8/18 (AP): Million, Bev D., Secretariat (G1's), St. Leger, Hatoof (2)

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

I completely botched the Million and thought two things pre-race - A - Rahystrada would have to pace-press given how he won the local prep, and B - ONE of the hopeless longshots was going to go forward in Hero of Order-esque fashion to inspire a Dale-Romans-turns-Dr-Hansen moment. Not really, but you get it...

B never happened, and nine jocks watched Dominguez toy with them.

A...well, does Julien Leparoux EVER EVER go to the lead in a turf race. I should've figured Rosario off and JuLep on was the kiss of death for anyone making Little Mike work.

Ruined the day.

I would argue it wasn't anything Dominguez did but a bunch of jocks reading a racing form and getting a little too cute. They all let that horse walk because they had no fear of him going 10f.

You give me any horse allowed to set uncontested fractions and they easily can go 10f, or distances normally beyond their scope. I hear stuff like "well that does not matter on turf", which I disagree with as well.

That being said playing that angle at 3/1 (which he was most of the post) is beyond a bad bet.

People made a bad bet on this horse at those odds but got rewarded with a little bit of luck.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I haven't seen him ride a lot, because I just don't follow European racing all that close....but that was a flawless ride Christophe Lemaire gave Bayrir in the Secretariat.

Even though he missed the break, he was able to get him to the rail, relaxed before they hit the turn. He gradually moved up while covered up and while Colm O'donoghue was doing his Jaime Spencer impression, Lemaire sat and watched it all go down. Then he had a decision to make. Summer Front was beginning to move and instead of follow Handsome Mike with him and go 5 or 6 wide, he took him back just a tiny bit so he could instead move inside. This enabled him to avoid going out in the parking lot and effectively kept Finnegan's Wake pinned in as he was hitting his best stride.

Quite refreshing to see someone actually make adjustments in a race and not panic.

I always think of this race when I see his name...

It's not a deafening hush that befalls the crowd (a la Bullish Luck / Silent Witness) but still... it is noticeable.

Heart's Cry beating Deep Impact (or Deep Impacto, depending )...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P6iT-vEtHM

Horseplayer's lament. The leading rider at Saratoga goes to Chicago to ride the ONLY SPEED in a 1-1/4 mile turf merry-go-round to pay 7/2. Probably the bet of the year, but at least he got me out for the day.

Great for the Florida breeding program (what's left of it), too.

How much did you have on him?