Kent Desormeaux to ride Casino Drive?
 

This seems a little odd unless Desormeaux knows something about Big Brown not running in the Belmont. Why would a trainer put this guy on his horse knowing he will not be available for the one race that brought Casino Drive over here. Either Kent Desormeaux has a really good agent or the trainer is not very smart. Probably both.

Uh is there a link to a story or did you get this info fourthhand from Lonnie the OTB mush?

I got it from a person directly connected to the horse. This isn't a question of will he be riding, it is a question of why he is riding him. KD has the mount.

I think you're reading too much into this.

If Big Brown wins the Preakness, and moves on to the Belmont, Desormeaux will be riding- end of story.

Of course he will. So why would a trainer use a rider that he knows he isn't going to have for the Belmont? Wouldn't a trainer put a jockey on the horse that he knows will have ridden him one time before? There are a ton of jockeys out there that will be available for the belmont and peter pan.

How did KD get the mount on BB anyway? didnt Prado ride him at saratoga? And since Edgar is first call for Dutrow, and KD never seems to ride for him seems weird KD got the call.

Jeremy Rose had the original mount.

From DRF story

Kent Desormeaux, who won the Kentucky Derby aboard Big Brown, will ride Casino Drive in the Peter Pan.
http://www.drf.com/news/article/94363.html

Yeah, I think Prado was the rider that was named but had a spill earlier in the day, or something like that.

This is just a guess, but it might have something to do with the fact that the "jock who has ridden him before" angle makes virtually no difference whatsoever.

I know I could name a few I'd rather avoid... but yes, you're right, at this level, they're largely similar.

Kent also rode Cool Coal Man in the Blue Grass. Where were the Clouseaus then?

Deep breaths.

Exactly. Worry about today and let tomorrow take care of itself.

If jocks aren't that important than I think they could find quite a few that will be available for the Peter Pan and Belmont. This is Belmont Park. There are a ton of top jockeys there.

KD has a reputation for not showing up sometimes. I wouldn't want him to not show up on my horse knowing that my horse might be a threat to his star mount down the road.

No. I just don't see any reason to not put a jockey on the horse that will be riding him in the Belmont. It is foolish. Pick a jockey for the Belmont and put him on the horse for the Peter Pan.

He won't run poorly. It probably will be a 6-7 horse field and 3 or 4 of them won't be able to run 12f. Casino Drive obviously has the pedigree to go 12f. He will hit the board and be a serious threat to win if BB doesn't show up or can't run the distance, which seems unlikely. Although 12f is a long way to go with bad feet, especially when it is the 3rd race in 5 weeks.

How come my Kent on Cool Coal Man in the Blue Grass has been ignored?

Oh, I know why, because it completely exposes how stupid this thread is.

Yeah, not to mention that you give yourself the best chance to do well in the Peter Pan and then put yourself in the best position to get the best jockeys available for the Belmont.