Sports
Related: About this forumJustify draws the rail....
....in the Belmont.
1.Justify, Mike Smith, 4-5
2.Free Drop Billy, Robby Albarado, 30-1
3.Bravazo, Luis Saez, 8-1
4.Hofburg, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 9-2
5.Restoring Hope, Florent Geroux, 30-1
6.Gronkowski, Jose Ortiz, 12-1
7.Tenfold, Ricardo Santana, Jr., 12-1
8.Vino Rosso, John Velazquez, 8-1
9.Noble Indy, Javier Castellano, 30-1
10.Blended Citizen, Kyle Frey, 15-1
Ohiogal
(31,669 posts)twogunsid
(1,606 posts)....now its all up to the Racing Gods.
twogunsid
(1,606 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Justify slogged through two grueling, wet, muddy tracks and - rain or shine - if Justify pulls this out at the Belmont, this IS another thoroughbred for the ages!
twogunsid
(1,606 posts)Courtesy of Horse Racing Nation.
https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Free_Belmont_Stakes_2018_past_performances_now_available_123#
a kennedy
(29,467 posts)twogunsid
(1,606 posts)....right now. Good luck and safe trips to all.
Kingofalldems
(38,361 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,361 posts)Tenfold, Bravaza and Hofburg will be flying in the stretch.
a kennedy
(29,467 posts)Id love him to do it.......love Mike Smith.
a kennedy
(29,467 posts)Those colors are not from the Derby, or the Preakness...... or am I out of my mind..... Well DuckDuckGo is my friend....and hes wearing the colors of the China Horse Club.
twogunsid
(1,606 posts)....Justify becomes the 13th Triple Crown winner and only the second undefeated TC winner joining the immortal Seattle Slew in that elite club. He broke the Apollo curse by winning the Derby after not racing as a 2yo. And he did it all in 111 days.
Baffert joins the great Billy Turner as a trainer of an undefeated Triple Crown champ and became the 2nd two time TC winning trainer. He and the legendary Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons (Gallant Fox and his son Omaha) make up that small club. Not bad for a quarter horse guy.
Awsi Dooger
(14,565 posts)We talked about this at length in a General Discussion thread on Saturday night, specifically in regard to blocking Noble Indy from moving forward to take the early lead. I don't see any problem with it but there's no question Florent Geroux on Restoring Hope was running tactical interference for Justify more than maximizing his own mount's chances:
http://www.drf.com/news/horsemen-question-gerouxs-ride-restoring-hope
"John Velazquez, the rider of Vino Rosso, said he felt Geroux rode Restoring Hope in a manner to protect Justify.
Why would you send a horse that breaks bad and take everybody out, then come back in? Velazquez, a Hall of Fame rider, said. Thats his job, to protect the other horse and it worked for them. You have to give it to them."
<snip>
"Castellano said his horse broke slowly and hit the side of the gate. He said he tried to get the horse forwardly placed, but soon realized he wasn't going to be able to get ahead of Justify.
He wanted me to be on the lead, but I didnt have enough speed to get to the lead, Castellano said. I made an effort, but I got to the point where I had to give up. How far can I go - 10 wide - and try to go to the lead? I cant.
Pletcher, the trainer of Noble Indy, confirmed that the plan was to have that horse in a forward position early.
Javier opted to go to his plan B, Pletcher said. Mike and I didnt discuss a plan B.
Repole said Castellano will likely not ride for him for the near future.
You get to run in this race one time in your life, you would expect to follow directions, Repole said. He chose an audible, that doesnt sit well with me. Itll be awhile before you see Javier in the blue and orange silks.
twogunsid
(1,606 posts)Last edited Fri Aug 10, 2018, 08:17 PM - Edit history (1)
....but I wanted to think about it before I started spouting off about it.
I think Pletcher and Repole got out trained and out gunned by a much better horse in Justify. Even if Baffert did send that horse out there to block for Justify it is a tactic that is as old as the sport itself. Everyone should have known that it was possible and should have had a Plan B. Javier is not to blame.