Steppenwolfer

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by herkhorse

So you're saying you wouldn't bet Steppenwolfer off that race? It looked to me like he was real game getting up for 2nd when he did get clear.

When is the last time he actually won a race?

I think it's exactly the kind of situation people get themselves in trouble with. First of all, what kind of price will he be next time? What are the chances it's is as weak a field? Hell, Sabre Baby, the ultimate perfect trip suck-up, won the race.

To me, Steppenwolfer is the classic trap/bad trip people fall for. They see a horse that should have won, but fail to realize his winning would have been with the benefit of a perfect trip against a questionable field, and somehow over elevate his performance.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Hell, Sabre Baby, the ultimate perfect trip suck-up, won the race.

I didn't think that Sabre Baby ran bad at all against English Channel, however, at first glance, it appears that in his last race he basically sucks up inside and doesn't really run in the stretch, while Rock Lobster has a wide trip and runs better in the lane. A closer look, however, reveals that SB was stuck behind horses the length of the stretch in the GP race.

It was then a little bit interesting that Rock Lobster (and, to a certain extent, Steppenwolfer) gets a perfect drafting trip while SB is outside and breaking wind the entire race. Rock Lobster also seemed to lack a bit of room in the stretch but didn't do much running when he finally got clear.

What's a bit hard to take on the turf (at Belmont) these days is that all the jocks are riding as if they were at Saratoga or Aqueduct. They're all trying to save ground inside and hoping to find room when they enter the stretch. Channing Hill is particular guilty of this and has blown at least 2 rides ---in one of which, he was lucky to not get killed.

WTF, this is Belmont, and especially on the wider turf, having a clear, wide run in the lane is the way to go.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

What's a bit hard to take on the turf (at Belmont) these days is that all the jocks are riding as if they were at Saratoga or Aqueduct. They're all trying to save ground inside and hoping to find room when they enter the stretch. Channing Hill is particular guilty of this and has blown at least 2 rides ---in one of which, he was lucky to not get killed.

WTF, this is Belmont, and especially on the wider turf, having a clear, wide run in the lane is the way to go.

TFM,

Great post.. So right. Just again now in the BEL 6th.. C. Hill on Ubillio's #2 and Edgar on Matz' #9 (to a lesser extent).. Goes around covered up the entire way and never get a chance to really make a bid. Odd way to attack a race.