This isn't going to die, quite yet

[golfer]

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]

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.

[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!!!!

[golfer]

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.

[golfer]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Travis Stone]

Sounds like sour grapes to me... Saturday's race proved that Hard Spun is the 4th best 3-year-old through the Triple Crown.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Who was the 3rd best horse through the triple crown?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I had a feeling no one would want to try and answer that one.

I know I sure wouldn't.

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I had a feeling no one would want to try and answer that one.

I know I sure wouldn't.

I would have to say Hard Spun as I have no fear.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by mortimerdexterfoxworthy

I would have to say Hard Spun as I have no fear.

That means one of the following three...Curlin, R2R, and SS would have to get a 4th place vote from you. Which is it?

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

That means one of the following three...Curlin, R2R, and SS would have to get a 4th place vote from you. Which is it?

Uh...come again?

[Mortimer]

Oh never mind..I see your point.


But Curlin would be first and SS second as they did the best and Curlin ran in all 3.

HS would be third as he ran in all 3 and did very well.




The Genuine Witch horse ran in only one and cheated.

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Sorry DrugS I had to go to work. After the Derby I thought the 3 best horses in the race ran 1-2-3. I wasn't sure in which order I would rank them, but I thought they were the top 3. I thought the same thing after the Preakness. Rags proved Saturday she belongs in the top 3 now, with Hard Spun dropping into 4th.

Me personally, and I will admit I'm a bit biased towards Street Sense would rank Street Sense 1, Curlin 2, Rags 3 and Hard Spun 4. I am in no way trying to diminish what Rags just accomplished, as she is a wonderful filly. She had the worst of it Saturday and beat Curlin straight up. I just think if they get a chance to race again I think Curlin gets her measure, and I think Street Sense is better than both of them. Hard Spun is in danger of losing 4 to either Tiago or The Green Monkey.

What do you say Sporty Fans!!??









I agree.











Crinkle

Trash can

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I still don't want to answer my own question....I have no problems posting about sock stories....but I really don't want to hear about some imaginary bias I supposedly have against a certain horse again.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

OOOOOOOOOO

Well played. I just gave Sniper your phone number, that's cool right?

Did you?

I sent him directions to his place.

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

OOOOOOOOOO

Well played. I just gave Sniper your phone number, that's cool right?

Thank you.




And it's fine.....in fact he just called shreiking at the top of his lungs.

I just kept laughing and saying "doo-dah!"..which made him all the madder.









Oh by the way.













I gave your number to Uncly Trust.