SA 1/17/10 R5:

BRIDGING

Hard to figure out exactly what Quinonez is doing during the stretch run (the headon is most telling). Hard to resist thinking that he's just flat out retarded or spastic after watching this. What's with all the twirling of the reins? Put the horse outside and get it in a strong drive.

Perfect setup for this one at 8:1 and Quinonez rides like a woman with MS and blows it.

This is one bad ride.

I was catching up on some replays of races I missed today and I just had to resuscitate this thread in honor of Jose Lezcano's ride on Just Playin Around (MTH R8).

Way to go, Jose.:rolleyes:

Yeah, he's a very fine jock.

In the last week alone I have heard him be refearred to as one of the best riders in the country and top 3 on turf in the country.

He is one of the better turf riders in the country.

Did you watch this ride?

He looked like a 10 lb bug when they were coming out of the chute. It was not a good ride considering the style of that particular horse.

Now, you and I both know that he's much better than that on a consistent basis.

NT

What does better riders in the country even mean then? I know just in NY I would take Maragh, Ramon, Javier and Garcia for sure. Julian and Gomez for sure also, they ride NY at Saratoga.

Castellano makes more mistakes and premature moves than anyone you just mentioned. Garcia hasn't ridden well in close to a year. For a guy who doesn't ride first call for any big barns Lezcano has done quite well.

That could all be changing. He had two rides for Odintz yesterday. Becoming first call for him could be a career changer.

I think Castellano has shed a lot of the issues he had in the past with wide/premature moves. He does break out with one every once in a while.

NT

I don't see what the problem is with Castellano. I'm one of his biggest critics and he's been riding very well recently, IMO. The jock that's off forum lately is Dominguez.

Now, for an even more infuriating ride: M Garcia's NON EFFORT on Mission Viejo Halo at HOL (7/09 R3). When, other than shaking the reins in the stretch, does he ask the horse to run? In fact, he's doing the exact opposite in the stretch. Where the **** are the stewards with this one?

I should have thrown in the towel after Odintz won his 2nd yesterday. I guess he's good for the next 6 months though.

Castellano had one of his patented rides in the 4th yesterday. He wasn't beating the winner, but it cost him 2nd I thought, which actually helped me out.

You're right about the move with the horse in the 4th but his 5th race ride was a thing of beauty.

Odintz winning two on one card usually leads to me having a horrible day, which it did yesterday. Of course, David Smith winning one definitely means it's a full moon.
NT

BUMP

Ramon Dominguez, Gio Ponti , Arlington Million

Hopefully, he's still busy trying to dig Clement's boot out of his ass.

The idea that the ride cost Gio Ponti the win is preposterous.
He's home free by two lengths with a 16th to go, what else do you want? He was not the best horse today. and frankly I do not like the way Dominguez brings them home on the turf, but lets get real, he had a big jump on the winner and couldn't close the deal.

I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes the horse just gets beat.

Garcia letting Castellano through in the 5th today was ridiculous. I make him eat fence there.