California Racing

Personality · #1 11-27-2011, 11:54 PM

It's interesting that for the first time since Lafitte and Shoe Cali has the three best riders making their base out there at this time. Rosario, Bejarano and Gomez.

They also have 3 out of the 4 best trainers at the moment with Sadler, O'Neil and Dorf. ll they're missing is R. Dutrow.

Dahoss · #2 11-28-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Personality

It's interesting that for the first time since Lafitte and Shoe Cali has the three best riders making their base out there at this time. Rosario, Bejarano and Gomez.

They also have 3 out of the 4 best trainers at the moment with Sadler, O'Neil and Dorf. ll they're missing is R. Dutrow.

The three best riders in the country are Rosario, Bejarano and Gomez? Really?
Where do Ramon Dominguez and Javier Castellano fit in?

You're obviously kidding about the second part, so I won't ask about that one. Funny though.

Rudeboyelvis · #3 11-28-2011, 09:41 AM

I'm a huge fan of Cali racing, and Rosario is definitely in the discussion, but I completely agree with Hossy - IMO Dominguez and Castellano would ride circles around GG and Bejarano. They are good riders that get top mounts...Talamo is just as talented as those two and would get his ass handed to him in the NY colony.

blackthroatedwind · #4 11-28-2011, 10:13 AM

Maybe I'm missing something, and I really don't see enough day to day racing to be fair, but every time I see Rosario I am unimpressed. His ride in the Citation on Saturday was too bad for him to be considered one of the best riders in the country. He's young, and may well end up the best of the best, but I doubt he is right now.

asudevil · #5 11-28-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Maybe I'm missing something, and I really don't see enough day to day racing to be fair, but every time I see Rosario I am unimpressed. His ride in the Citation on Saturday was too bad for him to be considered one of the best riders in the country. He's young, and may well end up the best of the best, but I doubt he is right now.

Key phrase being "he's young"...At times he is brilliant, but there is still a good amount of immaturity.

iamthelurker · #6 11-28-2011, 04:54 PM

Am I the only one who thinks Johnny V is without question the best rider in the nation?

RockHardTen1985 · #7 11-28-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamthelurker

Am I the only one who thinks Johnny V is without question the best rider in the nation?

I agree. In order I would make it JV, Ramon, Javier, Leparoux and then I really dont know who else. I think those are the top 4 though.

NTamm1215 · #8 11-28-2011, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamthelurker

Am I the only one who thinks Johnny V is without question the best rider in the nation?

There has been a huge turnaround in Johnny since Saratoga 2010 I think. He is willing to save ground and get out of his comfort zone, especially on turf, and it has helped him immensely.

Look at his two winning rides at this year's Breeders' Cup. Prior to 2010 JV was notorious for mailing it in on longshots or horses who it seemed like he thought were overmatched. He'd do stupid things on them like send them to the lead when they had no speed or bury them with hopelessly wide trips. He rode Perfect Shirl incredibly well and his ride on Stephanie's Kitten was arguably better.

I like Garrett Gomez but he has become more inconsistent as the years have gone by and if not for a great 2010 Breeders' Cup he'd have had a career worst year. His experiment at Monmouth was a disaster, he was replaced aboard his top 3YO after the Derby, and he had a lower win percentage at Saratoga than Desormeaux, Garcia, Dominguez, Castellano, and Velazquez.

When the chips are down and you need a big ride, to me it's Johnny V.

Personality · #9 11-28-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impeller

Am I the only one who thinks Johnny V is without question the best rider in the nation?

Certainly not and the stats support his alleged ability and your opinion.

I just do not use stats or times in evaluating anything pertaining to this business.

VOL JACK · #10 11-28-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dahoss

The three best riders in the country are Rosario, Bejarano and Gomez? Really?
Where do Ramon Dominguez and Javier Castellano fit in?

You're obviously kidding about the second part, so I won't ask about that one. Funny though.

I think Julien Leparoux is in the discussion, especially if you are talking turf and Synth.

Dahoss · #11 11-28-2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

I think Julien Leparoux is in the discussion, especially if you are talking turf and Synth.

I have a love/hate thing with Leparoux although to be honest it's mostly hate. Not that I don't think he's a very talented rider, but I think his penchant for trying to turn many of the horses he rides into closers bothers me. But, this is what generally works on synth/turf, so there is a reason he rides like that.

He's like Pat Day part deux for me. When I bet him he just misses and when I don't he usually seems to beat me.

Sightseek · #12 11-28-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I have a love/hate thing with Leparoux although to be honest it's mostly hate. Not that I don't think he's a very talented rider, but I think his penchant for trying to turn many of the horses he rides into closers bothers me. But, this is what generally works on synth/turf, so there is a reason he rides like that.

He's like Pat Day part deux for me. When I bet him he just misses and when I don't he usually seems to beat me.

Ditto.

Sightseek · #13 11-28-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

I think Julien Leparoux is in the discussion, especially if you like your horse strangled back.

FTFY

pointman · #14 11-28-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dahoss

The three best riders in the country are Rosario, Bejarano and Gomez? Really?
Where do Ramon Dominguez and Javier Castellano fit in?

You're obviously kidding about the second part, so I won't ask about that one. Funny though.

None of the three best riders base in Cali right now, in addition to Dominguez and Castellano, John Velazquez is right there as well.

GPK · #15 11-28-2011, 11:25 AM

Put me in the camp that believes Rosario is overrated.

Rudeboyelvis · #16 11-28-2011, 12:00 PM

Rosario reminds me an awful lot of Dominguez when he was @ Delaware. He's young and granted makes his fair share of mistakes that you'd expect from a young jock, but he seems to possess that same uncanny ability to get horses to settle under him, coupled with a strong knowledge of race dynamics and placing his mount where he needs to be... Very few jocks actually have the ability to move a horse up, but I'd put all 5 in the discussion, with Rosario being the only Cali representative.

VOL JACK · #17 11-28-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Personality

It's interesting that for the first time since Lafitte and Shoe Cali has the three best riders making their base out there at this time. Rosario, Bejarano and Gomez.

They also have 3 out of the 4 best trainers at the moment with Sadler, O'Neil and Dorf. ll they're missing is R. Dutrow.

Welcome.