Victor Espinoza

[karlskorner]

Just finished reading a dozen or more columnists covering the Derby and nobody, NOBODY, gives Victor Espinoza his "just reward". Great horse, magnificent Trainer, but this 29 year old Mexico city native left them all eating his dust. The Trainer gave him instructions, he followed them to the letter and won the KD.

Karl

[karlskorner]

How about some credit to the previous trainer, even Baffert doesn't put a horse "together" in 3 weeks to win the Derby. There had to be some "foundation" by the previous trainer to get this horse in shape.

Maybe the previous owners came out ahead with the $million sale price, horse supposedly has chips, could be a problem down the road. Prince Salman got $600,000 (less Bafferts and Espinoza"s share etc.) previous owners came out with a cool million.

Karl

[superfecta]

Originally posted by karlskorner
How about some credit to the previous trainer, even Baffert doesn't put a horse "together" in 3 weeks to win the Derby. There had to be some "foundation" by the previous trainer to get this horse in shape.

Maybe the previous owners came out ahead with the $million sale price, horse supposedly has chips, could be a problem down the road. Prince Salman got $600,000 (less Bafferts and Espinoza"s share etc.) previous owners came out with a cool million.

Karl Breeding ,Karl,breeding......and an ego stroke for sure,why else would Godolphin spend millions trying to win 1/2 million purse?

[justin]

War Emblem also got a $1 million bonus for winning the Illinois and Kentucky Derby...so it's not like they lost out on the deal. Not to mention his value at stud after winning the Derby.

[karlskorner]

Of course, it is obvious why Godolphin went for the big bucks and what their objective is, thats the "business" of horseracing. My point is that Baffert Is taking the credit (watched him on TV at the track, he definitely is a "piece of work") for the efforts of the previous trainer. Anybody that believes Baffert laid a miraculous hand on this animal over the past 3 weeks to make him the winner of KD has to have a great opinion of Mr. Baffert, he is a great horseman and a very good business man.

Karl

[kgonzales]

Originally posted by jmilkowski
War Emblem also got a $1 million bonus for winning the Illinois and Kentucky Derby...so it's not like they lost out on the deal. Not to mention his value at stud after winning the Derby.

I read a quotation from Baffert in the BRIS Handicapper's Edge, "They Said It" from May 5. He stated that the new connections were splitting any bonus money earned from Triple Crown victories with the old owner/trainer.

I don't know if the link is still available on their site.