Today's fifth and sixth races provided studies in everyday race riding and illustrated the fine line between a "smart ride" and a "foolist attempt".
In the fifth, Taylor Rice was again married to the rail and damn near clipped heels entering the stretch. She pulled Giant Fox into the two-to-three path in the lane around the 3/16ths pole for clear sailing to the wire. Manages to earn a smart ride despite poor tactics.
Corey Lanerie took race six after nearly mounting the inner rail with Edie in a race that clearly indicated he will struggle mightily heading into Saratoga and will burn more money for punters than expected. Barely gets a smart ride done here but could have easily been shut off.
Is it just me or has this Belmont meeting been peppered with jockeys who are just unable or unwilling to get their horses into a positive position heading into the far turn? This meeting has been filled with three and four wide trips around the final turn and ram-and-cram attempts on the rail. Perhaps this is a function of not using speed up front in races and turning all too many races into a quarter mile sprint.
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