This and That and Little Current (714 Views)
Posted by:
Chuckles_the_Clown2 (IP Logged)
Date: June 12, 2005 11:40AM
JimP Wrote:
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> I thought by now there would have been at least
> one post about the great training job that Ritchey
> has done with Afleet Alex. Anybody know the man?
> What kind of guy is he? It takes courage to march
> to a different drummer. There aren't many of those
> in the horse racing business.
Tim Ritchey is a horseman. The talking heads are talking heads. Agreed he did a marvelous job, but he's a 30 year journeyman, hes no Johnny drugs lately.
fasteddie Wrote:
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> Great performance! Perhaps the best 3yo not to win
> the Triple Crown since Damascus.
He's certainly a good one. Obviously, Alex caught a watered down version of the event however. There was no Bellamania, no Greeley's Galaxy, no Bandini, no Scrappy T, no Flower Alley (who is gonna make some waves).
To me the most impressive fact of the Belmont was the calm and mature ride Rose gave Alex. He waited and waited and waited and set him down with 2 marks to go. Thats how you win the Belmont in the modern era. Actually, got a little concerned he waited too long. But the story of this Triple Crown has to be the 3 best classics rides in aggregate that I have ever seen in a Triple Crown year. Rose rode like a champion.
Theres been some good horses to not win the Triple Crown. I'm not sure where to rate Alex for certain on that. But I'll name two that should have won it. Easy Goer and Smarty Jones. Alex caught a combination of factors that did him on Derby Day. Bounce the most significant. He still ran while bouncing though, hes a gamer.
He reminds me of a classy old horse that won in similar off the pace fashion. Little Current.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2005 11:49AM by Chuckles_the_Clown2.