Most Impressive in Defeat?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

If you watch a replay of the Champagne, the horse ducks in and is swishing his tail all around when he was whipped. The final 200 yards or so when he is hand ridden, he was not swishing his tail.

I wonder if this is why Pletcher didn't want him hit. I don't think he would have held on anyway.

For the record, I'm not questioning his instruction one bit, and certainly not saying he would have won. I just think it is something the bettors should know ahead of time, just like the rider did...nothing more.

I think any reasonable handicapper could envision a scenario where Havana was going to get a wide trip and be tiring down the lane. Knowing a whip wasn't going to be used could have made a difference.