Any else that still needs convincing of Santos\'s skills, or more appropriately put, the lack thereof, watch a replay of his ride on Volponi on Saturday.
It\'s quite likely the horse wasn\'t going to win anyway, but Santos couldn\'t decide whether he wanted to send Volponi or rate him, and spent the entire race alternating between the two, first strangling him back, and then urging him on, changing tactics about every 1/4m.
Oh, and who else could manage to lose ground on all 3 turns chasing a lone speed from PP3. Another ride for the video archives.
Santos is undeniably frustrating at times, but his ride on 17-1 shot PLAY IT OUT on Sunday was Santos at his best. Chartnote:
\"PLAY IT OUT was sent from the outside and was quickly clear, was throttled back along the inside on the backstretch, came again inside turning for home, dug in gamely and got the nod after a furious finish.\"
The guy manhandles his horses, and it\'s ugly to watch, but sometimes it works. He\'s at 18% for the Spa meet, and rode similarly strong win percentages at Belmont over the last couple months.
Volponi, from what I understand, is difficult to ride-- doesn\'t like to be inside horses, doesn\'t run best on the lead, etc. Probably a bad match for Santos, but like you said, he wasn\'t going to win anyway.
Given the solid win percentages and often savvy rides (alternating with the frustrating ones), this is NOT the time to be making a conclusive case about Jose Santos\'s skills-- he\'s riding better than he has in years.
Marc:
I think horses win DESPITE Santos, not because of him. And you\'re right. Even when he wins it\'s ugly to watch.
Even if everything you say about Volponi is true, and I have no reason to doubt you, Santos had every opportunity to save ground behind Grammarian on T1 & T2. No reason to push him outside if he doesn\'t really want the lead. Then, leaving the final turn, rather than seizing command and hoping that Volponi lasts the final 3/16, he gets cute and tries to play cat and mouse with the closers, only going to an all out drive when he senses Denon coming.