Travers

[jbelfior]

We shouldn\'t be surprised by Rosario\'s ride--not the first time his brain has lost connection. Incredible effort by Wicked Strong stalking strong fractions over a dead surface. He deserved better than to get beat by a turf horse who would have been off the board if they ran the race over a normal track.

That being said, are we not currently witnessing one of the great riders of all time in JJ Castellano?

Good Luck,
Joe B

[TGJB]

I\'m not going to do the work, but my guess is average ground differential between Rosario and Castellano in races they both ride in is more than a path. In 2 turn grass races at least two.

I ended up about even for the day, but hit the Ballston Spa tri and super by just tossing the fave and boxing the ones that could run. Part was playing for a bounce on short rest, but Rosario from an outside post going 2 turns on grass was a big part. Thought the payoffs came up light.

[miff]

On the subject of jocks,Laparoux should be deported if possible.

[drbillym]

Check with Calvin on that

[Boscar Obarra]

I prefer to think of him as the Leper, when named on anything I\'m considering.

[FrankD.]

Mike,

Word on the backside up here is Frency\'s head is up his derrier big time. He is in some kind of extended funk. No word, rumor or speculation as to why. Those that know him say he hasn\'t been himself in quite awhile.

Frank D.

[miff]

Frank,

Never really liked him as a jock but was certainly ok and good on grass. You can see he\'s just not riding with any confidence, not getting too many live mounts either.

Frenchie a Jimbo favorite.


Mike

[FrankD.]

Joe,

JJ is certainly on that path but I\'m not quite ready to annoint him yet. He needs to establish his dominance for several years and win a fair number of triple crown and BC races.

I wish Ramon was not forced to hang up his tack so early as they would have made great rivals down the road in the big races. JJ\'s a bit cursed to be riding in by far the weakest jockey colony nation wide in my 40 years in the game. Bejarano has his moments and the Ortiz brothers are on the right path but he has very little competion from any real top level riders. Johnny V. had his day and is riding wider than ever since his last injury;IMHO he is the most overrated jockey ever.
He made his name on juiced up Pletcher babies bolting out of the gate or million dollar Cadillacs that he could swoop the group from the 4 and 5 path whenever he wanted to.

Those of us who played from the mid 70\'s to late 90\'s were spoiled by an abundance of great riders in the east, west and midwest. Cordero, Jorge Velasquez, Santos, Smith, Chavez, Bailey, Antley, Shoe, Pincay, McCarron,Stevens, Delahoussaye, Desormeaux, P Val, Day, Romero & Perret. The Cali jock colony during that time would routinely field races with hall of fame jocks on every horse.

Good luck,

Frank D.

[Beau]

Mike,

I only bet the Fknnn French Fry at Keeneland. He seems to only win at a good rate in Kentucky but especially Keeneland.

[moosepalm]

He was 7th or better in money earnings from 2009-2012, which put him in the conversation with Ramon, Bejarano, Javier, JV, etc.  He does just fine in Kentucky, but it\'s tough to move into the NY circuit for the premier meet when trainers are going to stick with the guys who\'ve been riding well for them most of the year.  So he gets to ride for Kentucky trainers, and they\'re not exactly lighting it up either.  But, it\'s hard to knock Mike Smith right now, so we need someone to kick to the curb.  Besides, who doesn\'t love to dish merde to the French?

[miff]

Beau,

Frenchie rode the Kee \"rug\" better than anyone there.With the new dirt surface at Kee it will be interesting to see how Frenchie fares along with all those Ramsey Kittens Joys that dominated on the rug.

Mike

[SoCalMan2]

FrankD. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
 The Cali
> jock colony during that time would routinely field
> races with hall of fame jocks on every horse.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Frank D.


Boy do I remember that! It was truly amazing....I still have hope that our sport can re-rally again one day.....

[Topcat]

Think he\'s REALLY going to miss that Kee poly, especially with many of those Maker 6-5s.   Better on grass, but his style doesn\'t fit Spa course, right now.

[razzle]

Socal, so does Brereton.

Taken from Horse Races Now site:
https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/jones-either-we-eliminate-problem-or-problem-going-eliminate-us