This isn't going to die, quite yet
 

Ray Kerrison's articel in today's NY Post

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06112007...son.htm?page=0

And this, from Ed Fountaine:

"Many, including trainer Larry Jones, expected the free-running Hard Spun to be loose on the lead through a first half-mile in 48 seconds or so. Instead, Gomez - after first dropping toward the rail out of the gate, then swinging four wide around the clubhouse turn - wrestled him back off the pace through a-half in 50 seconds. Since 1980, only one half-mile split in the Belmont has been slower; the average is just under 48 seconds, about a 10-length difference.

Perhaps, as Gomez said after the race, Hard Spun was "a little rank," although he seemed to settle well under Pino. Perhaps Gomez doubted Hard Spun could stay a mile-and-a-half after being caught in the Derby and Preakness, and was trying to reserve him as best he could.

Repeated viewings of the replay suggest that Gomez was "race-riding" Curlin, holding back Hard Spun to keep the favorite pinned down inside behind pacesetters CP West and Slew's Tizzy. Gomez didn't ask Hard Spun for run until the turn for home when Curlin made his move, coming off the rail to split horses. By then Rags to Riches was also rolling outside, and Hard Spun, caught in between, could not match strides with either of them."

If he was on a horse, whos game is stalking, and who's best suited tracking a slow pace...he'd have been in a dream spot...as he was right where you want to be at Belmont Park in a race run that way.

However, Hard Spun isn't the kind of horse who wants that kind of trip.

He certainly wasn't trying to benefit Rags to Riches....that's crazy.

He did have Curlin where he wanted him, but when it was time for the real running, he simply had no horse.

On a different kind of horse, it might have been a good ride---not on that horse though.

Or was Gomez just Lost in the Fog as he has been the last few weeks on mounts at Belmont.

I agree he didn't spin this mount for the best chance at victory but to say he threw the race so Rags could win is probably in the neighborhood of " a second gunman" .......sometimes you just su-k!!!!

Drugs, you are right. I threw out that last question just to provoke some response. I don't actually believe that. However, the rest of the post does not come from me, but from Larry Jones and Ed Fountaine. When we originally discussed the race, we all thought Jones gave Gomez the instructions to do what he did. Now we know differently.

Doc, it was just a QUESTION! Not an indictment, and I will remove it from the post. It does not belong.

I don't understand why it's so inappropriate, it is my opinion. If it bothers you that much do whatever you like. I thought it was a nice discussion point that would probably stimulate conversation today....

Well, I probably over-reacted to your initial post, but it's one thing to analyze and question his ride in the race, but I had no factual basis to ask that question regarding his intent. The articles and quotes can stand alone.

When I read the original post at the beginning of the thread, which has been deleted now unfortunately, I took your comment to imply that Gomez wasn't exactly riding his horse all out to win because he was upset because he was being kept off Rags.

If you didn't mean that I apologize but it was something I had not considered til then and in retrospect I think it is worth examining for merit.

I certainly do not want to put words in your mouth that you didn't intend to be represented by your thread......I am sorry this worked out this way I meant no malice toward you in any way.

I understand that now, my first response to you was because I mis-understood. I absolutely think his heart was not in the ride, and did as little as he could to win the race. Where I went too far, was implying that he was trying to help Rags to Riches, which I have no facts to back up. We originally thought the only explanation for his ride was that he was following directions, but Larry Jones has made it perfectly clear that was not correct.

Sounds like sour grapes to me... Saturday's race proved that Hard Spun is the 4th best 3-year-old through the Triple Crown.

Who was the 3rd best horse through the triple crown?

I had a feeling no one would want to try and answer that one.

I know I sure wouldn't.

I would have to say Hard Spun as I have no fear.

That means one of the following three...Curlin, R2R, and SS would have to get a 4th place vote from you. Which is it?

Uh...come again?

Oh never mind..I see your point.


But Curlin would be first and SS second as they did the best and Curlin ran in all 3.

HS would be third as he ran in all 3 and did very well.




The Genuine Witch horse ran in only one and cheated.

What do you say Sporty Fans!!??









I agree.











Crinkle

Trash can

I still don't want to answer my own question....I have no problems posting about sock stories....but I really don't want to hear about some imaginary bias I supposedly have against a certain horse again.

Did you?

I sent him directions to his place.

Thank you.




And it's fine.....in fact he just called shreiking at the top of his lungs.

I just kept laughing and saying "doo-dah!"..which made him all the madder.









Oh by the way.













I gave your number to Uncly Trust.

When the time is right.....

My raccoons have been put on high alert.

Watch the replay from the gate into the first turn.

Gomez turned down the inside and the lead going into the first turn.

He could have rated a slow 50second half on the lead or he could have changed the dynamics of the race and set a 48 half.

Probably 4th best regardless.

Beyond the start and pace decision:
On light viewing Gomez appeared to do a pretty good job of rating Hard Spun. In a quick look, I didn't see obvious signs of the horse fighting the jockey. If that is the case overall it wasn't the worst ride in history. If however Hard Spun never settled into a pace and actually fought Gomez all the way around then yes overall terrible ride.

Quite possibly the nerdy post of the year.

You also failed to mention Jazil .



He and the other one make your ratings completely useless.

the great Jazil?

Yes...the winner of last years Belmont and also a faster time than the great Wench to Riches.




I have no favorite in this years crop...they all have disappointed me.








My raccoons are in attack mode!!

An intruder has been found!

You know, maybe a trainer change is what is in need here, he complains that he's not in front of the two horses who finished dead ****ing last setting the pace, than says he should have been the one setting those slow fractions, as if Albarado and Velasquez are going to let Gomez lope along unchallenged. If I were Gomez I would tell Larry to lose 80 pounds and ride the ****ing horse himself!

Only thing I would say in defense of Larry Jones is that Hard Spun was all over the place in the front stretch. I think he went from the four path to the rail back to the outside all before they hit the first turn...and he wasn't even going around horses. The ride was curious to say the least.

I agree with Jones on one point...the clocks in jockeys heads are not what they used to be. As for the ride he got in the Belmont from Gomez...it's Karma baby!

I have made the comment before that he is a horse that seems to want to run at one speed. He doesn't have a kick and he can't be restrained. Whenever the pace is slow and the jockey tries to restrain him his performance suffers. I don't know who is at fault the trainer or jockey for the way he was ridden in the Belmont, but I would have thought his best hope would have came by letting him run relaxed on the lead like in the derby.

However even letting him run he probably still would have finished fourth, at best maybe challenged for third. At classic distances he is a cut below the top in this crop.

Very curious. Felt bad for the horse, honestly.