What Smarty Jones faced in 2004 & what Big Brown faces on Saturday....the difference?

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by CSC

I respectively disagree. I will concede one part he was probably at his best at 1 1 /8. However that doesn't mean he couldn't get 1 1/4 or he shouldn't have won the Belmont.

Fair enough...I respect your opinion. MDO was a fine horse. I just dont think he wanted to go that far. Either way, its done now.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Fair enough...I respect your opinion. MDO was a fine horse. I just dont think he wanted to go that far. Either way, its done now.

I understand your argument, thanks. I think and believe MDO's best distances are probably 9 furlongs and less, that I think we both agree on. Now saying that he did finish 2nd 5 times from 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 all grade 1 races. The lowest beyer of 4 races that were beyered was 104 in the Belmont and his beyers ranged from 104-106-117-118. Now beyers don't necessarily mean a horse is great, but I think it is a good measure of his quality in this instance.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by CSC

I understand your argument, thanks. I think and believe MDO's best distances are probably 9 furlongs and less, that I think we both agree on. Now saying that he did finish 2nd 5 times from 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 all grade 1 races. The lowest beyer of 4 races that were beyered was 104 in the Belmont and his beyers ranged from 104-106-117-118. Now beyers don't necessarily mean a horse is great, but I think it is a good measure of his quality in this instance.

At 9f, MDO could be the best horse of this decade. I know that is a statement but i think it can be supported. I always had a lot of respect for the horse. I was there when he lost that race to Buddha in the wood, when he beat Repent at Toga and when he lost in the BC in 2003.

The only race where i saw the jockey get that horse beat was the bailey ride in the preakness. Frankel lost his mind and that is why kent got him in the belmont.

The belmont is a tough race on the jockey because it is a distance the horse has never travelled before nor will he ever travel again after an excruciating campaign on a young horse. The usual race riding techniques can win you minor battles but lose the war. Did you notice in that belmont how kent left the door open for War Emblem inside then closed it shut for about 3 furlongs before the inside horse let War Emblem through at the rail? Sometimes, the jockey has no choice but to go. So what was Kent's choice here? He had the favorite (war emblem) on the ropes and war emblem trying to press on and steal it around the turn. So do you sit back and continue rating and hope war emblem dies or do you pummel him into submission when you have the chance? Do you continue to fight your horse who is ready to roll?

He moved when he was supposed to and anyone in the game would tell you the same thing. War Emblem forced his hand with the early inside move. Racing luck and distance conspired against MDO that day, not the ride.

Now in the real quiet race, he moved early. much much too early. In this race he sat chilly until war emblem made the move and his instructions were not to let war emblem get alone on the lead.