Bailey vs. Azeri

[justindew]

Below, I have included links to videos of the 2004 Go For Wand and the 2004 Personal Ensign from Saratoga.

I think Azeri was the best mare I ever saw race, and these races illustrate why. In her entire career, Azeri never lost a two-turn race in which she was sent to the lead. Her only vulnerability was when another horses set fast fractions ahead of her, and she was forced to chase. So yes, she did need the lead. But it was not as if she needed to slow things down. She went the opening 3/4 in under 1:10 in the 2002 BC Distaff, for example.

If I was the owner of Roar Emotion, I would have never allowed Jerry Bailey to ride another of my horses after what he did in the 2004 Personal Ensign. Bailey, without a doubt, rode that race NOT to give Roar Emotion a chance to win, but to prevent Azeri from winning. Bailey went the opening 3/4, at Saratoga, in a 10 furling race, in 1:09.1. Insanely fast, and incredibly stupid. Why did Bailey do that? Because by the time that race was run, he had seen way too much of Azeri's rear end throughout his career. He lost to her aboard Imperial Gesture in the BC Distaff. He lost to her aboard a Frankel filly (Wild Spirit?) in the Apple Blossom. He lost to her aboard Sightseek in the Go For Wand. And he decided he had had enough. So he made sure Azeri would have nothing left for the stretch of the Personal Ensign. Yet she still lost by only a mere length. Roar Emotion was last by about 20 lengths, if I remember correctly.

Again, I think Azeri was a great one. I saw her last win in the Spinster at Keeneland, and it is one of my favorite racing moments.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnw4NfZ8d3s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUOVm...elated&search=

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by justindew

In her entire career, Azeri never lost a two-turn race in which she was sent to the lead. Her only vulnerability was when another horses set fast fractions ahead of her, and she was forced to chase.

True, but in HER entire career, Personal Ensign never lost a race under any circumstances whatsoever.

[Spiggle24]

AZERI,she's certainly been one of my favorite mare's in the game along with Megahertz & Ouija Board til' SWLY Roared onto the racing scene.

[blackthroatedwind]

Roar Emotion was a one way speed horse. If anyone deserves criticism it was Pat Day who sent Azeri into the duel with the hopeless Roar Emotion. Blaming Bailey borders on insane. What was he supposed to do....take a speed horse back to concede the race to Azeri?

That was a terrific performance by Azeri.

[cakes44]

Agreed. That was one of the few true butcher jobs that Day gave on a speed horse, but it was an all-timer.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Roar Emotion was a one way speed horse. If anyone deserves criticism it was Pat Day who sent Azeri into the duel with the hopeless Roar Emotion. Blaming Bailey borders on insane. What was he supposed to do....take a speed horse back to concede the race to Azeri?

That was a terrific performance by Azeri.

So you think Bailey sending Roar Emotion through 3/4 in 1:09 and change at 10 furlongs was smart? I'm not saying he should have conceded the race to Azeri, but what he did gave Roar Emotion ZERO chance of winning. It reminds me of how he rode Smarty Jones in the Belmont, even though he wasn't on Smarty Jones.

Day didn't ride Azeri well that day. That's true.

[blackthroatedwind]

Bailey rode Roar Emotion exactly as she figured to be ridden. It was Day's job to deal with it, and Lukas's, and they failed to do so.

Smarty Jones lost the Belmont because eventually Stewart Elliot was forced to make actual riding decisions on that horse. Not surprisingly he failed miserably.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Bailey rode Roar Emotion exactly as she figured to be ridden. It was Day's job to deal with it, and Lukas's, and they failed to do so.

Smarty Jones lost the Belmont because eventually Stewart Elliot was forced to make actual riding decisions on that horse. Not surprisingly he failed miserably.

Bailey's decision to go that fast was insane, and he did it because he was more concerned with Azeri than his own horse. Period. If he was trying to ensure the best possible finish for Roar Emotion, the last thing he would have done was run a hole in the wind.

Sightseek, Wild Spirit, Imperial Gesture....all horses that lost to Azeri with Bailey aboard.

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Bailey rode Roar Emotion exactly as she figured to be ridden. It was Day's job to deal with it, and Lukas's, and they failed to do so.

Smarty Jones lost the Belmont because eventually Stewart Elliot was forced to make actual riding decisions on that horse. Not surprisingly he failed miserably.

well this debate will never end but i think elliot made the right choice that day, he couldnt just sit out wide all the way around, smarty woulda been beaten by more had he done that

[golfer]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Roar Emotion was a one way speed horse. If anyone deserves criticism it was Pat Day who sent Azeri into the duel with the hopeless Roar Emotion. Blaming Bailey borders on insane. What was he supposed to do....take a speed horse back to concede the race to Azeri?

That was a terrific performance by Azeri.

After watching the race, I agree completely with what Andy wrote. It was a great effort by Azeri, and completely Pat Day's fault for moving so early into those "insane" fractions.

And I pretty much know who killed Kennedy I'll give you a hint: it wasn't Lee Harvey Oswald.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by golfer

After watching the race, I agree completely with what Andy wrote. It was a great effort by Azeri, and completely Pat Day's fault for moving so early into those "insane" fractions.

And I pretty much know who killed Kennedy I'll give you a hint: it wasn't Lee Harvey Oswald.

Who knows what kind of instructions Lukas gave Day before the race. But based on the video, it does not look like Day did a very good job.

HOWEVER, that does NOT mean Bailey didn't do a stupid thing.

Also, can we confirm where Bailey was on November 22nd, 1963?