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Originally Posted by Kasept
As 5f-7f turf sprints have proliferated in NY and Florida, (horseman like them as they seem to take little out of the horses), no one seems to really have a grasp on how to 'handicap' them with any consistent certainty. Joe Orseno, (I think), told me the other day that fast breaking horses drawn inside are the only angle he finds in one turn grass races.
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I don't think this is indicative of the ability of the handicappers out there. The problem with cutbacks is that most trainers don't know how to properly instruct the jocks to ride these races. A horse cutting back is supposed to put in the best late run, as such, all other things being equal, the only time it's supposed to
lose a stretch run is to a loose lead. What happens, more often than not, is that the horse is kept too close to the pace and has its kick nullified.
For a very recent example of this, though not on the turf, check out today's 7th at PHA. The 1 horse is cutting back from 8F to 6.5F. She's a lock if ridden properly; i.e. not used too early. So, Elliott, in a nice stalking position with her early, GUNS her to the lead on the turn, draws off, and gets run down by a horse that has only sprinted, 2 5.5F races, and 1 6.5F race, and got run down in the 6.5F race. This is like a 100 yard dash runner running down a quarter miler in track and field. It's a ****in' joke and only happens in racing with bozo jocks.
If you've ever been 'run off your feet' early, be it running, cycling, blading, or whatever, this is common sense. If you're on a horse, which is essentially doing all the work, you could give a ****.