Castellano on Winter Memories
 

http://www.drf.com/news/saratoga-cas...es-garden-city

Thank God. :cool:

I hate to break it to you but Eddie Arcaro could have been on her in the Lake Placid and she wasn't beating Hungry Island. Lezcano was just a scapegoat.

Lezcano is a great turf rider.

His long-term numbers underline that point in a big, big, way.

There are very few jockeys who are true difference makers (in a good way) on the major circuits -- relative to other riding options. Lezcano, in turf routes, is one. Dominguez, in turf routes, is one. They are the two finest turf route jocks in the country... and you hear so much about how the connections of Gio Ponti need to dump Dominguez (for who? Lezcano?)

Jose deserves a LOT better.

I actually thought is was a decent ride. Sometimes shiiiiit happens on the turf at 38 mph . His ride wasnt all that bad and she was given a chance to win. Sure her trip wasn't ideal but the fig was a 90 and while turf figs are useless and Hungry Island is OK, she should have won if she handled the ground and was right. The ride IMO was not the #1 issue..The horse was.

When BTW and DrugS weighed in you knew it was a mistake to dump Lezcano, but when Freddy unleashed such powerful prose it became clear that this was a bad decision.

Am I the only one that thinks that Ramon had a lot to do with Winter Memories not winning that race?

Ramon's ride and Lezcano's reaction to it is a big part of the decision to switch.

Another knee jerk reaction to a loss.

It seems the only reason a horse can lose these days is at the hands of the jockey riding them. I am as guilty as the rest for blaming jockeys in the heat of the moment, but after reviewing the races in a nonbiased manner, I often end up thinking that any other jock would have gotten the same results under those specific race circumstances.

Nobody on this board knows the reason why Jose was taken off. Maybe he was instructed to just keep the filly on the outside and just make that devistation late run she has. Obviously she wasn't on the rail and all the blame can't be put on Ramon for his great ride boxing her in.

Actually it was because Toner drafted Payton Manning in the NYRA fantasy football league and told Lezcano that if he didn't trade Aaron Rodgers to him he was fired off of Winter Memories. Lezcano said the mount wasn't nearly enough to get him to trade Rodgers. Castellano quickly moved in and traded both Tom Brady and Andre Johnson to Toner for Manning and Tiki Barber who Jimmy took a late round flyer on.

the " comish " should have nixed that bogus trade.

Lezcano is only batting 11%, worse last year at the Spa. Even Zito has replaced him on mounts. 14 wins doesn't promote buisness. Maybe he can pick it back up when they head south, if Jason can get a new golf cart.

winter memories DESERVED a better ride, for she is as wonderful as her Mom. Memories of Ronnie Franklin on The Bid

Your opinion doesn't get better just because this is a different board...and you are using a different name.

Chad Brown is still riding him, right?

Manning is going to start on opening week, right?

After that last race on Desert Sage, who know's. Brown talked him into coming to NY from NJ when Brown came to NY. They both got a 1st Breeders cup together. After that, it looked like it was hard to get him to ride 1st asking. Brown was forced to look elsewhere. Like JV,Ramon,JC, and now Eddie C.:rolleyes: I still think he will ride for Brown here and there, they are good buds.

OMG

Jimmy isnt taking any chances

Welcome!
You should fit right in.

It's an agents game, and Muzikar is the best at it right now. Its as simple as that.

au contraire mon ami. check who's leading the saratoga contest, I've been on a heater all summer. I even got pretty boy freud home.The best part about it was i made 2 scores throwin your guys in. I don't hold grudges and I'm not about to start now. Maybe if you find a nice Italian girl you'll start being a little nicer to everyone. i know you can be a nice guy when you want to be.

Where Desert Sage finished was hardly Lezcano's fault. But you know that.

It's not where he finished, it's where he started. Choke hold and wrangled back. Guess you know that. You don't spot a field like this 8-9 lenghts and expect to win or hit the board.

:wf:wf

You have to give Clyde some credit, he can spot them early.

Wouldn't it be fair to disclose that " Brown " is your son?

What can Mr. Brown do for you?

"Hey yo I'm proud of my kids too, dawg."

I've been pretty critical of riders this meet, but I think you're being a bit ridiculous. Her race before last Saturday, a paceless affair at Parx she fought Lezcano when he had her up close to the pace. Just going by her form, she appears to be a horse that likes to settle and make one run. At least that is what she did her first three races in this country.

I don't think he wrangled her back. She threw her head after the break, but a few strides out of the gate she settled and seemed comfortable where she was. She had every chance and just did little running.

Fair to say Lezcano was an unfair scapecoat after today considering the way things unfolded?

Castelano didn't panic and dive to the rail, and she wasn't nearly as rank. Overall, I think the jock change worked out just fine.

He didn't panic but he nearly got her beat by riding her exactly as she has been ridden by Lezcano the last two times.

I still think she had an off day last time and the result today would have been the same regardless of who was aboard.

100% agree.

actually Clyde couldn't get you out of jail if your sentence was up. just sayin