2/16: Ausable faces 5 Wednesday..

[pweizer]

I would never question how these horses are managed but she seems to me to be in over her head. Even her best effort wasn't beating this field today. She may just need a drop into the claiming ranks to get her confidence back.

Thanks again to Steve, Chuck, and Gary. Even bad days like this are still exciting as an "owner"...

Paul

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by pweizer

I would never question how these horses are managed but she seems to me to be in over her head. Even her best effort wasn't beating this field today. She may just need a drop into the claiming ranks to get her confidence back.

Thanks again to Steve, Chuck, and Gary. Even bad days like this are still exciting as an "owner"...

Paul

When the racing office starts putting on the appropriate state-bred conditional claiming races ($25k/N2L) later in the winter/early spring, she'll likely run in them. They aren't running them yet so it's hard to place her in anything other than these ALW's. She earned $2,000+ in the two previous starts, and it helps. And as a reminder, she was beaten 3.5 lengths for 2nd-4th in this same race 4 weeks ago. Lopez chose not to ride her at all today for reasons known only to him.

[pgiaco]

Originally Posted by Kasept

When the racing office starts putting on the appropriate state-bred conditional claiming races ($25k/N2L) later in the winter/early spring, she'll likely run in them. They aren't running them yet so it's hard to place her in anything other than these ALW's. She earned $2,000+ in the two previous starts, and it helps. And as a reminder, she was beaten 3.5 lengths for 2nd-4th in this same race 4 weeks ago. Lopez chose not to ride her at all today for reasons known only to him.

Live by the Chuckie, die by the Chuckie...he will make you pull your hair out sometimes.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by pweizer

I would never question how these horses are managed but she seems to me to be in over her head. Even her best effort wasn't beating this field today. She may just need a drop into the claiming ranks to get her confidence back.

Thanks again to Steve, Chuck, and Gary. Even bad days like this are still exciting as an "owner"...

Paul

I love folks who say "I would Never" and then proceed to do it in the same sentence. Sorry it just is a pet peeve.

[Lightning752]

I'm not an owner with you, but I root hard for your horses.

However, to blame a veteran respected jockey for a 40-1 shot coming in last in the way that you did was a bit unfair.

Did he explain himself poorly, or did something get lost in translation, perhaps either of both of those is possible -- but to put the performance of the horse primarily on C.C. was not up to your usual high level of class.

Again, excuse me if this is none of my business.

[pgiaco]

Originally Posted by Lightning752

I'm not an owner with you, but I root hard for your horses.

However, to blame a veteran respected jockey for a 40-1 shot coming in last in the way that you did was a bit unfair.

Did he explain himself poorly, or did something get lost in translation, perhaps either of both of those is possible -- but to put the performance of the horse primarily on C.C. was not up to your usual high level of class.

Again, excuse me if this is none of my business.

I should let Steve handle this, but.... I don't think anyone is blaming Chuck for her finish position. What is maddening is the non effort on his part.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Lightning752

I'm not an owner with you, but I root hard for your horses.

However, to blame a veteran respected jockey for a 40-1 shot coming in last in the way that you did was a bit unfair.

Did he explain himself poorly, or did something get lost in translation, perhaps either of both of those is possible -- but to put the performance of the horse primarily on C.C. was not up to your usual high level of class.

Again, excuse me if this is none of my business.

Appreciate the feedback and the support. I'll respectfully disagree in that I don't believe my comments were unduly harsh or unfair in regards to Lopez' 'performance' Wednesday. The fact that these kinds of 'decisions' are not so out-of-the-blue by Chucky makes it tough to be overly understanding of the rider prerogative in this case. While Ausable may have been the longest price in the field, January 23rd she was beaten a whopping 3 lengths for the 2nd-4th photo that included Freuds and All Quiet. Suddenly Thursday she's 25 lengths worse than those 2? Chucky chose not to compete with her Thursday, and it's one reason that while he is a veteran rider, his decision making is sometimes called into question. And I'm hardly the first person to point this out.

[Lightning752]

Is your decision to give him the mount questionable as well?

The way I look at it you can do something about the situation, not ride him again, and if you are unsatisfied with a ride I'm all for that. Jockeys get mounts and keep mounts based mostly on performance.

I didn't think it was necessary to take a shot at him here. But because this is mostly a forum for the owners, and you were venting, I'll man up and say my response was over the top.

Good luck with this one and Lloyd next time.

[Kasept]

Again, I appreciate the thoughts. In terms of the call, Lopez' good try last time is what made Wednesday so stupifying. Chucky was put on because we were looking to get her back into races earlier after the blinker try failed. And she responded really well to him last month. And further, he liked her a lot that day and was eager to ride back! Then he rides her 100 yards, stands up on her and says after, "When she didn't get the lead I figured I'd save her for next time." Yeesh... He won't be back.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Again, I appreciate the thoughts. In terms of the call, Lopez' good try last time is what made Wednesday so stupifying. Chucky was put on because we were looking to get her back into races earlier after the blinker try failed. And she responded really well to him last month. And further, he liked her a lot that day and was eager to ride back! Then he rides her 100 yards, stands up on her and says after, "When she didn't get the lead I figured I'd save her for next time." Yeesh... He won't be back.

Hey you could have gotten the ole Cheat C "dwelt at the gate" act? Consider yourself lucky? As long as she improves a little she will be fine in races like you mentioned.