Silver Charm--

As I do with any post in here, I respect your opinion. However, I do not agree with it.

I personally believe that PERSONAL ENSIGN, EASY GOER, and SEEKING THE GOLD were terrific race horses despite SHUGS. He nearly got 'ENSIGN beat for his decision to run her at 1 1/4 at Belmont prior to the Distaff @CD. Her speed was dulled and only her tremendous class got her to the wire first that day. She was lenghts better than WINNING COLORS and GOODBYE HALO, but barely beat them in her most important race.

Lets talk about his handling of EASY GOER prior to the Derby and the BC Classic.
His decision to have Pat Day choke down EG in the WOOD and the JCGC, in my opinion and many others that play this game, cost EG the DERBY and Classic. Again, SHUGS found another way to dull a running machine's speed.

I could go on, but I think the point has been made. SHUGS is the typical trainer out of the Midwest that believes the best way to ride a horse is wrangling it back under any circumstance (see Carl Nafgzer for reference). Why do you think he used Patient Pat so much? Does anyone honestly believe that SUNDAY SILENCE would have beaten EG if Pat V. rode EG and Charlie Whittingham trained???


Good Luck,
Joe B.