8/1 (MTH): Haskell (G1), Oceanport & Matchmaker (G3's)

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

For those who are saying Lookin at Lucky is just the best of a weak 3 year old crop, I'll offer THAT is EXACTLY what was said of Seattle Slew real time in 1977.

I'll wonder how things might have been if Martin Garcia was aboard Lookin at Lucky in the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby....


Martin has certainly gotten him nice routes in his Preakness and Haskell.

Come on, you honestly think a mediocre Garcia would have won the Derby from the #1 hole? His Preakness and Haskell rides could have been duplicated by Barrington Harvey and been the same result, wide, premature moves against complete filth, that ride wouldn't have gotten close to Sidneys Candy. If anyone thinks Garcia is the reason Lucky has won his last two, than I have a bridge to sell, take away Baffert and Garca's numbers speak for themself. This whole thing is ridiculous, he's an average jock at best. Gomez has gotten a completely ridiculous rap here, I'd rather have him in a coma on my horse over Garcia, anyday of the week.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

Come on, you honestly think a mediocre Garcia would have won the Derby from the #1 hole? His Preakness and Haskell rides could have been duplicated by Barrington Harvey and been the same result, wide, premature moves against complete filth, that ride wouldn't have gotten close to Sidneys Candy. If anyone thinks Garcia is the reason Lucky has won his last two, than I have a bridge to sell, take away Baffert and Garca's numbers speak for themself. This whole thing is ridiculous, he's an average jock at best. Gomez has gotten a completely ridiculous rap here, I'd rather have him in a coma on my horse over Garcia, anyday of the week.

You are in luck then, because G. Gomez has been riding like he is in a coma the last few months.

[LARHAGE]

And despite that he still outrides Garcia. Gomez is riding a lot of longshots at the elite meet in the world, Garcia is competing in short fields on Baffert caddies, take away Baffert and Garcia
would be spreading mayo on wheat.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

And despite that he still outrides Garcia. Gomez is riding a lot of longshots at the elite meet in the world, Garcia is competing in short fields on Baffert caddies, take away Baffert and Garcia
would be spreading mayo on wheat.

Gomez may be a better rider at this stage of their careers, I will not argue that point. But in terms of the only thing that matters, results. Garcia has better results on Lookin at Lucky and has ridden him better than Gomez has, I think you would agree with this. If being a caddie was a forgone conclusion, Gomez would be riding Lookin At Lucky and for Baffert right now.

[cakes44]

Garcia has yet to ride him on synthetic. Those trips he gave him would be 0 for 2 on the stuff Gomez had to ride him on. And I don't care about the KD because Jesus would have lost from the 1-hole there, assuming he could ride horses like he rationed bread.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by cakes44

Garcia has yet to ride him on synthetic. Those trips he gave him would be 0 for 2 on the stuff Gomez had to ride him on. And I don't care about the KD because Jesus would have lost from the 1-hole there, assuming he could ride horses like he rationed bread.

Exactly, Garcia has done nothing for this horse that anyone else wouldn't, and a lot wouldn't have been as wide and premature. Garcia is an average jock, nothing more, nothing less.

[Travis Stone]

I think it's rare where a jockey really moves a horse up... certain horses sure, but for the most part, no shot. I don't think it's rare, however, for jockeys to move horses down. Lookin at Lucky was lengths the best on Sunday... he wins with a lot of different riders on him, but take nothing away from Garcia, because one thing he didn't do was screw-up.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by cakes44

Garcia has yet to ride him on synthetic. Those trips he gave him would be 0 for 2 on the stuff Gomez had to ride him on. And I don't care about the KD because Jesus would have lost from the 1-hole there, assuming he could ride horses like he rationed bread.

Why are you assuming he would ride a horse the same way on dirt as he would on synth? He's not Robbie Albarado, someone should have told him BC 2008 was on pro ride and not on dirt or atleast he should have noticed it was.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by CSC

Why are you assuming he would ride a horse the same way on dirt as he would on synth? He's not Robbie Albarado, someone should have told him BC 2008 was on pro ride and not on dirt or atleast he should have noticed it was.

Must've been the same person who also forgot to tell ASSman and Jackson.

