When Baffert said before the race he was leaving it up to Talamo as to tactics, I knew that wasn\'t going to end well. What the hell was he doing going so wide into the first turn? That dude is dumb as a pile of rocks. All in all, Max ran terrific; I got to hand it to Servis. He\'s the king for sure. I\'d say Max redeemed himself, and he\'s the top 3 year old so far. On to the Travers. I was def. wrong about him not progressing.
If Talamo relaxes MUCHO GUSTO enough to save ground the first turn, he wins. BUT HE WAS JUST DYING TO BE 4-WIDE THROUGHOUT! Bad ride.
He\'s a nightmare. Baffert is so stubborn. Smith was around without a mount--can you imagine that???
Smith would have been wider
jerry Wrote:
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> Smith would have been wider
This was played out, what, 8 years ago??
How wide was Midnight Bisou today??
i really don\'t think we need to defend mike smith in million dollar races unless \'jerry\' above hasn\'t followed racing for the last 15 or so years
baffert kills me--the greatest trainer of dirt horses in history and he insists on using riders like talamo. i got killed yesterday but i also feel bad for the horse, that was supposed to be his big breakout
how do you even go 5 wide into the first turn IN A SIX HORSE FIELD???
Prior to a race, you’ll often hear trainers say they’re leaving race riding strategy up to their riders. But Baffert has crowed that he doesn’t like the rail post, so you wonder how strong a directive (not to be on it) this carries over to his race riding instructions, if any. Especially if it’s one of his rallying types. Whatever the case, it’s certainly cost him (uhh... and me) this year in the same way. Preposterous example:
IMPROBABLE (Van Dyke; 4W4W) in OP’s Rebel Stakes ran a ThoroGraph 1.25. But he lost to LONG RANGE TODDY (Court 1W1W) who ran a 4.25. That’s a truly sad beat.
GAME WINNER (Rosario 3W3W) in OP’s Rebel Stakes (2nd Division the same day) ran a 1.5. But he lost by a nose to OMAHA BEACH, a path inside him, who ran a 2.25.
And now again.
I’ve always been a big fan of Mike Smith back when he and Bailey dominated N.Y. racing. I actually had him in the last race at Saratoga when Eddie Cotto ran him into the hedge and broke his back. Ruined my double. Mike moved out west and rebuilt his career but I believe that experience along with age left him rail shy.