Kent's Ride: Stride-by-stride

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I spent some time this morning mapping-out what I thought were the pivotal moments in the Belmont Stakes over the weekend. Mainly because I feel Kent D. is unfairly being criticized for his ride in the race.

http://racecalling.typepad.com/blog/...ride-stri.html

I've virally posted this on other message boards too for those of you like me who frequent more than one stop.

I'm curious for your opinion!

Desormeaux does deserve criticism. If Brown was by far best, he should have been ridden confidently. He could have dead sent. He could have rated. Both of those would have been reasonable options for a steed that Desormeaux said "just had to get in the gate" to win. He did neither.

How does he not bear responsibility? Yeah, the horse came up empty but it is not as if Desormeaux knew that would happen during the first 3/16, is it?

It's not a shock the horse didn't win, trouble notwithstanding. 10 of the prior 10 in his situation failed as well. It's tough to win all three, especially on 3.75 good feet.

So it wasn't that steed's day. But Desormeaux didn't know that during his panic attack first quarter ride.