Paco Lopez

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

David Grening ‏@DRFGrening · 3m
John Velazquez confirmed to ride Ride On Curlin in Belmont, per Gowan. Rosario committed to Tonalist.

hmm. Intense Holiday not going? Its a Pletcher horse that JV rode in Derby.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

hmm. Intense Holiday not going? Its a Pletcher horse that JV rode in Derby.

Maybe Mike Smith gets the mount back. Hopefully he'll be there to ride Palace Malice too.

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Maybe Mike Smith gets the mount back. Hopefully he'll be there to ride Palace Malice too.

I hope you're right Nick.

[tywizard]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Maybe Mike Smith gets the mount back. Hopefully he'll be there to ride Palace Malice too.

I was thinking Smith might opt for Commissioner...Arkansas Derby wasn't a great outcome but he looks like more of a 12F horse than IH (who I actually liked a lot before Derby so no real knock).

[Calzone Lord]

Lezcano is another excellent jockey. I agree with NTamm. He'd be a perfect fit on any closer in this race.

I hate to see the same old names Mike Smith, Gary Stevens, Johnny V, etc always get the choice open mounts. Those guys, at this stage of their career, are clearly inferior to a guy like Paco Lopez.

Really, Victor Espinoza is a much better dirt route jockey than Smith, Stevens, or Johnny V.

The trainers are the king-makers. Smith, Stevens and Johnny V. are all very good jockeys and all were better earlier on in their career -- but they're definitely overrated in a sense. Especially at this point in their careers.

If the "Dumb Ass Partners" sell California Chrome to a major owner, and he gets moved from Art Sherman. Victor Espinoza never keeps that mount.

[Calzone Lord]

Look at Luis Saez -- I'm not even a fan of his by any stretch -- but he gets booted off of Will Take Charge for Gary Stevens for no real logical reason.

[10 pnt move up]

Your are campaigning for the guy, all he has to do is move to NY or Socal and prove it like the rest of those riders. Its not that big a thing to do if you can ride and do the other things it takes to get good mounts.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Your are campaigning for the guy, all he has to do is move to NY or Socal and prove it like the rest of those riders. Its not that big a thing to do if you can ride and do the other things it takes to get good mounts.

The numbers say he's unquestionably the best jockey in the country. I've watched him and he is a difference maker.

If you want to make it in NY or So. Cal, you have to get 'made' and get your foot in the right barns.