What happened to Circular Quay at the preakness?

Question

I made the excuse that he was coming out of the 16 post in the derby and still finished in 6th. Also.. in the breeders cup he got bumped in the start and closed well for 2nd 10 lengths behind Street Senese. I figured he's close well in the preakness but he sure as h**l didn't.

Answer 1

from what i saw, he got a lot of dirt kicked in his face, too get him back in top form, i would drop him in class so he could get his confidence back.

Answer 2

Flattened out again. Pletcher will give him rest and probably gear him up for the 3 yo stakes in the summer. CQ is a talented runner, but the Derby and Preakness have been steps back for him.

Answer 3

It looked like he may not have liked the track.  It happens.  I had him as well and was bummed.

Answer 4

I don't know.  That's the honest short answer.  He just lost.  I was impressed with Circular Quay since I watched him close in the BC Juvenile...  he was 20 lengths off the lead in that race and finished 2nd.  I thought his KY Derby run was still good since he had to go so wide when closing...  and a 6th wasn't that bad considering the trip and the field.  But there were 9 horses in the preakness...  I honestly expected him to be in the money...  he wouldn't be forced 4-5 wide around the turns, he wouldn't be 20 lengths off the leader.  I expected a good closing run, but he just didn't...  I was waiting but he really only passed the horses who were tired and fading.  He beat 4 horses...  I expected better...  especially since he came into the derby after 8 weeks off...  he should have been fresher than a lot of the other horses.  very disappointing for a son of Thunder Gulch.

I don't think it's because the others are better than him.  I just don't think he's running his best.  If he really wanted to win, he wouldn't fall to 20 lengths off and he certainly has the talent to close to win if he wanted to.  Thunder Gulch was said to be a bit of a cheater (he wouldn't always try his best), so it's absolutely possible that Circular Quay just doesn't try to use his talent.  From what I've seen, I honestly believe that if Circular Quay wanted to win the Preakness, he would have...  I think he just doesn't care to try.

Answer 5

Just outclassed, plain and simple.

He got smoked in the Derby, and I couldn't believe that people bet him down to 5-1 for the Preakness. He has a similar closing style to Street Sense, but hasn't managed to get within ten lengths of him two times in a row now.

CQ looks like more of a miler type horse to me, maybe even a 7 furlong sprinter. He likely will win plenty of money in Grade III type races in the future, but he just is not nearly as good as the "big three" this year.

If you look at his Beyer speed figures, he is still running in about the 100 range, so he hasn't really moved backwards, it's just that he has been over his head running against the likes of SS and Curlin.

Answer 6

He could have run better, for sure.  Could be the curse of Todd Pletcher (joking).  I think Circular Quay just ran a bad race....an off-day of sorts.  You would have to think that he'd be closer coming down the stretch.

Answer 7

Nothing happen to him. He just didn't win... Them horses were all to challangeing for him. Even though Quay is very good to. He probably just wasn't ready after only them 2 weeks. I mean, he just ran the biggest race of his life then. Im sure he's still tired! lol

But he is a very good race horse.

But i like Curlin! Lol

-mel