Re: Figure Differences (647 Views)
Posted by:
covelj70 (IP Logged)
Date: April 08, 2014 01:43PM
its not always that simple
horses need to be very athletic and very courageous (obviously along with the jockey) to save ground in the derby
Normandy Invasion is a great horse but last year he was the size of a shetland pony and there's no way he could have gone inside and gotten bounced around. Javier rode him how he had to be ridden (i.e. wide). We can debate the timing of the move but there's no way that horse could have been put down on the rail and run as well as he did
My Lute was the other way, big. long striding strong thing that needed to be in the clear (like Rosalind in the Ashland as per McPeek comments pre race)
also, physical size and athleticism aside, mentally, some horses hate being down inside, others don't mind
many times the horse dictates how/where the jockey has to ride them, especially in a race with 20 horses
that's why we either need a horse with tactical speed that can make their own good trip by allowing the jock to put them whereever they want (Barbaro, Big Brown, I'll Have Another, Super Saver, Funny Cide, Smarty, etc) or horses that have shown they can overcome adversity heading into the race so we have confidence that they can make their way through the big field (Animal Kingdom, Orb, Barbaro (again), Big Brown (again))
this year I think we have one horse that has shown the tactical speed to create a great trip for themselves (Obviously CC) but I don't feel like we seen a horse that has overcome any kind of bias or bad post or real adveristy in a race.
I think it's a stretch to say Constituion overcame adversity because he had some dirt kicked in his face before a golden rail trip opened up for him
Maybe someone in Arkkansas will do something special this weekend