The blocking back

[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.

[tector]

Maybe some people should go to the petting zoo instead of the racetrack.

[cal828]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...610-story.html

Here is an article with comments from, John Velasquez, Mike Repole and Wayne Lucas, that seems to confirm that the blocking occurred, but Lucas said he didn't think it changed the outcome of the race.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by cal828

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...610-story.html

Here is an article with comments from, John Velasquez, Mike Repole and Wayne Lucas, that seems to confirm that the blocking occurred, but Lucas said he didn't think it changed the outcome of the race.

I just think its funny that Repole who wanted Javy to try to duel Justify into the ground to set it up for Vino, is complaining about another trainers possible tactics in the race.

[pointman]

While none of us can say whether it changed the outcome of the race, it was pretty clear to me is that Geroux was not riding to win the race. I found the comments from Restoring Hope's owner, Gary West, that he has no idea what Geroux was thinking or what his strategy was and that the ride for the first 1/8 of a mile resembled more of a quarter horse race than the 1 1/2 mile Belmont very interesting.

Having said that, trainers and owners have been using two horses to help set up another horse for as long as horses have been racing and nothing should take away from the tremendous accomplishment by Justify to be a worthy Triple Crown champion.

[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.