[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Here's what happens a lot.

A horse is loose on a lead at the 1/16th pole and looks like a cinch to win - they get nabbed late by a closer.

The rider comes back and tells the trainer "boss, we didn't hold on because he lost his focus late"

The next thing you know - they want to add blinkers...which almost never helps in these situations.

Look at a horse like Texas Wildcatter - he looked home free in the stretch in the Gotham and Visionaire nabbed him late. He adds blinks for the Wood, doesn't relax well, and gets beat 50.

Bob Black Jack needs blinkers about as bad as Evening Attire needs sprint races on a bull ring.

The trainer should have been patting himself on the back for the good job he did getting this speed sprinter to rate off a pace and come about two jumps short of winning the Santa Anita Derby. He's going to lose all the great progress he made if he adds the blinkers in my opinion.

That's a good one DrugS!