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=