In addition to “Shotgun” Geroux’s ride in the Belmont, note what he DIDN’T do in the Preakness.

In the Preakness on a sloppy speed favoring track, Geroux had the rail with QUIP, a colt who had skipped the Derby and pointed to that race. Geroux said publicly he'd go to the front with his speedy colt, even if his horse was owned by the same people who owned JUSTIFY. Curiously though, Geroux gave Justify a gift. Somehow, he took back off that promise (huh!!!!??) and his animal never gave an effort early and didn't run a step in the Preakness. Why not? A 5,000 word essay on my desk by tomorrow morning. Taken together, Geroux’s Belmont debacle and also his curious Preakness no-show is, well… an eyebrow-raiser at the very least.