But, Albarado is clearly CHALLENGED. Would telling him have helped?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by CSC

Why are you assuming he would ride a horse the same way on dirt as he would on synth?

Because he does. Go watch the brilliant ride he put on St. Trinians again. After breaking into the gate and stumbling - he takes her widest on both turns despite starting from post 2.

[the_fat_man]

To get a sense of how badly Gomez is riding presently (and, IMO, since at least last year), consider the analogy of the defensive player (linebacker or defensive back), that, while pursuing the ball carrier, is constantly adjusting his equipment. You know, his shoulder pads, his jock, pulling up his socks, etc.

Then you get a sense of how frustrating it is to watch Gomez twirl the reigns repeatedly, rather than just TAKING A HOLD, and riding to the wire.

Garcia is certainly not at the top of my jock's list, and he certainly can't finish as well as Gomez; but at least he's able to get into a finishing position -- these days, Gomez can't even do that.

Gomez, at this point, is dangerously close to becoming Edgar Prado of a few years ago; you know, when Edgar started that accelerated DECLINE, that continues.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

To get a sense of how badly Gomez is riding presently (and, IMO, since at least last year), consider the analogy of the defensive player (linebacker or defensive back), that, while pursuing the ball carrier, is constantly adjusting his equipment. You know, his shoulder pads, his jock, pulling up his socks, etc.

Then you get a sense of how frustrating it is to watch Gomez twirl the reigns repeatedly, rather than just TAKING A HOLD, and riding to the wire.

Garcia is certainly not at the top of my jock's list, and he certainly can't finish as well as Gomez; but at least he's able to get into a finishing position -- these days, Gomez can't even do that.

Gomez, at this point, is dangerously close to becoming Edgar Prado of a few years ago; you know, when Edgar started that accelerated DECLINE, that continues.

Accelerated decline...made me think, Jorge Chavez used to be one of my favorite Jockies, especially when he used to ride for Bond. I remember some nice scores on him, he rode one of my few Derby winners Monarchos, yeah my derby picks sux, but Jorge is a case of a Jock that went south very quickly.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by CSC

Accelerated decline...made me think, Jorge Chavez used to be one of my favorite Jockies, especially when he used to ride for Bond. I remember some nice scores on him, he rode one of my few Derby winners Monarchos, yeah my derby picks sux, but Jorge is a case of a Jock that went south very quickly.

He had a huge injury in FL in 2003 and that certainly set him back horribly.

NT

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

And despite that he still outrides Garcia. Gomez is riding a lot of longshots at the elite meet in the world, Garcia is competing in short fields on Baffert caddies, take away Baffert and Garcia
would be spreading mayo on wheat.

I'm not going to diss Gomez.

A couple years back one of my handicapping angles was that he would find a seam to get his horse through on the turn or in the stretch.

It was successful, at least as I recall with a nod to the adult beverages I might have consumed while placing the bets.

Plus, Gomez was hurt really bad in late 2008. Any jockey gets a bit of a performance pass from me at least, when that happens in this sport.

There are "five tool" baseball players.

Martin Garcia's skills are innate. No argument at all that he still has much to learn.

For those saying any jockey could have gotten Lucky home first in the Preakness and Haskell, I'll offer I remember VERY FEW Lookin at Lucky fans here in late 2009 and early 2010.

Sometimes we're all full of crap.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

Sometimes we're all full of crap.

You really said a mouthful there.

I remember back in 2007 when Gomez was tearing ass. I used to tip his valet $40 just to find out what Gomez had for breakfast that morning. If he had Eggs Benedict it would be a multiple win day. If he had cinnamon toast crunch it would usually be 1 win...depending on if there was a sliced banana in the bowl. If there was a slice banana in the bowl then there would be no wins.

I made a lot of money that year. Then he got hurt and I was like d'awww shucks.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I remember back in 2007 when Gomez was tearing ass. I used to tip his valet $40 just to find out what Gomez had for breakfast that morning. If he had Eggs Benedict it would be a multiple win day. If he had cinnamon toast crunch it would usually be 1 win...depending on if there was a sliced banana in the bowl. If there was a slice banana in the bowl then there would be no wins.

I made a lot of money that year. Then he got hurt and I was like d'awww shucks.

Gomez or the valet?