I disagree with you guys about Desmormeaux's ride. He probably did not particularly want to be on the lead to begin with but the pace was very slow and he ended up on the lead as they passed the stands the first time. Then when Ramazutti decided that he was going to challenge RG, Desormeaux took back and let Ramazutti go. That's exactly what he should have done. He didn't want to be head and head with Ramazutti. The clubhouse turn is certainly not too late in the race to take back.
I actually became somewhat of a Jose Valdivia fan for doing that exact thing. He was on a horse that I bet in a 1 1/2 mile race at Santa Anita. He was on the lead going into the clubhouse turn when another horse challenged him. The last thing I wanted him to do was go haed and head with that horse. Anyway, Jose knew it was a long race and he was smart enough to take back and let the other horse go. Jose ended up winning the race. The thing that won the race for him was taking back when that other horse challenged him. I think he would have been dead if he went head and head with that horse.
Anyway, it obviously was not good when Kent got in a little tight at the 3/8 pole, but what can you do. That happens sometimes when you're in traffic. I don't think he had much horse any way. I don't think he would have won the race no matter what he would have done.
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