Russell Baze showing why hes the best

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Nevertheless, being a big fish in a small pond has some advantages! When you dominate like he does, you pretty much get all the live mounts and life is good! I watched a lot of jocks dominate at Penn National over the years, except for Robert Colton, none did much anywhere else...I always wondered though, are the "big guys" that much better or is it all about opportunity? That's the reason I rank Julie Krone as the best jockey of all time (I know, I know...lots of folks like to laugh at that)...she never got the big horses, always had to overcome the "good old boy" network and still...she busted male jock's butts time after time winning riding titles on major circuits and even winning some of those "Big Races"!

Baze actually moved his tack to Southern California in the early 1990s, but he only had mild success down here. When he saw that there was no way he could compete with the top guys, he left.

Dominating at Bay Meadows is like a baseball player that does well in the minor leagues. If you do really well in the minor leagues, it shows that you have some ability but it does not mean that you are a star by any means.

Show me the money!

Russ is in the Hall-of-fame up in the hallowed halls located in
Saratoga Springs, NY, a track he may never have won at....?
nah, I'm sure he has, but my point is, he's made it into The Hall
via domination in the "minor leagues"
interesting to see his try for DIAZ!

I have no problem with Baze. He has a great thing going in Northern Cali. He gets to go to his home each night and stay in the same city. Why on earth would he go someplace else? Doesnt make sense to me. But you dont win that many races without being somewhat talented. But he is not the best jockey in America.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I have no problem with Baze. He has a great thing going in Northern Cali. He gets to go to his home each night and stay in the same city. Why on earth would he go someplace else? Doesnt make sense to me. But you dont win that many races without being somewhat talented. But he is not the best jockey in America.

Russel thought it made sense to go somewhere else. That's why he moved his tack to Southern California back in the early 1990s. He couldn't make it there so he went back home.

[2Hot4TV]

He must be doing something right to keep all the business he's had for all these years. The jockey can't do it without support and Russell has gotten it for along time. Ruppert you know how hard it is to break in in SoCal. Thier have been alot that left after a short time. Angel Cordero, Wesley Ward, Rene Douglas, Mike Smith....................alot of very good riders.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

He must be doing something right to keep all the business he's had for all these years. The jockey can't do it without support and Russell has gotten it for along time. Ruppert you know how hard it is to break in in SoCal. Thier have been alot that left after a short time. Angel Cordero, Wesley Ward, Rene Douglas, Mike Smith....................alot of very good riders.

Russel is a very good rider. I'm not knocking him at all. He could probably be in the top 10 or so at practically any track. We were all simply responding to the orginal post that said he's the best in the country. He's a very good jockey but dominating up North does not mean that you can dominate down South.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Well,I don't think people mean to be raggin' on Baze.The problem is that Seattle made a statement about him that is hard to back up.The man has looked only ordinary when he rides away from Northern California.On the other hand,he doesn't just win in Northern California due to having good horses to ride.He does ride very,very well there.If you have 2 horses coming to the line,that guy is gunna almost always get up to beat you.I have tried it,and it doesn't work(he gets ya.)So,it isn't just that he has the horse.He can be on one of 2 horses of relative equal ability,and his will get up.He is very confident there.I don't see the same when he rides other tracks.He needs the dominant horse to win on other circuits.It is frustrating,because he does have great ability,but I really only see that ability come out in Northern California.

[DiscreetCat=Monster]

Baze, I like Baze. Good jock that rides dominates alot of fairs.