OMG my head is spinning.

OK here goes in no partiucular order.

1. Joel is a professional athlete competeing at an elite level. That's hard. Sometimes mistakes will be made. Brett Favre throws interceptions. Albert Pujols goes 0 for 5 with 4 k's. This game is about failure. Lose 7 of 10 for your career and you're in the Hall Of Fame.

2. The race in question is especially annoying because it was a 2 way division of the same race. I was named on White Lace Jimmy had he drawn in the opposite end of the split Joel could very well have ridden both winners. Stuff like that happens everyday. Just part of the job.

3. Was it a bad ride? If you want to say that I won't argue. Of course if he gets through everystep he's a hero. Well actually not because in my opinion no matter what happened he was going to finish no better than 2nd. Glatt's horse was a beast. I don't think Lacotah could have held him off. Of course we'll never know for sure.

4. As for Joel being off to Emerald or Yavipai. I don't think so. Last year at this meeting he won 49 races. This year he has 46 and we haven't hit March. He's third in the standings behind two superstar riders. He's 5th nationally in purse money. We're both every proud of that and IMO he's only going to improve with more experience. There's not a trainer he can't ride for. I'm not quite sure what more should be expected at this point.

5. I'm not sure what my being a gambler has to do with Joel's decision making in the heat of the battle. I'll make a bet every now and then but I make my living as an agent and announcer. I have a rooting interest in every race Joel rides so I don't really see the point of betting.

All the best.

VJS