Did Mario Pino cause Hard Spuns loss??

[Mac88]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Because he was handling the track just fine....and that is a wildly over-used excuse.

Agreed. That was what I was getting at.

[smartyalex]

Larry Jones said "he was out there on the deepest part of the racetrack the entire race. I went over the charts of the weekend races, and it was obvious there was a real inside speed bias". However, could he explain why Officer Rocket went wide down the stretch OUTSIDE of Hard Spun and blew past him while gaining ground???

[Mac88]

Originally Posted by smartyalex

Larry Jones said "he was out there on the deepest part of the racetrack the entire race. I went over the charts of the weekend races, and it was obvious there was a real inside speed bias". However, could he explain why Officer Rocket went wide down the stretch OUTSIDE of Hard Spun and blew past him while gaining ground???

Well, thats the big question. Either Hard Spun threw in a clunker and it has nothing to do with the track and jockey or Officer Rocket is a definite horse to watch this Spring. Would lean to option #1

[smartyalex]

Originally Posted by jjf1031

Well, thats the big question. Either Hard Spun threw in a clunker and it has nothing to do with the track and jockey or Officer Rocket is a definite horse to watch this Spring. Would lean to option #1

Well, I certainly wouldn't agree with you! I believe O.R. is a much better horse than Hard Spun. We'll see in March.

[Mac88]

Originally Posted by smartyalex

Well, I certainly wouldn't agree with you! I believe O.R. is a much better horse than Hard Spun. We'll see in March.

I think you are reading what I am saying the wrong way. Saying that since the point of the thread was that Pino cost him the race, I feel it was neither the track or the jock.

By that same token I do not believe Officer Rocket will be a force this Spring on TC trail. Now if you are talking about what horse I would prefer in the Rebel, I still would lean to Hard Spun just based on the fact that while I do not believe track or jock had much effect, I still think one clunker is not enough to give up on himn and he will prove to be a better horse if both stay sound down the line

[ArlJim78]

Lets say Pino guns him from the gate and he sweeps around the field and takes the lead on the backstretch. How strong would he have been down the lane? He would have still got beaten. This horse slows down dramtically in the later stages of his routes.

The answer to the original question is neither. It wasn't a clunker and the ride didn't cost him the win.

Heck, you might say that he improved because his beyer came back at 95, same as his first route despite having a more difficult trip.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Lets say Pino guns him from the gate and he sweeps around the field and takes the lead on the backstretch. How strong would he have been down the lane?

Considering how comically slow the pace was---Pino wouldn't have had to gun him to make the lead.

And another poster mentioned Officer Rocket---he saved every inch of ground in that race