Up next the 144th Belmont Stakes: June 9th

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=danceronice;6365820]
Well, to be fair–I’m only sort of joking by asking WHAT IS HE DOING IN THE BELMONT? There is no shame in being a sprinter. His only win is a MSW at Aqueduct where he was ‘flat out’ at the mile and ‘prevailed’, and there he was carrying 113, second-lightest in the field. He’s never competed in even an ungraded stakes. What sane trainer and owner looks at that record and seriously thinks throwing him in a GI mile an a half against graded winners is a good idea? I’m all for long shots but this seems delusional.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. Just think how many of us can run back to our barns to our OTTBs and say “You, too, could have…”

It’s that supermarket mentality - let’s get in line because we’ve paid to be here (in a barn at Belmont). Or the Mr Rogers? Everyone is special…:rolleyes:

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;6365866]
Yep. That and the fact he was purposefully being kept off of his LEFT lead.

Sometimes it’s not fun being right. I wanted a TC winner.

Oh well.

~Emily[/QUOTE]

@Linny;6366043

Ms Emily texted me with this tidbit. Guess what leg is not right? It’s that left front… It’s not like his handlers couldn’t see that he wasn’t using the left lead.

Yes, Emily caught it - credited you on the other thread. And The Mig mentioned a “little extra step” when he went to switch leads yesterday. It all fits, sadly.

[Linny]

If they are nominated they can go as long as the fees are paid. It costs alot of money to run and the money is the owner’s money, for him (or her) to do with as they please. The Belmont in particular has been rife with upsets over the last 10-15 years so alo of folks want to take a shot.

Maybe certain horses are 2-1 to be eased but remember that Big Brown was eased in his quest for the TC. I happens and not always to “bad” horses.

Remember too that owners have lots of reasons for running. In some cases, they want to be assured of having a seat on Belmont Day. The Hall’s (owners of Ruler on Ice, last years winner) popped My Adonis’ name into the box in a surprise move. His name was not bandied about at all. Did they just decide that they wanted to “be a part of it” or did they notice some chinks in IHA’s armor?

[harvestmoon]

[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;6365866]
Yep. That and the fact he was purposefully being kept off of his LEFT lead.

Sometimes it’s not fun being right. I wanted a TC winner.

Oh well.

~Emily[/QUOTE]

Indeed.

[Glimmerglass]

I’m a bit behind but I did see on TVG where a rumor was that I’ll Have Another will lead the post-parade for the Belmont Stakes.

Trainer Tom Amoss was adamant that was perhaps the most ill-fated suggestion possible - top level, active races can have seriously adverse reactions to not running when they are led to believe (ie, hearing call to post, being with other runners on the track, the crowds) they will race then are denied the chance. Tom said “I really hope, if this is true, the connections come to their senses and decide otherwise.”

[Glimmerglass]

As expected one of the biggest ‘losers’ in this scenario isn’t Belmont Park & NYRA but rather NBC. They expanded coverage and now are left scrambling to either cutback or rework segments.

It wasn’t even 6 hours ago Today Shows correspondent Natalie Morales - in her English riding kit - was shown in a segment with Doug O’Neill on Lava Man.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=Linny;6366165]
If they are nominated they can go as long as the fees are paid. It costs alot of money to run and the money is the owner’s money, for him (or her) to do with as they please. The Belmont in particular has been rife with upsets over the last 10-15 years so alo of folks want to take a shot.

Maybe certain horses are 2-1 to be eased but remember that Big Brown was eased in his quest for the TC. I happens and not always to “bad” horses.[/QUOTE]

Big Brown was coming off steroids, wasn’t he? Never mind his crap feet were a disaster waiting to happen.

There are upsets, and there are UPSETS. How many of the recent upsets were trying stakes for the first time at a distance they’d never run when they’ve shown no real aptitude in much lighter fields carrying 13 pounds less? I’ve seen CANTER horses and FLFs with better race records. It’s the owner’s money, but the trainer either knows something no one else in the entire industry does, or he’s really desperate to keep these owners happy if he doesn’t gently suggest that this is not a great spot for him.

(Though he was down to 29-1 on TVG just now–the hosts were even saying, “What? Did our bettors just call in and wager on anyone we interviewed?”)

[Flashy_Gray_VA]

The IHA appearing in the post parade rumour, if it’s true, is just shockingly boneheaded for the reasons Tom Amoss aptly described.

Just get the horse on a plane back to CA, and hold a nice tribute event to him for the California fans at Hollywood or Del Mar.

Obviously the general public (not to mention NBC) is down about the scratch, but come on - for racing fans there’s still an interesting Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on Saturday afternoon. Let the rest of the field get on with it and have their day.

[lizathenag]

Let Lava Man lead the parade!

perhaps with his rider carrying an empty bridle…

[BansheeBreeze]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;6366155]
Yes, Emily caught it - credited you on the other thread. And The Mig mentioned a “little extra step” when he went to switch leads yesterday. It all fits, sadly.[/QUOTE]

I hadn’t seen all but one video but I heard people talking alot about how he was always on the left lead and wouldn’t switch to the right. So that makes sense he was always putting more pressure on that left leg. And it makes it even more apparent this was not something that didn’t just happen yesterday, when all of a sudden he is galloping on his right lead the whole way around for several days. Good catch. I didn’t like his way of going in the videos I saw but I thought I was nuts because everybody was gushing about what a beautiful mover he was lol. Doesn’t mean he was off but I didn’t think he looked very fluid either.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6366578]
… a rumor was that I’ll Have Another will lead the post-parade for the Belmont Stakes.

Trainer Tom Amoss was adamant that was perhaps the most ill-fated suggestion possible - top level, active racers can have seriously adverse reactions to not running when they are led to believe (ie, hearing call to post, being with other runners on the track, the crowds) they will race then are denied the chance. Tom said “I really hope, if this is true, the connections come to their senses and decide otherwise.”[/QUOTE]

Nixed: will not lead post parade (thankfully!)

The New York Racing Association had originally announced plans to have I’ll Have Another lead the post parade for the Belmont Stakes with jockey Mario Gutierrez aboard, a decision which led to a flurry of criticism throughout the industry.

I’ll Have Another will be led into the paddock shortly after the conclusion of the Grade 1 Manhattan after which he’ll be walked to the winner’s circle where trainer Doug O’Neill will remove his saddle. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at approximately 5:53 p.m.

[3Dogs]

Great Mahattan Mile!

[Drvmb1ggl3]

[QUOTE=3Dogs;6367905]
Great Mahattan Mile![/QUOTE]

Manhattan is 1-1/4m
Great finish, all in with a chance turning for home, bob of the head between the first two on the line

[3Dogs]

Ha ha. Details details:lol: Watching track and field before horses! Mile stuck in my head and so alliterative . Good race. Rosie so close:)

[Drvmb1ggl3]

This horse always had the potential. Didn’t think he would have the balls to go through on the rail, but he finally found that bit of guts.

Great race by Paynter,… Bodemeister Mark II !!!

Now watch the board go into Matzo-mania overload,

[mroades]

lol Drum…for sure

[dressagetraks]

Who won? Stuck working instead of watching.

[hastyreply]

Union rags won!

[Murphy_s_Mom]

Union Rags by a nose!

[dani0303]

Go Rags!! I’ve always liked the horse, even if he isn’t terribly gritty. He’s got a lot of talent though. Velasquez gave him a great ride