8/11/2011

I just want to rant against bad jockeying.  In the 5th at Saratoga, Snow Top Mountain was nicely place on the rail but needed racing room at some point.  Jose Lezcano  got antsy and pulled his horse out of the rail position he had – ultimately into a blind-switch, which was totally predictable!   Now here is the proof that the idea was a bad one, the ultimate winner was sitting directly behind Snow Top with a much greater need for racing help and help came when Snow Top Mountain wheeled off the rail.  Immediately, emerald Beech filled the vacuum left by Snow Top Mtn and then the rail opened up, which it does just as often as not, and won the race- while getting the benefit of covering less ground.  Meanwhile, Snow Top Mtn was stuck in behind a wall of horses, and jockey Lezcano was pulling on the reigns waiting for clearance until he got all the way to the outside, and it was all over at that point.   I am not making the comment that Snow Top Mtn would have won if he stayed in his actual position, what is clear is that  Emerald Beech would have certainly NOT won.  Snow Top Mtn would have had a better chance of winning, but it’s not clear he would have won.   Senada ultimately was much the best, but only 2nd on the board.