Bailey vs. Azeri

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by justindew

Bailey's decision to go that fast was insane, and he did it because he was more concerned with Azeri than his own horse. Period. If he was trying to ensure the best possible finish for Roar Emotion, the last thing he would have done was run a hole in the wind.

Sightseek, Wild Spirit, Imperial Gesture....all horses that lost to Azeri with Bailey aboard.

Call me back when you find JFK's real assassin.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Call me back when you find JFK's real assassin.

maybe this isnt the real and authentic justindew posting?

[justindew]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

maybe this isnt the real and authentic justindew posting?

Oh no. Not again.

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

maybe this isnt the real and authentic justindew posting?

PG1985 in disguise????

[King Glorious]

I am in agreement with both sides. Bailey conceded the race alright. He just didn't concede it to Azeri. He did everything in his power to make sure that his own filly wouldn't win though and to me, that's not professional. In my opinion, u are supposed to do what u can in order to give your horse it's best chance to win. Sure, in this instance, it was to go to the lead because that was Roar Emotion's running style and trying to take her back and making her chase Azeri would have been giving up too. But I would have expected a veteran hall of famer like Bailey to slow it down a little. By going that fast, it was pretty obvious that he was deciding that he didn't care where his horse finished, just so long as Azeri didn't win. It reminded me of when Woody Stephens sacrificed Forty Niner in the 1988 Preakness by telling Day that his only job was to make sure Winning Colors didn't win, his own chances be damned.

At the same time, Day is also a hall of famer and should have adjusted better to what was unfolding in front of him. My opinion is that it was unprofessional what Bailey did and stupid what Day did. Azeri's greatness was shown by the way she nearly overcame both obstacles to win.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I recall Stevens saying, "We might finish last, but she'll be next to last" (or the opposite).

Yeah, something like that. Totally classless to sacrifice a horse that could have conceivably won the race just because he was mad that a filly had won.

[eajinabi]

OMG. Roar Emotion had no chance of contending in that race regardless. It was a five horse field so the conections got a paycheck nonetheless. Pat Day
was a fool to chase a wicked pace and Storm Flag Flying just benifited from that. A seven time eclipse winning jockey does not sacrifice his horse to prevent others from losing.

[Merlinsky]

Bailey's said it himself, the best jockeys are the ones that can ride two horses at the same time. Their horse and the other guy's. He was "riding" Azeri as it were and I'm sure he tried to every time he faced her. 9 times out of 10 she still beats him because she's just that good.