Hard Spun in the Stretch

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Samarta

I agree and is it me or does anyone else think that Pino used him up on the front end...now I realize he ran 2nd and was indeed coming at the end....I hate to monday morning quarterback this one, but does anyone else think Pino could have maybe done things a little be different? Just curious....

i didn't like him letting hard spun out a notch after the half, his second quarter was a bit slower than the first, not by much, but he should have continued with the ride, rather than open up a bit.
BUT, easy to see that NOW. pino did fine. hard spun did great.

[PPerfectfan]

Street Sense was dead tired coming to the wire, switched back to left lead and was slowing down noticeably

Maybe what you saw as "dead tired" was Calvin easing up on him, pumping his fist not riding him at all in the last yards? Cause if he was "dead tired", I dont think he would have been on the track going a mile today. People keep saying "Oh he can only win on the rail" but what would you do if the rail opened up perfectly for you at just the right time?? Think to yourself "Oh no, I am not going over there cause the arm chair jocks/trainers will say I can only win on the rail!!" Hell NO, you gonna go to the spot that opens up for you.

[pba1817]

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

Street Sense was dead tired coming to the wire, switched back to left lead and was slowing down noticeably

Maybe what you saw as "dead tired" was Calvin easing up on him, pumping his fist not riding him at all in the last yards? Cause if he was "dead tired", I dont think he would have been on the track going a mile today. People keep saying "Oh he can only win on the rail" but what would you do if the rail opened up perfectly for you at just the right time?? Think to yourself "Oh no, I am not going over there cause the arm chair jocks/trainers will say I can only win on the rail!!" Hell NO, you gonna go to the spot that opens up for you.

Borel did not ease up on him until 3 strides before the wire. If you know what a tired horse looks like, he was very tired. The switching to incorrect leads tells a lot, the gallop out after the wire tells even more.

He used everything he had in the tank to win and I believe it will show up in the Preakness.

[PPerfectfan]

If you know what a tired horse looks like, he was very tired. The switching to incorrect leads tells a lot, the gallop out after the wire tells even more.

Yeah your right, I have never seen a racehorse in "person". Only 25 years, but heck what do I know. Guess him on the track today looking like a million bucks, doing more than most Derby winners have done in years and years is a good indicator that he was totally spent. Shows what I know I guess.

[pba1817]

I never posted that you werent experienced, or didnt know anything about horses. But appraently you cannot recognize a spent horse when you see one.

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

If you know what a tired horse looks like, he was very tired. The switching to incorrect leads tells a lot, the gallop out after the wire tells even more. .

Um, not trying to insult you or anything, but didnt SS switch leads right at the moment when Borel turned around to look at HS? Couldnt the sudden wt. shift do that?

Going from day old memory here...

Im not even sure why a tired horse would switch, seems like he would just lose interest, but this is getting away from the main idea..

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i didn't like him letting hard spun out a notch after the half, his second quarter was a bit slower than the first, not by much, but he should have continued with the ride, rather than open up a bit.
BUT, easy to see that NOW. pino did fine. hard spun did great.

i hear ya, and would it have made any difference if he went 23 and 47, who knows.....

Originally Posted by Danzig

i didn't like him letting hard spun out a notch after the half, his second quarter was a bit slower than the first, not by much, but he should have continued with the ride, rather than open up a bit.
BUT, easy to see that NOW. pino did fine. hard spun did great.

I have read this passage a couple of times now and still dont understand. He got to the 3/4 marker in 1:11 and change. This is ideal for a front running horse. He apparently slowed him down at this stage (1/2 --> 3/4) because they got the 1/2 in under 47 which a bit fast but not ridiculous. at the 3/4 mark he had the horse at the front at an ideal pace, it was fine riding, unless I am missing something...