8/24 (SAR): Travers, King's Bishop, Test (G1's), Ballston Spa (G2)

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by pointman

Seriously?

I'll try to dumb it down for you. Both the turf course and main track were playing to an inside speed bias. On paper, IMO, Smith had the fastest horse out of the gate who could get to the lead in both those races, a tactical advantage the way the courses were playing.

On Pianist he didn't try to, he let a horse he could have outrun to the lead get the lead and took his horse's best weapon away from him.

On Let Em Shine he had the lead and could have chosen to take his horse over to the rail on the best part of the track and let his horse do what he wants to do, outrun his competition, close the rail and force Mentor Cane to the outside and chase him. Instead he let Mentor Cane take the rail and try to chase him.

Do you think either Pianist or Let Em Shine is a horse that wants to rate and chase outside another speed horse?

Well, he must have thought speed was playing well on the turf before the 5th race. He was going to be on the lead that race or wipe out his horse trying.