Cool photos
StarGirl11! They confirm something I've suspected from other photos and media coverage I've seen - California Chrome is short. The ladies are gonna have to stand in a ditch for that guy someday.
Okay, I actually had the chance to really look at a past-performance chart yesterday. I came to the conclusion that I have completely overlooked
Midnight Hawk. Solidly grass pedigree, but he's been running good on real dirt. He's been flying under the radar a bit and no one seems to be talking about him.
I still have no idea who to like for the Oaks!
Last I checked Midnight Hawk wasn't running in the Derby, he's possibly Preakness bound but ain't Derby bound. Hasn't been for a couple of weeks after the Illinois Derby. Mainly because his idiots of his owners ran in him a really stupid prep schedule.
And even if Hawk was running in the Derby my problem has nothing to do with the Turf pedigree. My problem is that horse ran so far into the wall at the Sunland Derby I am 99% certain that horse wants nothing to do with a mile and 3/16ths forget a mile a quarter even with more training. Look I'm a runner I know the signs of running into a wall when it happens. Both him and Social Inclusion (during the Wood Memorial) ran into the walls.
Admittedly Social Inclusion and Bayern (who looked like he might have ran into a wall at the Arkansas Derby) might just need time to build stamina. Look everyone complains that no one is breeding for distance. But also if you just train the horse well enough and get them used to going long you know they just might get the mile and a quarter?
I mean there's a reason why the Apollo curse has been around for over 100 years. The horses that have been campaigning since 2 have had time to build stamina into their campaigns. And let me tell you half the game to getting to a long distance race even if you don't have the pedigree is training.
It's the reason why I continue to support Junior. This horse has been campaigning for almost a year now. We haven't seen anywhere near the bottom of him yet. Sometimes training can outrun pedigree. Look at me my parents can't run a lick and yet I run half marathons for fun!
Changing topics to about California Chrome's size. He's a funny horse. I remember having a discussion with someone on twitter about this actually because we were talking in relation in Candy Boy (who is a big boy). But certain horses give off a larger presence in person than they do on film. And some don't. Junior is one that at least to me gives off a larger presence in person. He may not look that big on camera but let me tell you he sure doesn't look like he is short in person.
Now fun fact. Game On Dude is a horse I always felt was a big horse and gave off one of those big presences on camera. But the first time I saw him in person, not so much. I actually turned to a friend and long time race track goer and said 'I though he was bigger.' He gave me the world's most confused look and since I had yet to figure out why I felt such a difference between on and off screen presence on horses. I was confused myself. I mean it wasn't like the horse was small, he just wasn't quiet as large as I had expected.
Just for reference a horse that I feel meets his size on and off camera was Shackleford. His presence showed on the camera and you certainly saw it when you got to see him in person.
Anyways time for more photos. I had a bit of fun this time I managed to catch one of the owners handing the Kentucky Derby hat to Junior's groom while we were waiting for them to enter the winner's circle.
Also it's a fun set because this is before they dumped water on him so you can see that he literally came back without a drop of sweat on him. He did this at the Santa Anita Derby too. This was right around the time I became in awe of this horse.
Early on I liked Havana and Cairo Prince as well. They didn't make the cut due to injury as well. 
