Ramon off Old Fashioned

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Jockey stuff gets way overrated - but I think Jones made a pretty silly decision.

Dominguez hasn't won a triple crown race - but getting a 2nd in the Preakness out of the absurd Scrappy T with a total dream trip prior to what happend near the far turn ... and getting Bluegrass Cat to run 2nd at a gigantic price in the Derby with a good trip ... his record's ok considering what he's been on.

If I had to rate one jockey in the country the best route rider - if I have a speed router I want Vic Espinoza and if I have an off the pace router I want Dominguez.

Knock Vic Espinoza all you want - but he's ridden in 5,263 route races since the start of 1998 - and he's shown a flat bet profit on the betting dollar. It's way tougher to do than it sounds.

He's the strongest jockey I've ever seen - more so than Gomez. The difference is Gomez is patient and saves ground .. while Espinoza loves going wide and often makes wildly premature and ill-timed moves... but bails himself out with sheer strength.

Dominguez looks goofy on a horse - and is often obsessed with saving ground at all costs. I don't know if it's the way he leans or what he does with the reigns or whatever. It's not pretty ... but I've seen far too much of him for far too long - and he's better than anyone with mid-pack and closing routers.

Those are the only two jock moves that would lead me to slightly upgrade the chances of a horse in this race from a betting value standpoint. Those two guys will probably end up riding hopeless bums if they're in the race at all ... so probably moot point.