Re: Columbo (550 Views)
Posted by:
fkach (IP Logged)
Date: August 14, 2007 08:54AM
>I've heard a lot of reasons to play ostrich about Plech's antics, but I have to tell you claiming the exercise rider ruined Lawyer Ron's regimen is by far the most comical. Where did you come up with that crazy conspiracy? The doper himself I bet. And some accuse others of believing anything. <
Are you trying to create controversy or are you actually trying to understand Lawyer Ron's ability and performances this year and last?
I strongly suggest that you watch the replays of all his races leading up to Derby last year. With few exceptions, you'll see a series of races where LR was on the rank side and/or the jock moved prematurely and then had a difficult time with him. It was so clear he was a tough horse to relax that on the one instance he actually did so, it was a major part of the discussion on TV by Jerry Bailey etc...
No explanation was ever given for why he was a little rank, but Barry has given us a very logical one. Even if he's wrong, it doesn't change the fact that the horse was probably not performing up to his potential.
I can probably still get my hands on a series of high quality pace figures for some of those performances if you'd like. Then you'll be able to see some evidence that he was running better than it looked based on final time figures alone.
The potential for that horse to improve because of that issue alone was apparent and the reason for the purchase. Throw in the typical development to be expected from a high quality spring 3YO through his 4YO campaign and his early form this year is no shock at all. Neither is one peak performance with a controversial speed figure.
Humor me a little. Let's not look at speed figures at all.
The Whitney field was a solid, deep, and evenly matched field, but none of those horses was a legitimate Grade 1 horse before that race. Most of them were Grade 2/3 types with occasional decent performances in weak higher level races. Beating that group (Wanderin Boy?) by 4-5 lengths was hardly a breathtaking performance. It was a legitimate Grade 1 performance against a less than stellar but deep field.
Regardless of whether LR's performance was illegally enhanced or not, this is about as bad an example of evidence for cheating as you can find.