Most Impressive in Defeat?

[Kasept]

Za Approval. Strong Mandate/Havana. Was amazed by maiden Colonel Joan hitting board in JFT. Rosalind likely wins JF with clean break.

[Travis Stone]

Havana. Will Take Charge ran huge too.

[cmorioles]

Will Take Charge. Against a pedestrian pace, he was flying home and lost an inch.

The Fugue was another that ran very well in defeat. Strong Mandate was probably best in the Juvy, though a case could be made for Havana. The winner was clearly 3rd best.

[Seattleallstar]

as much as it pains me to say it, Im going with Bobbys Kitten, just to even hang in there and be in a dog fight in deep stretch for any top 3 placing like that was amazing. Horse could of easily just packed it in, but running that fast at that distance on grass being that young was amazing.

[tywizard]

I've watched the stretch run of the classic multiple times...several times I've keyed in on Declaration of War. I realize J O'Brien has won some huge races but I can't help but focus on how inefficient his motions are. Since he's 6' or more he bounces all over the place and it makes you wonder if he was potentially hurting the horses momentum.

[Kasept]

Going through again preparing for today's show and noticed that Gentleman's Bet stayed on admirably after attending the collapse pace of the Sprint..

[JimmyEllis]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Going through again preparing for today's show and noticed that Gentleman's Bet stayed on admirably after attending the collapse pace of the Sprint..

Best against the grain run of the day.
Too bad his jock was the cause if it.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by tywizard

I've watched the stretch run of the classic multiple times...several times I've keyed in on Declaration of War. I realize J O'Brien has won some huge races but I can't help but focus on how inefficient his motions are. Since he's 6' or more he bounces all over the place and it makes you wonder if he was potentially hurting the horses momentum.

Ty..

Chuck said the same thing to me after the race.. that a domestic rider could have made the difference. Completely understand O'Brien sticking with Joseph in the spot, but after flogging him on radio and in the XB Wagering Guide, I backed it up at the window and really needed Declaration. Even 2nd was a good result. Game try.

[randallscott35]

Surely not aerodynamic to be doing that **** on a horse.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Ty..

Chuck said the same thing to me after the race.. that a domestic rider could have made the difference. Completely understand O'Brien sticking with Joseph in the spot, but after flogging him on radio and in the XB Wagering Guide, I backed it up at the window and really needed Declaration. Even 2nd was a good result. Game try.

Steve.. Great job on Declaration of War though given the dearth of data we have on Euro's.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Ty..

Chuck said the same thing to me after the race.. that a domestic rider could have made the difference. Completely understand O'Brien sticking with Joseph in the spot, but after flogging him on radio and in the XB Wagering Guide, I backed it up at the window and really needed Declaration. Even 2nd was a good result. Game try.

With all due respect, this is nonsense. A domestic rider may have gotten him to change leads, but Joseph O'Brien rode a PERFECT race. Not only did he have Declaration of War in an ideal position from the start, he successfully avoided running into traffic as the horses immediately in front of him quit. He kept on grinding down the stretch and came up short. It was unfortunate that he wouldn't change leads because it very well may have been the difference, but it wasn't like the jock wasn't trying to get him to switch.

On top of that, American jockeys have never been worse than right now. It's comical how bad our "good" jockeys like Rosario, Castellano and Bejarano are on the big stage.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Ty..

Chuck said the same thing to me after the race.. that a domestic rider could have made the difference. Completely understand O'Brien sticking with Joseph in the spot, but after flogging him on radio and in the XB Wagering Guide, I backed it up at the window and really needed Declaration. Even 2nd was a good result. Game try.

I suggest that Joseph O'Brien's ride on Declaration of War was the best of his career...first time on dirt, saved ground, kickback a first for both horse and rider, chasing American speed. He can't go on much longer as a jock, but I'll always remember this mount as one of, if not the best of his career. They were totally expecting to be slow away compared to American early dirt speed and have to be wide and limit the kickback - but O'Brien got him away well, in a handy position, and gave him every chance to win.

Having touted him as much as you did, I'd be monumentally thrilled with the ride and performance.