Johnny V.
 

Johnny Velasquez, arguably the best rider in the country, appears to be in a little bit of a slump. Even though he rides first call for Todd Pletcher and is used by virtually every top trainer in the east, JV has now failed to win a race in the last 4 days of racing while riding plenty of chalk.

Is it the injury or just a mini-slump?

It is because he is the most overrated jockey in the nation and it is showing. He is getting outridden by Gomez and Prado and Coa. Soon the Lepar will pass him in wins. Gomez is 52% in the money and a 19% win. Johnny V is 45% in the money and 15% win. That is awful for a jock who constanly rides the best flesh in the country. He is only good because Pletcher puts him on his horses, once Pletchers sees the light and goes to Gomez and Prado, Velasquez will be shipping his tack out west. Maybe we will even see him on the PolyTrack at Trufway--ha ha.

This thread is an ORACLE magnet.

Didnt Oracle say something about 0-5 days? Isnt 0-4 days close enough considering the type of mounts JV gets compared to the other guys? He is blowing chalk left and right. If this were Gomez, Im sure it would be mentioned more than once.

Johnny V, imho, is a great jockey. My point is only that he is slumping just like everyone else does.

If John V can win the Travers for the 2nd year in a row, it would sure be a feather in his cap. But I think Gomez & Castellano win a combined 7 or 8 races easy that day. Easy. Maybe 9 or 10.

It appears that way on paper Gander.

Someone post the horses hes failed to get home first in the last 4 days.

Well I only think it's a fair criticism, whats good for the goose is good for the gander, the fact of the matter is NO ONE, not even Oracle, can argue that JV has not had better horses to ride this meet than Gomez, or anyone for that matter, so if he can ream Albertrani for his slump, you have to be objective here, JV is looking pretty ordinary this meet, or more accurately, he's just as good as the others, his advantage has always been Pletcher. ;)

8/24/06
Lord of Midnight - 5th
Good Prospect - 3rd
Interpretation - 5th
Wild Berry - 8th
G City Gal - 2nd

8/23/06
Zip To The City - 3rd
Voodoo - 5th
Like Royalty - 8th
Polish King - 9th and last
Ernie Bogen - 4th

8/21/06
Urban Star - 8th and last
Three Lions - 9th and last and favorite
Galaxy Express - 4th
Wave The Baton - 4th and the favorite

8/20/06
Most Charming - 2nd
L D's Galaxy - 6th
Point Spred - 5th
Sister Ship - 3rd
Patriot Fan - 7th
Tale Of The Queen - 2nd

8/19/06
Our Cat - 9th
Romp - 4th and the favorite
AP Arrow - 1st
AP Dreamer - 7th
Tiverton - 5th and the favorite
Sam P - 1st and the favorite
Half Heaven - 9th
Adieu - 5th
Dr Jess Jr - 5th

STATS
2 wins from 29 starts - 6% win
8 in the money from 29 starts - 27%

I think my math is right.

In his defense on Voodoo:

1) Gave the horse a great ride and every chance to win if he was good enough.

2) Jimmy J didnt want to run Voodoo in this hard of a race, he thought the horse should be running for a 50K claimer but the owner wanted none of that. He knew the horse isnt as good as he was 2 years ago.

No excuses accepted. What is stunning to me is that he has only ridden 4 favorites.