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Originally Posted by miraja2
I am no Bailey fan at all, BUT I do have to defend him a little for the 04 Belmont. If he had allowed a 1/5 shot like Smarty have an uncontested lead in a race (especially a horse that he knows is tough to handle) he would not have been doing his job. I don't think he was JUST trying to beat Smarty Jones, I think he was trying to win the race with Eddington. Bailey didn't just try to engage in an all-out speed duel. He pressed the pace, forced Smarty to work early, and then he tried to settle Eddington in behind the pace. Are you guys really suggesting that Bailey was more interested in beating Smarty then winning the race himself? No way. He was trying to win the race (which is his job) and in order to do that he knew he had to beat Smarty Jones.....so he tried to do that. Just like any other race where a horse is a HUGE favorite, all of the other jocks are going to try to compromise that horse in some way....if they don't, they aren't doing their job.
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Why do you think Bailey never rode Eddington again?
His instructions that day were not to press the pace with Eddington. That was Purge's job.
If he were really just trying to win the race, why would Hennig permanently have him taken off the horse afterwards?
By the way, I suggest you watch the race again...Smarty wasn't on the lead through the first half-mile...Purge was. So I don't know how he could have gotten an "uncontested lead" when he wasn't even up front...Purge then stopped after four furlongs and Bailey sacrificed Eddington make sure Smarty didn't get away after Purge quit...there's no rider alive who goes into the Belmont with a plan to make their move with one mile to go...
He knew what he was doing...he was trying his best to deny Smarty, and more importantly, Stewart Elliott, the Triple Crown.