Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

At some point you will learn that " bounce " is at best misused and overused and at worst a complete figment of people's imaginations.

Here's Premium Tap, who has run well in every start this year starting with his allowance win over Sun King. If not for a bone headed ride he would have come into this race with a win in the Woodward ( Grade 1 ), KY Cup Classic ( Grade 2 ) and a solid third in the BC Classic. His probable " career top " in the BC Classic was earned with the benefit of a perfect trip. Well, he got one again, and he probably improved, just as one could argue he has been doing in every start this year.

Not trying to pick on you, but I know we have an enormous difference of opinion on this whole " bounce " thing, but I am convinced that at least the vast majority of times that people believe horses bounce it is more a situation of a horse being in an ideal situation one day and a less than ideal one the next.

I liken it to the famous Laurence Olivier line to Dustin Hoffman ( during the filming of Marathon Man )...." why not try acting ". In other words....." why not try handicapping ".