There was a 3/1 shot standout on pace figures that won the race before Gio Ponti ... instead of betting him to win, I bet a cold double into Gio Ponti because it was paying $15. In other words - why bet the 3/1 shot to win when you can play a cold double and get that plus 4/5 odds on Gio Ponti to win a race where he figured to be 1/5 or less.
Anyway, I needed Gio Ponti to be put up in order to cash - so I wanted him to be put up .... but that would have been an absolutely gutless DQ by the stewards.
Take the rule book and shove it ... what happened in the stretch run of that race was good race riding by the jockey of the winner. Gio Ponti had every oppertunity to go by and the contact was very minimal if it even happened at all.
Jocks can pretty much get away with murder in the early stages of a race, you know, the part of the race where actual trouble is more significant. But they have to maintain a straight course in a desperate driving finish and many times can't even get away with brushing...it's a huge pet peeve of mine.
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