Bolt the Duer!

[Headpole Dave]

Bolt the Duer and my good buddy Mark MacDonald continued their solid year, winning tonight at the Red Mile in 1:48:2, setting an all time speed record for Kentucky Sire Stakes racing. Congrats to Mark and all the connections, this is a nice colt.

[BretHanover]

There are going to be some extremely fast miles in Lexington here in a few weeks.  Definitely some 47 miles...maybe better?

[jug]

Bolt The Duer = jug favorite!

He has the off the wings quick speed and explodes coming out a hole. Yannick has sent Rock N Roll winging about enough, starting to flatten out a bit (still a monster)...thats why "jugs" morning line favorite is Bolt!

[Headpole Dave]

I said the same thing a couple weeks ago Jug, Bolt the Duer can fly and gets around the short tracks well... I love him in the Jug.

[Dolfan]

Bolt The Duer, probably the best of the bunch has to overcome his driver in the Jug.  1/2 mile track races are often determined by the draw.

[LVGaryD]

I am predicting many heats. Bolt The Duer got the trip last night. Not taking anything away  from him, but this is a wide open Jug. The half equals things out for a lot of horses.

 

[Headpole Dave]

Bolt The Duer, probably the best of the bunch has to overcome his driver in the Jug.  1/2 mile track races are often determined by the draw.

You mean the driver who already won a Jug in the past?

[Dolfan]

You mean the driver who already won a Jug in the past?

Yes, that's exactly who I mean.  The driver who's win % at YR is lower than Jim Pantaleano, Cat Manzi & Brent Holland.

Mark's win in the Jug only proved that he can steer a very fast horse.  He's gotten this horse into more trouble than the Lone Ranger did with Silver!

I don't mean anything personal about him - I don't know him, I'm sure he's a great guy. 

[LVGaryD]

He did smile at me last night...he has to be ok. 

Mike Lachance said hello to me too. This guy is either real friendly or he has a memory like an elephant. He is always very kind and friendly to me. Just amazes me if he remembers me from the years I worked at the Big M many, many years ago while Lew Williams was still alive. Might have also been from the Grand Circuit, where Irvine sent me most summers.

Also ran into Frank Omara, another top trotting man in my opinion. He said "Man I can't even remember the last time I saw you, Was it Pompano or Michigan? We later figured it had to be 1981 in Michigan.

I had forgotten to get an invitational pacing horse lasix and Frank got me taken care of. He is the best! 

[Dolfan]

Gary, you must just be unforgettable.  Frank Omara = Mystic Park.

[Headpole Dave]

Mark has won Breeders Crowns, the Jug, North American Cup, Fan Hanover, Confederation Cup, Gold Cup and Saucers, the Adios and numerous other stake races. He has great hands and can make speed with anyone.

Sure it's been a bumpy first year - but he went to a new driving colony that's very strong and isn't open to others, only to fit in and very gradually acquire some power. You have to remember that he was coming off his third major injury and only had commitments from one trainer - Mark Ford - and we all know Ford doesn't have the stock he used to have.

Meanwhile with the Duer, it took some time but everything looks to be figured out and moving in the right direction as opposed to Sweet Lou who started strong but has faded. Mark put a world record on the colt at the Adios and a Kentucky stakes record on him last night... I'd say he's peaking in time for the Jug and Mark is better on a half mile track.

Plus good things happen to good people and Mark is one of the best. He's been in the USA less than a year, I think he's had a decent go and will only improve... But I'm probably biased.

[Dolfan]

Enjoy it, Dave.

I don't consider him to be a top 10 or top 20 but I'm sure he fits after that.  I do think he's got the best colt of the crop & that the horse has had several losses that he wouldn't have had with Sears or Tetrick...

I'm not sure how you can describe him as one of the very best if you believe YR has a great driving colony.  Outside of Brennan, Sears is only a part-timer & then you have a bunch of mediocre guys, of which Mark's % is the lowest.

But that's not to say he's not capable of winning big races.  Almost anyone is.

[Jeremy]

Bolt The Duer = jug favorite!

He has the off the wings quick speed and explodes coming out a hole. Yannick has sent Rock N Roll winging about enough, starting to flatten out a bit (still a monster)...thats why "jugs" morning line favorite is Bolt!

Amy likes it when you talk like that

The jug still does heats, correct?

[LVGaryD]

Amy likes it when you talk like that

The jug still does heats, correct?

Oh yes. I am predicting a race off this year.

[Jeremy]

Oh yes. I am predicting a race off this year.

If I was post 8, I would take my chances in trying to win the final and raceoff.