Handicapping Question - Race 7 Aqu 11/18

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I guess as public handicappers in a tough race they gravitated to the favorite as their top choice. Whether they would have stood alone with a horse like that in multi-race bets is another question entirely.

IMO it was a poor choice, as I didn't like Bailero at all, and thought in that wide open race he was a terrible play at 8:5. He won....so I'm wrong. On the other hand he got a dream trip ( while the third horse got a rather curious ride ) and won a close decision. In the long run taking horses like that at 8:5 won't do you a lot of good. But, as a public handicapper it counts as a win, so I guess they did their job well.

Personally, I hope the Baileros of the world are 8:5 every day of the week.

Great perspective, Andy. I guess it was the overwhelming support the horse received coupled with the end result that had me scratching my head, when in reality Military Major had a dreadful trip by Arroyo,(I'm not sure the stewards didn't have a word with him about it) and clearly was the horse to beat in the stretch. On that line and though not nearly as blatant, Castro didn't do My Husband any favor either.

[blackthroatedwind]

I thought Arroyo's ride in the 8th was insane as well. Take a look again at how he rode the 10 horse. That horse actually ran pretty well all things considered.

As far as the 7th, if it hadn't been part of the late Pick-4 I would never have played it. My opinion in those kind of races is mediocre at best.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I thought Arroyo's ride in the 8th was insane as well. Take a look again at how he rode the 10 horse. That horse actually ran pretty well all things considered.

That's the JOHNNY V patented turf ride. It's catching on with all the jocks --even Edgar has been practicing it lately. Arroyo gave it his own added twist however: in addition to taking both turns wide and going needlessly wide WITHOUT COVER on the backstretch, he also idiotically rushed the horse on the backstretch --guess the race was to the 2nd turn for him.

If any of the stewards were the least bit competent, they'd fine any jock that goes needlessly wide without cover on the backstretch on the turf. Those types of rides should be UNacceptable at this level. Of course, we'd be hardpressed to find even a handful of jocks/jock agents that understand why this is not a favorable trip.

As for irony: Johnny V actually gave Trouble Maker a decent ride --and still got beat by an inside trip.

[jman5581]

what is "cover"? Maybe a novice question, but I heard someone saying a horse needed "cover" yesterday (I think they were referring to Storm Military) and now you're talking about it and I am lost.

Thanks...

[pointman]

Originally Posted by jman5581

what is "cover"? Maybe a novice question, but I heard someone saying a horse needed "cover" yesterday (I think they were referring to Storm Military) and now you're talking about it and I am lost.

Thanks...

Cover is having a horse in front of you.

[pmacdaddy]

On that topic. Why is it that cover seems so much more important in Harness racing?

Is it a matter of added wind resistance with sulky?

[MaTH716]

I think it also has to do with the sulky and the driver. If you watch those races, the horses mouths are on top of the helmets of the driver in front of them. But I have never heard the word cover used reguarding T-Breds.