Forego actually is one of the all-time greats.

They show it on NBC and ESPN Derby coverage. Perhaps you could form a more informed opinion if you have all the facts. He was absolutely stopped cold.

I notice that you say , i cashed on Bailey on Sea Hero, therefore you seem to imply that it exonerates him for blowing the ride on Empire Maker. I don\'t see what one has to do with the other. Desormeaux is confident in his ability and the trainers like Frankel and Baffert clash with his cockiness, and can\'t handle being upstaged or overshadowed by him. My personal favorite , is Eoin Harty of all people, criticizing Kent for a winning ride on Excellent Meeting in the 1999 Santa Anita Oaks, and watching this genius lose A.P. Warrior to Shireffs, who actually looks to have a chance in the Derby. Way to go Eoin !! and by the way, how many Derby winners have you trained ? Somehow Baffert managed to avoid critiscm for not running Excellent Meeting against Silverbulletday in the Kentucky Oaks, it what could be construed, as an attempt to insure his good friend Mike Pegram a Kentucky Oaks victory. CAN YOU SAY CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!! Messing with the integrity of the game. Baffert really was never called to the carpet for this. Desormeaux oversleeps one time, big freaking deal. Baffert has made me a lot of money by the way, still don\'t like his treatment of Kent D. Evidently the guy has atrocious manners or something.

Once again . What does the way the jockey explains a bad ride, have to do with the actual act of race riding in a pressure situation ? Rose had a chance to come up big in the Derby and failed. If owners and trainers are so ego driven that they\'re willing to risk losing a big race just to prove that any monkey can win the Derby on their super horse, so be it. My opinion is that Desormeaux if vastly and I can\'t stress vastly underated as a rider. He does need work in the PR department, admittedly he\'s too candid sometimes , in a sport that doesn\'t appreciate candor. Has nothing to due with his skill however.

Most likely ,  Desormeaux  road to Bafferts instructions in the Belmont. Still only lost by a scant nose , to a horse that probably was at least his equal. Desormeaux\'s normal style would have been to stick with Victory Gallop and leave him pinned in on the turn, but I remember Baffert basically disrespecting Victory Gallop in the media, and probably letting Desormeaux know that race riding Victory Gallop would not be tolerated. MY opionion, Baffert probably choked the strategy, and Kent didn\'t ride his usual ride. Baffert always seems to stress how much he dislikes riders race riding other horses, which is probably why he doesn\'t ride Kent. I don\'t agree with him, but I don\'t have a financial interest in the horses either.

Good to get an informative post , as opposed to wild speculation. Good to hear Kent wasn\'t out trying to rob any unsuspecting cab drivers or on a drug or alcohol binge.

Chuckles, this is only my opinion. One could say , that Afleet Alex bounced, which he did, but, if Afleet Alex isn\'t completely  stopped into the turn, he would would have had a commanding lead, into the lane, much like Real Quiet did , in his Derby win and would have won the race with a great ride, despite not getting the best number. I believe that Victory Gallop, Empire Maker, Aptitude, Captain Bodget, all lost the Derby despite running faster, or at least as fast as the winner. The best comparison to a rider making a difference in the Derby, is Empire Maker vs Fusaichi Pegasus. Empire Maker was ridden like he was much the best , and lost in what I percieve as a gutless ride by Bailey. Fusaichi Pegasus was ridden in a manor that would have been percieved , as a bad ride if he had lost, and yet Desormeaux rode the race, saving all the ground that he could, as if he were on a longshot. That\'s all I\'m saying.

Chuckles, are you actually Gene Short. Jeremy Rose , give me a break !! What\'s he won this year (How many Derbys has he won ?). IMO Rose cost Afleet Alex the Triple Crown. Desormeaux\'s had two legitimate shots to win the Derby and cashed\'em both. I don\'t understand the general anti-Desormeaux attitude you espouse. If it wasn\'t for apparent PR problems (NOT TALENT), Desormeaux would have won at least 4 Derby\'s by now. I guarantee you he wouldn\'t have tanked the rides on Empire Maker, Point Given or Afleet Alex , Captain Bodget or Victory Gallop\'s  as they\'re riders arguably did. If the guy over-slept big deal. Just for curiosity\'s sake, what\'s your opinion of PVAL and Garrett Gomez, since you\'re ready to take Kent off for , over-sleeping ?

The question is. When will Mitchell cause him to move forward 3-4 points ? He does it all the time with claimers. See Ausin Barber , Star over the Bay , Lucky Leprechaun etc. etc.