Zito

[Michael D.]

Zito: \"sellers is one of the best jockeys ever\".  that\'s correct, he said EVER.......  interesting ...... zito looking to do the same with TCE as he did with strike the gold: a nice closing second in the fla derby, and nice closing win in the blue grass. i guess he has a chance, but i don\'t think TCE can win running eight wide, and i question sellers ability to negotiate his way through a twenty horse field. but for those who have him at decent odds in futures bets, good luck!!!

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

I\'m trying to determine what is wrong with Shane Sellers?

You get a guy like Bailey on a horse like Eddington and he probably should have been 5-1 or more and he goes off 3-1. Shane Sellers is a good jock to have on a horse you want to score on.

Sellers is winning at .25% this year. He is number 14 on the all time Breeders Cup list. He is number 10 on the active list and moves up to number 8 right now because Valenzuela and Stevens aren\'t riding.

His ride on TCE in the Florida Derby was outstanding. It was bold when it had to be bold and he saved some ground. The bump was a tight spot at a crucial time is all and I don\'t think it kept him from winning.

His Sammy Davis ride was due to the circumstances. Wide post, quick first turn on an off pace horse. Zito surely didn\'t have him cranked. Was that Sellers fault?

Heres his Derby record. Granted he\'s got no wins but how many times has he been on a horse that had a big chance? His best was prolly Skip Away and Skippy came from way outside and didn\'t fire that day. What are you gonna do, blame the jockey?

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2003/derby_history/derby_charts/jockeys/517.html


He never had a chance on Pulpit. That horse was a mirage. (A little addendum is necessary here...If the Modern Bob Frankel was training Pulpit he certainly wins that Derby.)



Post Edited (04-11-04 17:35)

[4singles2all]

IMHO, Sellers is mentally weak. He fell apart after Sonny Hines took him off Skip Away, got hurt a few times after that and retired at least once. He has been crawling back ever since and is not nearly as good as he was when at the top of his game.

Right now I wouldn\'t let him keep me off a horse I really like in the Derby but that could change.

While we\'re taking shots at poor Shane, I would also like to add that he is a very poor rider on the grass. He will almost always move his horse too soon.

[Silver Charm]

If Sellers needs to motivate himself to become a better rider all he needs to do is listen to himself sing Country Music everyday. People at Gulfstream who heard him, without studio edits, are still getting ear treatments.

This Derby ride has Prairie Bayou written all over it. Mike Smith had him so wide in a big field that he briefly was on Central Ave going around the far turn.

[Michael D.]

two things:

1. so you agree with zito that sellers is one of the best jocks ever?

2. do you think sellers can take TCE way back in the derby and win from off the pace?


the answer to the first is a definite no. reasonable people could disagree over the second question, though my opinion is that he can not.

neither of my points made sellers out be be a terrible jockey.

[jbelfior]

Zito tends to get caught up in the moment. How soon before the STRIKE THE GOLD comparisons drive TCE odds way below what they should be.

Good luck to anyone who wants Sellers weaving in and out of a 20 horse field. Double up on the zantac before they enter the gate.



Good Luck,
Joe B.

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

Mentally weak?

What about Pat Valenzuela or Chris Antley or pre conversion Pat Day or Julie Krone or a host of others that I can\'t recall who have had problems to overcome. Where they lesser jockeys because of it? To my mind the best jockeys have a sensitive side that is necessary to communicate with the horses. I don\'t think that makes a jock mentally weak. I\'ll take Sellers any day and I know he\'ll get what the horse has. Bailey on TCE gives the horse no boost. He\'s a closer and Sellers has had him on the right paths.

[shanahan]

I\'m with you,CtC...I love Shane - he is one tough rider...mentally weak?  Isn\'t that why they wear such small helmuts?

[fasteddie]

In defense of Shane (I\'m not a big fan) Skip Away HATED CD; was one of the all-time bet-against in the Derby and BC. Cliff has the best shot to win now and will be around 9/2 to boot!