6/16 (CD): Foster (G1), Fleur de Lis (G2), Regret, Winn (G3's)

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Why did Velazquez have Wise Dan so close to the pace? Seemed like he was so freaked out about Nate's Mineshaft getting away from him that he ended up setting the table for a plodder like Ron the Greek to come along and nail him.

I think he is OK. He has now paired up 2 major G1 wins. Not that the division is super strong, but hes the front runner right now. It feels like any race a horse like Shack is in could collapse if they stretch him back out, so maybe Ron keeps finding ways to win. Rumor is Royal DeltA will be facing the boys again soon, if not soon JCGC.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

I think he is OK. He has now paired up 2 major G1 wins. Not that the division is super strong, but hes the front runner right now. It feels like any race a horse like Shack is in could collapse if they stretch him back out, so maybe Ron keeps finding ways to win. Rumor is Royal DeltA will be facing the boys again soon, if not soon JCGC.

Two G1 wins in which the race completely collapsed into his lap. If JV wasn't soiling himself over Nate's Mineshaft getting loose, Wise Dan would've won.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Two G1 wins in which the race completely collapsed into his lap. If JV wasn't soiling himself over Nate's Mineshaft getting loose, Wise Dan would've won.

Ron the Greek was an extremely fortunate winner tonight, no doubt about it. However, I think you're being overly critical of Velazquez's ride. Wise Dan is always forwardly placed, and he didn't engage Nate's Mineshaft prematurely at all. Wise Dan was very average last night, further adding to the mystery that is Charles Lopresti, whose horses are nearly impossible to predict.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Ron the Greek was an extremely fortunate winner tonight, no doubt about it. However, I think you're being overly critical of Velazquez's ride. Wise Dan is always forwardly placed, and he didn't engage Nate's Mineshaft prematurely at all. Wise Dan was very average last night, further adding to the mystery that is Charles Lopresti, whose horses are nearly impossible to predict.

I respectfully disagree. I think once he saw that Fort Larned was going to press Nate's Mineshaft he should've tried to back off some. Then I thought he asked the horse too early (~ the 3/8 pole) considering who was in front of him and the six furlong splits he just made WD run. Was it a god-awful ride? No. But I thought it was panicky. I also think WD ran pretty well after getting mugged on the first turn by FL and being put too close to the pace. Obviously Nate's Mineshaft ran better than I thought he would as well.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I respectfully disagree. I think once he saw that Fort Larned was going to press Nate's Mineshaft he should've tried to back off some. Then I thought he asked the horse too early (~ the 3/8 pole) considering who was in front of him and the six furlong splits he just made WD run. Was it a god-awful ride? No. But I thought it was panicky. I also think WD ran pretty well after getting mugged on the first turn by FL and being put too close to the pace. Obviously Nate's Mineshaft ran better than I thought he would as well.

In my opinion, the difference between last night and the prior two races in which JV rode Wise Dan was that he did not drag him around the track in the Foster. Velazquez had been on a keg of dynamite much of the way in the Clark and Ben Ali. Perhaps it was the bump early in the race that knocked him off stride a bit, or maybe the stronger pace. Here is his running line from the Foster:



Here's his running line from the Clark:



For whatever reason, he was flat last night. CJ or someone who's far better with pace figures can weigh in, but at least according to the Moss Figs, the Foster had the strongest pace of a two-turn race he has been in since the 2011 Alysheba, where he got buried.

[my miss storm cat]

Nice line from Mike Smith...

"I could have ridden her backwards today and she still would have won.”

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Two G1 wins in which the race completely collapsed into his lap. If JV wasn't soiling himself over Nate's Mineshaft getting loose, Wise Dan would've won.

I dont really disagree. I said I think he is OK. Ok as in, no one is really that good right now. So he is as OK as everyone else.