This is from NTRA...

Twice won the Oak Tree Invitational, with Hawkster in 1999 and Both Ends Burning in 1984 … Other top victories came in the Jim Beam (Event of the Year, 1998), Oak Leaf (Lite Light, 1990), Del Mar Debutante (Rue de Palm, 1989) and Longacres Mile (Adreamisborn, 2004; Sky Jack, 2003; and Simply Majestic, 1988) … Won the El Camino Real Derby three times. Other major horses ridden have included Lexicon, Cause to Believe and Trickey Trevor.

He can, I think he chooses not to do so. Just because he doesnt ride doesnt mean he is not capable.

I see your point and agree. But I have to commend the man for staying at home with his family. Cant fault the man for that. Plus, he has a great thing going in No Cal. Why on earth would he risk what he knows is pretty much the best thing going.

I would also want to know if I could ride with the big boys as well....but maybe that isnt important to Baze.

He's right, it doesnt seem possible that this horse can get 10f..

I believe Russell Baze spent two or three years in the late 80's or early 90's in Southern California...and had only moderate success.

He tried years ago and ran back home before the season ended. He's a family first/career second.

You can tell by my avatar the track that I am a fan of :rolleyes: and I think Russell Baze is a great rider -- but only at Bay Meadows/Golden Gate Fields. He can only win outside of NorCal when he has the superior horse (in other words, the HORSE wins the race, not the jock). When So Cal jocks come up north for stakes races, they blow by Russell, they simply know how to ride better. There was one season at Bay Meadows where you could watch Russell's riding plan in action in the small 5-6 horse fields - he sat off the pace and as they came around the turn, he ducked into the rail (since all the other horses were three wide past the apex of the turn) and rode the rail home for the win. He did this so consistantly I got pissed at the other jocks - why the h*ll weren't they doing this? Russell does fine in the small fields in NorCal but he gets eaten alive anywhere else. And I bet Russell knows that, and that's why he stays home in Woodside with his family.

p.s. No way Russell Baze is a better jock than Prado - and any list that says he is can't be trusted... just my two cents.

I agree with Cajun. Keeping Edgar on Scat Daddy is a great thing. He is still in my top five of derby horses. I am having a really hard time this year picking who I like.

I guess you won't be cashing a ticket then. ;)

Zito....Zito...anyone...anyone...

I think it is preposterous for anyone to think that Pletcher's horses don't have a chance to hit somewhere in the super. I do, however, believe that none of his horses will win.

I will bet Pletcher horses everywhere and anywhere, except in the Derby. At least untill he proves he can get the job done at the big dance. That, and I have not been exceedingly impressed by any of his horses this year. The only horses I think have a shot at hitting the board for him are Circular Quay and Scat Daddy.

Just my thoughts...

Personally, I don't care for Rose at all. In MD he thinks he owns the joint and has no problem crowding or taking an aggresive ride against other horses and jocks shipping in from smaller tracks. To me, he is overrated and pompous, and I would take Rosie or Fogelsonger over him in MD anyday for any of my horses.

http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=1855

Dunkelberger is a very very good rider. Because he rides mostly at Charlestown and occaisonally in MD he is less known. I believe he has had some nasty injurys before and is very picky in his mounts because of that.

If you ever play CT, you know who he is.

I am pretty certain Dunkelberger is really good friends with the state vet out of Charles Town. I swear like once per night one of his mounts is a late scratch on the "advice of the state veterinarian."

I don't blame the guy if he feels his ride is unsafe to race. I also believe that is part of his job, to alert the Vet to a horse he feels may not be "fit" to race.

Also, let's be honest, CT is a place where some "trainers" and "owners" will continue to race a horse, who should be placed on a farm somwhere, just to get some inflated slot purses.

I having seen him in last couple weeks until going through results and
I saw he was riding at Fort Pierre in South Dakota.

Really? THere is a second Dunkelberger out there that I've seen at Charles Town.

Wow, I just looked and that is him out there at Ft. Pierre. I wonder what he is doing out there racing. Interesting...