Did something happen to Calvin Borel today?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Commendable's accomplishments might be the best all in all but his Belmont victory will forever be horrible on paper and visually.

I don't fully agree.

The horse who finished 2nd to him was coming off of a 2nd place finish in the Ky Derby. And it's not like he hated the track or distance .. he won the JCGC by 10 lengths later on when he was a lot better.

The horse who finished 3rd won the Travers in the summer.

He didn't beat bums.

And while his final time was very slow .. so was the track. Trippi won the Riva Ridge by 10 in 1:23.70 that day.

Everyone made a big deal that JR Holmes won a starter allowance race big in time only 2/5ths slower on that card ... but JR Holmes ran Beyers of 105, 104, and 101 in his next 3 starts after that starter alw win ... so is running 2/5ths faster than him really a black mark? I'd say no.

[sumitas]

JR Holmes . I remember him fondly as well as that 12 F allowance on the card prior to the Belmont . What year did Left Bank rocket to stardom on the Belmont card ? Was it 2000 on that same day in a very fast 6F allowance ?

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I don't fully agree.

The horse who finished 2nd to him was coming off of a 2nd place finish in the Ky Derby. And it's not like he hated the track or distance .. he won the JCGC by 10 lengths later on when he was a lot better.

The horse who finished 3rd won the Travers in the summer.

He didn't beat bums.

And while his final time was very slow .. so was the track. Trippi won the Riva Ridge by 10 in 1:23.70 that day.

Everyone made a big deal that JR Holmes won a starter allowance race big in time only 2/5ths slower on that card ... but JR Holmes ran Beyers of 105, 104, and 101 in his next 3 starts after that starter alw win ... so is running 2/5ths faster than him really a black mark? I'd say no.

Commendable was far and away the best of that group of Belmont winners.
I don't know how anyone can remember otherwise.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Commendable was far and away the best of that group of Belmont winners.
I don't know how anyone can remember otherwise.

I just remember that years Belmont... 2001 I think... was just the worst race I have ever seen live. That is including all the claiming races that I've seen at Turf Paradise and Rillito. So slow I felt like I could go out there and run faster... and I suck at running!