The Value of leading at the 1st call on dirt

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I'll have to look at his maiden win again, but I remember thinking that the jock had a ton of horse.

I don't think they should change his style drastically - no dropping back 5, 6, 7 lengths for him - but if he could run from about 2 or 3 lengths off the pace, I think that would be ideal. I have to watch the replay of today's race; I didn't see him gawking, but both Johnny V and Mott said he was looking around....it wasn't that obvious to me. Having a target may settle him down some more; then again, maturity may do the same.

I can't see Mott bringing this colt back in a major stakes for his seasonal debut, but of course I could be wrong. I'm sure he wants to win every race, but my point was that he considered the Remsen a big race for THAS, where he wasn't going to fool around. He can afford to fool around in a prep race, even if it means he loses.

My point is that I don't think it will take any active meddling from the connections to get this horse to "relax".

As DrugS's said a couple of times, he'll probably simply run into a horse a bit faster than him early and he'll find himself chasing (which is basically what happened in his maiden race).

As far as his 3yo comeback, Mott started First Samurai in the Fountain Of Youth and I believe Hold Me Back debuted in the Jim Beam, so it won't be a shock to see him reappear in a big race, particularly since he's now at a nw3x condition.