I see Jim got Gary Stevens to ride Swift Warrior, nice!
What a crazy race this looks like, so many early QSPs, and likely the speediest of them all in Silver Max drawing the rail. Hobbs is the only horse that doesn\'t have some sort of E or E/P form, and he isn\'t likely to be one of the contenders on paper. Tough to judge a race like this, everyone else sees this too, so will too many people try to take back and it ends up being a front-end race even though on paper it looks like many will get burned out? Tough call.
The weights are a shaft. I dont know the conditions but I guess the Connelly win is still haunting Warrier (and Cove). 7lbs is baloney to horses like Hudson Steele. Its almost August already this shouldnt still be hanging around.
The graded stakes wins @TAM & @LS earn the 7 lbs. Or about $30,000/lb. if my math is correct.
Tough bunch of runner-ups to spot weight to. Although, since the pace will be ultra competitive maybe maestro Gary will steal it by saving a point or two loafing on the rail for two corners and explode to the outside to win by daylight.
Seems to me his comeback deserves applause and he doesn\'t have Anderson as an agent (does he?).
Oops the Connelly was @Hou not LS.
Hey guys,
Thanks for the thoughts.
The weight sucks but honestly, there arent many spots for non-marathon turfers right now.
We either needed to try wise Dan and za approval at better weights or give the weight and run here.
Neither is a good option.
I was hoping for an overnight stake but they didn\'t write one in the second book, presumably because they are going to need to hustle some of those horses to fill out the Foutstardave.
At least this way, we have the option of coming back in the Bernard Baruch on 5 weeks rest and the weights will be good there.
He\'s training awesome and we have a great post, a great jock and a versatile horse who can lay off of it if the pace is as hot as it seems on paper but the weights obviously make this a tough spot.
Was awesome to pick up a win at the spa today with coach royal. Even a low level claimer is a thrill to win up there. Absolutely gorgeous day at the spa today, capped off by a trip to the winners circle.
Can\'t beat it.
Good luck to all this weekend.
GL Cov, go get em!
had the privilege of meeting Jim before the race today. very cool guy.
it\'s a shame Warrior couldn\'t get the win today, I really wanted to see it.
was the plan with Stevens to lay that far off the pace? I thought he\'d be laying just off and ready to pounce coming for home. seemed like everything that won today was on the pace or just slightly off it. when they went into the 1st turn and Warrior was last, I was really surprised. looked like he galloped out pretty well too after the race.
Congrats JC!
Thank you very much
What a terrific ride by Jose Ortiz.
He really won that one for us. Absolutely perfect ride.
Saved ground all the way around and make his move at the perfect time
What a thrill. I had my parents and my youngest son in the winners circle with me. I can\'t ask for more than that.
Thanks again.
JLO killed me today in the 4th race at Belmont, i had 4 out of 5 in the pick 5 and was 4 deep in that race and didnt use him.
Glad you got to share that on track win with family, it doesnt get any better than that.