Mike Smith takes off 'Bird for Belmont

blackthroatedwind · #1 05-18-2009, 12:29 PM

Unless Gomez is getting the mount back on Dunkirk, the Belmont winner, I bet he is trying hard to ride Mine That Bird......as are about ten riders.

CSC · #2 05-18-2009, 12:45 PM

Honestly MTB hasn't had who I would regard as a top rider on him yet, Chantal, Lambert, Borel, Smith. If Wooley makes the right choice the horse is bound to get a jockey upgrade in the Belmont.

MaTH716 · #3 05-18-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSC

Honestly MTB hasn't had who I would regard as a top rider on him yet, Chantal, Lambert, Borel, Smith. If Wooley makes the right choice the horse is bound to get a jockey upgrade in the Belmont.

He won the Kentucky Derby and ran 2nd in the Preakness to a supieror horse. I really don't know what you are expecting from a jockey upgrade.

CSC · #4 05-18-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

He won the Kentucky Derby and ran 2nd in the Preakness to a supieror horse. I really don't know what you are expecting from a jockey upgrade.

They were good rides, it would be less than credible to even infer they weren't, however in the long run the chances of good rides with these 2 diminishes IMO.

NTamm1215 · #5 05-18-2009, 01:20 PM

If Rachel goes I'd like to see either Dominguez or Gomez on Mine That Bird.

NT

the_fat_man · #6 05-18-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

If Rachel goes I'd like to see either Dominguez or Gomez on Mine That Bird.

NT

Dominguez for sure; GG would 'over power' him.

Left Bank · #7 05-18-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Dominguez for sure; GG would 'over power' him.

Agreed,Big Time!Gomez would beat the sh.it out of him.

kgar311 · #8 05-18-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

If Rachel goes I'd like to see either Dominguez or Gomez on Mine That Bird.

NT

If they were smart like they were in the derby they would put up a local jock that knows the track and when to put the trigger. Why doesnt Rajiv get much press around here I think he would be a nice fit for the horse

NTamm1215 · #9 05-18-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgar311

If they were smart like they were in the derby they would put up a local jock that knows the track and when to put the trigger. Why doesnt Rajiv get much press around here I think he would be a nice fit for the horse

Dominguez and Gomez are Belmont regulars now and both excel, at least in my opinion, with horses coming from off the pace.

Rajiv Maragh is steadily improving but is not near the caliber of RD or GG.

NT

pointman · #10 05-18-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgar311

If they were smart like they were in the derby they would put up a local jock that knows the track and when to put the trigger. Why doesnt Rajiv get much press around here I think he would be a nice fit for the horse

The top jocks are local to Belmont. Wooley will have no problem getting a top jock to ride.

VOL JACK · #11 05-18-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

If Rachel goes I'd like to see either Dominguez or Gomez on Mine That Bird.

NT

I'd like to see Casey Lambert back on him...Since BTW thinks it doesn't matter.

JerseyJ · #12 05-18-2009, 04:24 PM

Speaking of Maragh, I still can't get the image out of my head of maybe 2 or 3years ago on Derby Day when I bet Al Basha in a comeback race I believe, and Rajiv Maragh is riding him, he suddenly spurts to a 3-length lead or so in midstretch, and I think I am home free, and then whoops, all of a sudden Maragh just falls off...

MaTH716 · #13 05-18-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSC

They were good rides, it would be less than credible to even infer they weren't, however in the long run the chances of good rides diminishes IMO.

You make it sound like guys like Gomez, Dominguez, Prado (whoever you are considering top tier jockeys) are incapable of giving a bum ride. Whoever gets him next probably won't have to worry about navigating around 12 or 18 other horses, the way Borel and Smith did. But reguardless, he seems to be a nice horse (I'll admit I was wrong and thought that he would be off the board at Pimlico) and reguardless who is on him I think he has a good shot in NY if he runs.

CSC · #14 05-18-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

You make it sound like guys like Gomez, Dominguez, Prado (whoever you are considering top tier jockeys) are incapable of giving a bum ride. Whoever gets him next probably won't have to worry about navigating around 12 or 18 other horses, the way Borel and Smith did. But reguardless, he seems to be a nice horse (I'll admit I was wrong and thought that he would be off the board at Pimlico) and reguardless who is on him I think he has a good shot in NY if he runs.

Riding at Belmont is alot different than riding at other tracks, being that it is a 1 1/2 oval. Regardless of what I believe, given that N.Y boasts a very deep Jockey colony I have no trouble asserting that Mine That Bird will not be hurt by Smith's departure. I see the obvious names have been mentioned already but you could name any of the top current 9 in the standings and you would probably gain something on the Jockey change. Borel is good at CD, but did anyone watch him at Oaklawn? Personally I would love to see Lezcano get the chance on the big stage, his style would suit MTB's preferred running style.

gales0678 · #15 05-18-2009, 05:19 PM

I would use the Mig - Richard Miglore

jpops757 · #16 05-18-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSC

Riding at Belmont is alot different than riding at other tracks, being that it is a 1 1/2 oval. Regardless of what I believe, given that N.Y boasts a very deep Jockey colony I have no trouble asserting that Mine That Bird will not be hurt by Smith's departure. I see the obvious names have been mentioned already but you could name any of the top current 9 in the standings and you would probably gain something on the Jockey change. Borel is good at CD, but did anyone watch him at Oaklawn? Personally I would love to see Lezcano get the chance on the big stage, his style would suit MTB's preferred running style.

He won several riding titles at Hot Springs before he moved to CD. Very few times taking Borel of would be an upgrade, Wy is it so popular to downgrade him? If he has the horse he knows where the lilly pads are and will help a horse win the race either in thr lead or closing.

johnny pinwheel · #17 05-19-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

He won the Kentucky Derby and ran 2nd in the Preakness to a supieror horse. I really don't know what you are expecting from a jockey upgrade.

i don't know about that. i thought his trip in the preakness was a little shaky. they can get someone better than mike smith. that horse ran huge to get second from where he came from on the pimlico track.

Seattleallstar · #18 05-19-2009, 10:51 AM

Mike Smith is no saint, they know what they are doing, why possibly ruin any future rides with Moss/Shireffs. Especially with Zenyatta and his regulars in socal.

jpops757 · #19 05-18-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSC

Honestly MTB hasn't had who I would regard as a top rider on him yet, Chantal, Lambert, Borel, Smith. If Wooley makes the right choice the horse is bound to get a jockey upgrade in the Belmont.

after looking back and listening to bailey and stevens, ther wasnt another jockey that would have found the inside move that Borel made in the derby. Noone would have scraped the paint like Calvin. It gets old all this stuff about luck. He does this consistsntly, so it must be more than luck.

Scav · #20 05-18-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Unless Gomez is getting the mount back on Dunkirk, the Belmont winner, I bet he is trying hard to ride Mine That Bird......as are about ten riders.

He really did run a huge race in the Preakness, completely shocking but nice to see that maybe he isn't the worst Derby winner evah...