This isn't going to die, quite yet

golfer · #1 06-11-2007, 05:57 AM

Ray Kerrison's articel in today's NY Post

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06112007...son.htm?page=0

And this, from Ed Fountaine:

"Many, including trainer Larry Jones, expected the free-running Hard Spun to be loose on the lead through a first half-mile in 48 seconds or so. Instead, Gomez - after first dropping toward the rail out of the gate, then swinging four wide around the clubhouse turn - wrestled him back off the pace through a-half in 50 seconds. Since 1980, only one half-mile split in the Belmont has been slower; the average is just under 48 seconds, about a 10-length difference.

Perhaps, as Gomez said after the race, Hard Spun was "a little rank," although he seemed to settle well under Pino. Perhaps Gomez doubted Hard Spun could stay a mile-and-a-half after being caught in the Derby and Preakness, and was trying to reserve him as best he could.

Repeated viewings of the replay suggest that Gomez was "race-riding" Curlin, holding back Hard Spun to keep the favorite pinned down inside behind pacesetters CP West and Slew's Tizzy. Gomez didn't ask Hard Spun for run until the turn for home when Curlin made his move, coming off the rail to split horses. By then Rags to Riches was also rolling outside, and Hard Spun, caught in between, could not match strides with either of them."

The Indomitable DrugS · #2 06-11-2007, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfer

Was he race-riding Curlin to benefit his horse, or perhaps another one?

If he was on a horse, whos game is stalking, and who's best suited tracking a slow pace...he'd have been in a dream spot...as he was right where you want to be at Belmont Park in a race run that way.

However, Hard Spun isn't the kind of horse who wants that kind of trip.

He certainly wasn't trying to benefit Rags to Riches....that's crazy.

He did have Curlin where he wanted him, but when it was time for the real running, he simply had no horse.

On a different kind of horse, it might have been a good ride---not on that horse though.

golfer · #3 06-11-2007, 06:19 AM

Drugs, you are right. I threw out that last question just to provoke some response. I don't actually believe that. However, the rest of the post does not come from me, but from Larry Jones and Ed Fountaine. When we originally discussed the race, we all thought Jones gave Gomez the instructions to do what he did. Now we know differently.

docicu3 · #4 06-11-2007, 06:17 AM

Or was Gomez just Lost in the Fog as he has been the last few weeks on mounts at Belmont.

I agree he didn't spin this mount for the best chance at victory but to say he threw the race so Rags could win is probably in the neighborhood of " a second gunman" .......sometimes you just su-k!!!!

golfer · #5 06-11-2007, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docicu3

Or was Gomez just Lost in the Fog as he has been the last few weeks on mounts at Belmont.

I agree he didn't spin this mount for the best chance at victory but to say he threw the race so Rags could win is probably in the neighborhood of " a second gunman" .......sometimes you just su-k!!!!

Doc, it was just a QUESTION! Not an indictment, and I will remove it from the post. It does not belong.

docicu3 · #6 06-11-2007, 06:27 AM

I don't understand why it's so inappropriate, it is my opinion. If it bothers you that much do whatever you like. I thought it was a nice discussion point that would probably stimulate conversation today....

golfer · #7 06-11-2007, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docicu3

I don't understand why it's so inappropriate, it is my opinion. If it bothers you that much do whatever you like. I thought it was a nice discussion point that would probably stimulate conversation today....

Well, I probably over-reacted to your initial post, but it's one thing to analyze and question his ride in the race, but I had no factual basis to ask that question regarding his intent. The articles and quotes can stand alone.

docicu3 · #8 06-11-2007, 06:35 AM

When I read the original post at the beginning of the thread, which has been deleted now unfortunately, I took your comment to imply that Gomez wasn't exactly riding his horse all out to win because he was upset because he was being kept off Rags.

If you didn't mean that I apologize but it was something I had not considered til then and in retrospect I think it is worth examining for merit.

I certainly do not want to put words in your mouth that you didn't intend to be represented by your thread......I am sorry this worked out this way I meant no malice toward you in any way.

golfer · #9 06-11-2007, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docicu3

When I read the original post at the beginning of the thread, which has been deleted now unfortunately, I took your comment to imply that Gomez wasn't exactly riding his horse all out to win because he was upset because he was being kept off Rags.

If you didn't mean that I apologize but it was something I had not considered til then and in retrospect I think it is worth examining for merit.

I certainly do not want to put words in your mouth that you didn't intend to be represented by your thread......I am sorry this worked out this way I meant no malice toward you in any way.

I understand that now, my first response to you was because I mis-understood. I absolutely think his heart was not in the ride, and did as little as he could to win the race. Where I went too far, was implying that he was trying to help Rags to Riches, which I have no facts to back up. We originally thought the only explanation for his ride was that he was following directions, but Larry Jones has made it perfectly clear that was not correct.