont Stakes, leading all the way before getting run down by Union Rags.
[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]
The Pennsylvania Derby is the route to go if you are looking out for what's in the best interest of the horse. Paynter is a nice horse, but not ready for his elders in the Gold Cup
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Ya know with all these million dollar purses floating around, you have to wonder what a real racehorse, and Affirmed or other solid, sound colt would have accumulated in lifetime earnings. If a horse like Paynter had the constituution of these horses of 30 years ago he would have filled his saddlebags with the Haskell, Travers, PA Derby, and Breeders Cup and maybe one more to boot. In an era of what have you done for me lately it is hard to get excited about any of these guys with all the ducking going on.
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Once again a bunch of classic also rans or never rans for the Travers. Don't know why they pit up a million year after year when nobody shows up, either by design or bad fortune. What a shame. Long for the days like in '87 when all the big boys showed up to slug it out in the slop. That was a million dollar race!
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Ship him to Louisiana for the Super Derby!!
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I believe Baffert is in a tough spot. Paynter has had a tough year. Shipping and running obviously effects him adversly. He seems to run big but get knocked out physically. So why not go the easier route in Pa. Then back off for a while. With all the traveling and running it's a lot to ask him to compete against older males that are rounding into form with each race. When owners get over involved it becomes a trainers nightmare. Everyone wants their horse running in the spotlight. It's vanity. At the horses expense. Paynter will be a great if he is handled properly. Let Baffert make the calls. He seems to have the credentials.
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I see where Alternation beat Prayer For Relief. Now we all know the results would have been reversed had Baffert still trained PFF. But of course he would have come down with a "fever" right after the race. This pattern with Baffert smells to high heaven. I don't care how jovial or wisecracking he is,the guy is dirty.
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Cogito
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Only nine 3-year-olds have won the Jockey Club Gold Cup in the last 20 years. Five of them were far superior runners - Slew O' Gold, Easy Goer, Curlin, Bernardini, and Skin Away. Two are arguably better runners -- Mineshaft and Summer Bird. That leaves Miner's Mark and Albert the Great. Paynter will take the easy money at Parx.
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The Jockey Club Gold Cup is the right race to target if they want Paynter to run well in the BC Classic. It has been done before. In 2007, Curlin faced Lawyer Ron in the JCGC off his previous start in the Haskell 2 months ago. Lawyer Ron had just swept the Whitney and Woodward double and set the 9 furlong track record at Saratoga.
If they follow the path of Lookin at Lucky in 2010 by not facing older horses before the BC Classic, Paynter is more likely to end up a tiring 4th like Lucky, who was equally talented but much more battle tested than Paynter at this point of his career.
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Glsad to see men with top horses doing right by the horse. Look forward to Pennsylvannia Derby. Taking on Ron The Greek on his home turf in The Jockey Club Gold Cup may be a tall order off the ailment. This colt has a great future.
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Best Bets
Runner-up in the Santa Anita Oaks, IOTAPA drops in class and shortens to a sprint with sharp recent works on the BHP surface. Oaks winner Beholder returned to finish second in the Kentucky Oaks; Oaks third Fiftyshadesofhay was one of the favorites Friday in the Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico. The point is, IOTAPA faced a good bunch last out. She specifically targeted this race, gets pace to run at, loves the track, and can mow them down as the favorite. She must catch two good front-runners.
