tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post6434695458958670318..comments2023-05-23T06:58:05.579-04:00Comments on Fugue for Tinhorns: What's the rush? ... Sales selection What's the Rumpus breaks maiden in his 13th career startGlenn Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760553404742644042noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-8033743078274834252011-05-11T00:21:44.268-04:002011-05-11T00:21:44.268-04:00I agree, Gourmet Dinner just doesn't quite see...I agree, Gourmet Dinner just doesn't quite seem to have that 9f-10f ability. And I think any distance limitations in his pedigree would have to be attributed almost equally to his sire, Trippi, and dam-sire, Pentelicus, both of whom were accomplished sprinters.<br /><br />Trippi of course won the Vosburgh and three other graded stakes at 7f (plus the Flamingo S.-G3 at 9f), while Pentelicus set a 6.5f track record as a 6-year-old.<br /><br />However, much like the sire himself, it can't be said that Trippi foals find it impossible to win at a route distance. Gourmet Dinner has scored in graded company at a mile and a sixteenth, and R Heat Lightning has a G2 win now at 9f to go with several other quality two-turn efforts. Son Green Vegas was a two-turn winner as a 2-year-old, and Trip For A.J. won the Sunshine Millions Turf at nine panels among many two-turn efforts. Son Bunker Hill is also a 7f-9f horse.<br /><br />Still, a mile, a mile and a sixteenth, and even nine furlongs are short of getting the Derby's 10f. So, much like Uncle Mo, who I figured would be at least a panel short on Derby Day (which now we'll never know), I thought Gourmet Dinner wouldn't have quite what it takes to finish strong.<br /><br />It does aid Gourmet Dinner's distance ability to have a little more stamina in his second dam. Romantic Dinner was by Who's For Dinner, who had a couple of wins at 10 furlongs, including the Arlington Handicap, and figured regularly in 9f-10f races among the likes of John Henry, Flying Pidgeon, Hero's Honor and Cozzene. But third dam Victorious Meg was by Soy Numero Uno, who was mostly a sprinter/miler much like Trippi.<br /><br />I don't think Gourmet Dinner is a devout sprinter, but I do think he is at his best between 7f and 8.5f. When (if) he returns from what has in some quarters been described as a minor injury, I'd rather see his connections point the colt toward that type of race -- the G2 Dwyer in July, for instance, if he could be back that quickly. I'd sure want to see him win in good company at 9 furlongs before I tried him beyond that distance, a second-place finish to Soldat in the Fountain of Youth notwithstanding.Glenn Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09760553404742644042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-43477565899381202602011-05-10T13:23:09.507-04:002011-05-10T13:23:09.507-04:00In regards to Gourmet Dinner's breeding, what ...In regards to Gourmet Dinner's breeding, what do you think of Pentelicus as a broodmare sire? GD looked like a serious KY contender this year before being taken off the TC trail. Did the Trippi side limit his longevity at the two-turn route distance, or was it the Pentelicus blood that kept him from staying that long? He seemed to hang in the stretch in his last after being harnessed early, and unleashed around the far turn..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com