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Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind
Honestly, you all are giving WAY too much credit to riders for having an effect on the outcome of races. I suggest spending time handicapping intelligently and forgetting about jockeys and the net results will be much better for you at the windows.
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Now that's the Andy we know and love! You really don't think Gomez hurt Hard Spun's chances? It's pretty evident that the horse can cruise at a high rate of speed, Derby fractions of 22 4/5, 46 1/5, 111 and 137 under no urging, and he still ran his last quarter quicker than the previous. The 3 horses that tried to run with him for the 1st half mile in the Derby finished 17th, 19th and 20th. So if Hard Spun is allowed to "cruise" on his own for the opening 3/4's of a mile on Saturday, how far in front is he after 6f? How are they going to catch him rallying from 10 lengths plus back when he hasn't even taken a deep breath to that point?
Do you believe Larry Jones when he says he told Gomez to go to the lead?
He had the rail wide open going into that first turn and could have had it easily, but decided he'd rather be 5 wide, choking the life out of his animal in order to pin Curlin down on the rail.
I know this is all Monday morning QBing, as I for one thought what Pino did in the Preakness was inexcusable and was all for the change. But unfortunately Go-Go's strength is with off the pace runners, not front end horses (my opinion of course). I guess Jones was in a tough spot since Gomez was probably the best available, just not for that horse.
Andy, I know you aren't into the whole jockey thing but do you have an opinion on who may have been a better fit for Hard Spun, besides Pino and I guess Johnny V, who was probably still waiting on Pletcher to decide on CQ?