It is too bad to read that he won't be going to the Belmont, but that's probably a good move for Bodemeister. As was stated several times in this thread, the horse is probably not bred for that distance, and that accompanied by the pretty strenuous number of starts lately makes it a reasonable race to skip. Sad for the sport, really sad for NBC, but good for the horse.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

I don't have all that much interesting to add (some will say that's nothing new, but just a quick two points):

1.) I certainly understand why Bodemeister isn't going to Belmont, and I have no doubt that it is the right move in the management of the horse. Still, it would have nice to see an Affirmed/Alydar or, conversely, Sunday Silence/Easy Goer situation in a couple of weeks. Rivalry is good for the sport. But that's selfish on my part, and we should get more matchups between the two before the season is over.

2.) If IHA or Bodemeister didn't exist, the hype right now for either one would be off the charts. Without IHA, Bodemeister wins the Derby after crippling fractions, then wins the Preakness by about nine lengths and a very, very strong speed rating. After a couple of down seasons, we've been blessed with two very, very good three year olds this year.

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Fire Phil Emery

Sarah Jessica Parker

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The length that they were ahead of the other horses amazed me, and told me how could these 2 horses were.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

So Bodemeister is the LeBron of horse racing?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He's run very well both times. Like I said, if IHA didn't exist he would be getting massive publicity right now, way more so than IHA. He'll win his fair share of Grade I races if he stays healthy and isn't prematurely retired.

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Fire Phil Emery

Safe to say we'll see IHA and Bodemeister in the Breeder's Cup in November?

I wouldn't bet on that right now. I would guess that regardless of outcome IHA is going to get a long rest after The Belmont. I'm not sure what Baffert's plan for Bodemeister is. Maybe the Jim Dandy and Travers. And if it were me, I'd be really reluctant to try to tackle old horses at a buck and a quarter with Bodemeister if he absolutely has to race on the lead. A lot of shit can happen between now and November.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

He'll end up at Santa Anita one way or another, assuming he's healthy. How he handles Saratoga will probably determine whether he goes a mile or 10 furlongs. The mile division is pretty darn good right now though, between Shackleford and Caleb's Posse.

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Fire Phil Emery

Ahhhh, my 2 favorites.

If IHA wins the Belmont, I don't see why they would race him again. He's be worth millions in breeding. (50% of Smarty Jones breeding rights went for 20M)