Prior to a race, you’ll often hear trainers say they’re leaving race riding strategy up to their riders. But Baffert has crowed that he doesn’t like the rail post, so you wonder how strong a directive (not to be on it) this carries over to his race riding instructions, if any. Especially if it’s one of his rallying types. Whatever the case, it’s certainly cost him (uhh... and me) this year in the same way. Preposterous example:

IMPROBABLE (Van Dyke; 4W4W) in OP’s Rebel Stakes ran a ThoroGraph 1.25. But he lost to LONG RANGE TODDY (Court 1W1W) who ran a 4.25. That’s a truly sad beat.

GAME WINNER (Rosario 3W3W) in OP’s Rebel Stakes (2nd Division the same day) ran a 1.5. But he lost by a nose to OMAHA BEACH, a path inside him, who ran a 2.25.

And now again.