The blocking back

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

If Justify's not best, they'll be able to catch him. Oh wait, they couldn't. Noble Indy couldn't go fast enough to get up there. He was welcome to try to get a better position and didn't manage it. Restoring Hope kept them from pulling a Smarty and the fair race was run.

Ask tenfold or Bravazo if the race was fair.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Ask tenfold or Bravazo if the race was fair.

I think Bravazo got forced to the rail where he didnt want to be, otherwise I think the whole thing is being blown out of proportion. That race was over when Justify broke alert and Javy didnt send with Noble. He was already a length back of Justify by the time Geroux did whatever the hell that was. If Flo wanted to run more significant interference, he couldve floated a few wide on the turn. I think this is a molehill being turned into a mountain. Gronk, Vino and even Bravazo all took a shot at him and just couldn't get him.

[moses]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I think Bravazo got forced to the rail where he didnt want to be, otherwise I think the whole thing is being blown out of proportion. That race was over when Justify broke alert and Javy didnt send with Noble. He was already a length back of Justify by the time Geroux did whatever the hell that was. If Flo wanted to run more significant interference, he couldve floated a few wide on the turn. I think this is a molehill being turned into a mountain. Gronk, Vino and even Bravazo all took a shot at him and just couldn't get him.

What I don’t get is this: It’s not like it was a huge surprise that Restoring Hope might do something like this. So none of the other horses/jockeys anticipated it and adjusted their strategy accordingly? Bravazo had enough position to run a suicide mission and press the pace but why would he do that? That style has failed him in all the big races.

The way I see it, the only horses RH really impacted were Tenfold (who got pinched between RH and NI at the beginning of the race) and Noble Indy, who may have only been in the race to try to press the pace. To the extent he impeded Tenfold, I’ve already mentioned in the “Tenfold” thread that it is extremely unlikely it made a difference for Justify. To the extent he impeded Noble Indy, it seems like a fair counterstrategy.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by moses

What I don’t get is this: It’s not like it was a huge surprise that Restoring Hope might do something like this. So none of the other horses/jockeys anticipated it and adjusted their strategy accordingly? Bravazo had enough position to run a suicide mission and press the pace but why would he do that? That style has failed him in all the big races.

The way I see it, the only horses RH really impacted were Tenfold (who got pinched between RH and NI at the beginning of the race) and Noble Indy, who may have only been in the race to try to press the pace. To the extent he impeded Tenfold, I’ve already mentioned in the “Tenfold” thread that it is extremely unlikely it made a difference for Justify. To the extent he impeded Noble Indy, it seems like a fair counterstrategy.

Javy said after the race that he didnt have enough to press the pace.
The bottom line is, there wasnt one horse that was fast enough the 3 TC races to stay with Justify and or soften him up for the rest of the field. The one horse that did stay with him was Promises Fulfilled who came back to run huge in the Woody Stephens. At the end of the day, the best horse won the TC.

[moses]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Javy said after the race that he didnt have enough to press the pace.
The bottom line is, there wasnt one horse that was fast enough the 3 TC races to stay with Justify and or soften him up for the rest of the field. The one horse that did stay with him was Promises Fulfilled who came back to run huge in the Woody Stephens. At the end of the day, the best horse won the TC.

I’d throw some praise to Good Magic as well. Heck of a horse and softened Justify up in the Preakness but still not enough.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by moses

I’d throw some praise to Good Magic as well. Heck of a horse and softened Justify up in the Preakness but still not enough.

I think Good Magic is a very nice horse, but I really think Smith knew that Good Magic was the only horse that could beat him in Maryland and once he put him away he took his foot of the gas and tried to save something for the Belmont. He was under wraps late in the race.

[moses]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I think Good Magic is a very nice horse, but I really think Smith knew that Good Magic was the only horse that could beat him in Maryland and once he put him away he took his foot of the gas and tried to save something for the Belmont. He was under wraps late in the race.

Given what has transpired since, you’re probably right. Bravazo had to put up a very strong finish just to lose by a half length. In retrospect, the win was more comfortable than the charts may seem to indicate.

[MinnSkinny]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Javy said after the race that he didnt have enough to press the pace.
The bottom line is, there wasnt one horse that was fast enough the 3 TC races to stay with Justify and or soften him up for the rest of the field. The one horse that did stay with him was Promises Fulfilled who came back to run huge in the Woody Stephens. At the end of the day, the best horse won the TC.

Well put.

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Javy said after the race that he didnt have enough to press the pace.
The bottom line is, there wasnt one horse that was fast enough the 3 TC races to stay with Justify and or soften him up for the rest of the field. The one horse that did stay with him was Promises Fulfilled who came back to run huge in the Woody Stephens. At the end of the day, the best horse won the TC.