McLaughlin and Jara

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Garcia rode pretty well for McLaughlin over the winter and I think Kiaran realized that he is a very underrated rider. He seems to be very adept at getting horses into a good spot and he is a terrific finisher. Great addition to the colony in lieu of guys like Mike Smith and S. Bridgmohan.

NT

Yeah

He's got that stay-inside-entering-the-stretch-and-pray-for-room-rather-than bouncing-out-immediately-and-then-eventually-have-to-bounce-out-cause- nothing-opened-up-and-finish-FULL-of-RUN-with-what-was-probably-the-best-horse

move down to perfection. Cause, he practices it almost every day on the turf at Belmont.

[ELA]

Jara has talent. He has ability. Part of that is that he is stone-cold cool -- ice running through his veins. That doesn't help always when riding day to day, racehorses, green horses, horses that aren't placed well, etc. He is a guy who can "ride great" but is not yet near the "great rider" plateau.

Now, with that in mind, McLaughlin didn't have a great deal of power at every meet. He has superstars, but his barn is diverse. Garcia's agent worked very hard to get him into a spot in that barn, along with Contessa, and for certain owners as well. What hurt Jara is when he and Randy Romero split. That was not a change in agent move -- that was a political move. Gatewood Bell did not have experience as an agent -- other than assisting Randy -- and not as an agent for a rider who was at a very crucial point. There is a very complex dynamic here. Watch what happens to any jock who gets "caught" -- coming back from an injury, not having regular go-to business and mounts, etc. Even in accomplishing what he accomplished, look at the stats of the horses Jara rode on a day to day basis. Gatewood Bell couldn't even get Jara mounts as of late.

Eric

[ELA]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Do you really think Jara can ride "great"? What am I missing? I agree the agent change hurt some business, but it shouldn't have hurt much McLaughlin business as Bell is the relative of someone high up at Darley.

I think there is a huge difference between someone who can ride great -- on occasion, on an isolated basis, etc. and someone who is a great rider. I've seen Jara ride great, and more importantly he has talent. The agent change did hurt -- and hurt huge both inside and outside McLaughlin. Gatewood being Jimmy's son would, for all intents and purposes, be irrelevant outside McLaughlin's barn. My point is that McLaughlin didn't have the kind of barn that could -- in and of itself -- make, support, etc. Jara. Not every owner would let McLaughling make the call and use Jara. Not every owner, making the call, would use Jara.

I don't think the stats tell the whole story, both positive and negative.

Eric

[ELA]

BTW, regarding Jara, let's not forget he is very much in the infancy of his career. He still doesn't have the experience of riding in, say, 5000 races or so and seeing, feeling, experiencing the everyday, horse in and horse out nuances that eventually need to be second nature. That is just one aspect that shows or reveals talent and ability. Often it's hidden to the non-expert eye.

I noticed him early on -- when Chocolate brought him here. But I really started watching him very closely when I heard certain people -- people who anyone would truly consider an expert -- make some pretty bold statements about him, his talent, ability, etc.

Hopefully one day we will see the talent and ability blossom and flourish.

Eric

[blackthroatedwind]

I think Jara is an extremely mediocre rider.....on a good day.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I guess, although McLaughlin basically supported him last year with a bit of help from Mott. He has some talent, but day to day he's mediocre IMO. Did you happen to watch him this winter at Gulfstream? Wasn't pretty. I know he's very young and all, but he has a long way to go and I feel like he is one mistake from losing Invasor and then he'll be lucky to get any mounts in NY.

No doubt he is still "raw" on a day to day basis. But I look at what he's riding on a day to day basis. You play the cards your dealt, or fold and sit in the room. Randy had a big-picture plan with Jara. Bell not only didn't, but really had no idea what he was doing. Is Bell going to get credibility walking into Mott's barn? Does Bell's opinion count for anything? He couldn't play one spot off the other, look at the lay of the potential field, know who was eligible and likely to go where, etc. -- all the things a good agent does.

I watched him this winter -- and although I am not an agent, strategically speaking, I don't think he had any business being at that meet. I knew as soon as he announced he was splitting with Randy, and going to FL, you wouldn't get a fair picture. I didn't think he'd even survive and the move would hurt his career -- which it did. I think a more accurate assessment could have been made last year when he started riding second call (to Cornelio, who was riding like a demon on the turf) for Mott. He wasn't getting first calls on favorites, but he really made the most of the spots -- and they were spots and rides that for the most part would go unoticed to the large majority. Riding for Mott in the winter isn't going to propel you, your stats, nor get you serious exposure. Mott isn't unleashing his barn, best horses for their best races, etc. for Gulfstream.

Anyway, I for one would like to see his "book" and career handled well, and see him have the opportunity to reach the potential many feel he has.

Eric