Jockeys/Best timing..inner clock.
 

Prado seems money to me, especially on the grass.He can win leading...just off the pace..or from further back.

Leparoux seems to have a great sense of timing when coming with a deep closer and always seems to get there in time. But I hardly ever see him winning from leading or from just off the lead.

I also think Rene Douglas had a great sense of timing on the grass too.


Who do you guys think?

No Martin Escobar or Alfredo X Clemente?

No..and I am working on getting down to jock weight so I can pick up a few mounts at Tampa next year. Some of the rides I have seen are dispicable to say the least.

You expected better?:p

Maybe it's all those lovely Juddmonte mounts ;) but Flores seems to know just what he needs and when from his horses.

On the lead...dirt races...PVal is the man.

Gomez is another that is good from off the pace...not the best on the lead...IMO

I always thought out in Cali. that Jose Valdivia gave well timed turf rides.

It's hard to separate the top guys. But I think Gomez and Prado have been riding as good as anyone this year.

AS far as the younger jocks,I think Elvis Trujillo and Rajiv Maragh are both looking at good years. They're both just 23 and more than held their own at Gulf. Elvis should dominate Calder this spring.

how???? J.Brigmohan and Manny Cruz are there

Lately Kent D. had been riding like a person in zone. He's having a fabulous meet at Keeneland and his judge of pace has been great. Then there are times he seems to have no clue on how to ride the horse correctly

i'm not a fan of Bridgmohan. He's more Jeff Sanchez than Eddie Castro. He'll win a lot of races, but I just don't think he's very good. Manny is what he is; he's not getting any better. Trujillo is far better than he was this time last year and will be riding first call for several top trainers for the first time. Sometimes things change and I expect Trujillo to lead in stakes and money won. I also expect Maragh will win the Monmouth riding title this year.

Maragh could be 3rd in the standings with that horrible jockey colony, I think Centeno might be riding this Monmouth meeting

I think Bejarano gets overlooked. He can do it all.

He is good...but IMO...I think he tends to be a touch overrated...but he is still young.

Javy
Desormeaux
Oswald
Castro

you catch the guy one time...and now you love him...:D

Agree, He will win the rider title easliy if he doesn't get hurt early in the meet like he
did in 2001, 02, and 05. He will be 1/2 to win that meet

He gets the leftovers in Sar. and G.P.: He don't have the big name trainer like some others. Although, with Guidry going to Arl. this summer. RB and D. Romans could hook up @ Ch. Downs and stink up the joint.

One thing about R Bej. when he and our man Ch. Simon hook up @ Ken. Downs it is $$$$$$ in the bank!

I was betting him before you were born

considering I got about 7-8 years on you....:rolleyes:

That is an excellent point, and it should go to show everyone something. The guy has been riding like a demon at Keeneland -- top notch, lights out. He's been great at the gate, putting horses in a position to win, stalk, off the pace, front end, etc. -- all around, he is riding extremely well.

Now, when the guy comes to Belmont or the Spa, and doesn't ride lights out -- everyone will bad mouth him, think he's a terrible rider, and find the alleged bonehead mistake, judgement call, etc.

I am sure people really believe a guy can go from pretender to contender in one meet.

Eric

Bravo is extremely tough at Monmouth, maybe tougher than any other jock at any other meet. He knows that track like nobody else does. It's like the horse for course routine, and in this case, it's the jock for course. Over that track, he is extremely sharp. He fits the style of riding at Monmouth very well, like a glove, and the track/style suits him very well also.

Roster wise -- he rides first call for Breen. He also rides for Levine. There are two of your top 3 trainers right there. Walder is not coming back and he moved on from Bravo last year. Orseno will use Bravo. With that kind of lineup, you start off with a big edge. He pretty much gets the first call on who he wants.

Eric

The #'s with Leparoux are even better. I think 5 for 6.

Really, lately I've been noticing that he just loves to be wide.

that about sums kent d up, either really good or brutal

Too bad for him he's not riding on one in the Derby.

Kent will try to be slick when it isn't nessasary.

For timing I like John Velasquez. Especially near the pace.

Prado can time a race, a lot of times he is more likely to give an efficient race rather than try to steal a race with timing.

Nakatani is an aggressive jockey with timing.

Albarado does pretty well in some of these mid level stakes races.

Thanks to everyone for chiming in....love these kind of discussions around here.

Keep the opinions coming...

I love Mario Pino on the grass in MD. I also like it when he gets up on a 2 yr old. At this point in his career, you know he isn't getting up on any babies that are crazy or that don't have a shot.