Are you glad Game On Dude lost?

[racingfan378]

I am and here is why, I think it was a b/s call that Sutherland got yanked b/c of one riding faux pas. Look at who won the Classic, Hernandez bothched a ride on him before and the connections stuck with him!

I am glad "Dude" lost the race b/c I think Sutherland would still be in the racing game if that move wasn't made. That was (IMO) the major reason why she called it quits. Her heart was broken beyond repair due to a 2nd place finish and not another chance was given to her to show her ability to ride.

Serves the connections right to suffer a loss in the biggest race of the year!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching Chantal view the race Saturday and her reaction after they crossed the wire. . .

[dilanesp]

I am and here is why, I think it was a b/s call that Sutherland got yanked b/c of one riding faux pas. Look at who won the Classic, Hernandez bothched a ride on him before and the connections stuck with him!

I am glad "Dude" lost the race b/c I think Sutherland would still be in the racing game if that move wasn't made. That was (IMO) the major reason why she called it quits. Her heart was broken beyond repair due to a 2nd place finish and not another chance was given to her to show her ability to ride.

Serves the connections right to suffer a loss in the biggest race of the year!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching Chantal view the race Saturday and her reaction after they crossed the wire. . .

I can't say that I take pleasure in a good horse losing the BC Classic and HOTY, but I did think at the time that Sutherland got a raw deal.

Yes, she isn't the world's greatest jockey. She did make mistakes. But she was perfectly adequate on this horse. The horse ran for her. When they took her off the horse before (after the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap), the horse didn't run as well with other jocks so they put her back on.

And the reality is that it wasn't her ride that lost the Pacific Classic. They lost to a synthetic course specialist who has won 3 Grade I races on Polytrack and is a monster on that surface, and the horse ran a very nice time in a very game second place performance. He probably loses anyway even if Sutherland doesn't lose the rein.

At any rate, Sutherland at least understood that the horse is a frontrunner who needs to make the lead and go as far as he can as fast as he can. Bejarano took back, got into traffic trouble, went wide around the first turn, and let the winner get the jump on him. If Sutherland had still been on the horse, he would have at least been on the lead for Fort Larned to come and catch.

So yeah, Sutherland got hosed. And if it did drive her out of the sport, all the worse.

[Dahoss2002]

I'm glad he was out of the exacta and trifecta too!!!

[burnsy]

I'm glad he was out of the exacta and trifecta too!!!
Me too! But seriously, i thought he would lose all along. Not that i'm "glad", i just handicapped the race and thought he was an underlay. The horses that showed up were just too good for him. Plus 8-5 was a ridiculous price....just like i said Wednesday or Thursday on the "bc, singles" thread. The horse was 14-1 last year against Drosselmeyer and Ruler on Ice, the horses that hit the board with him. This years field was better and with "real dirt" he was going to be in real trouble, especially at this distance. I used him in the pic for protection but was not surprised one bit by the results. Glad, is sort of the wrong term. I was glad with the results but i did not think this horse was worthy of the price he got. It was the usual hype and not a true evaluation of his OVERALL record or talent at this distance. IMO, the best you could of made him, was a saver, and thats what i'm glad about....once in a while.....i'm right.....and it pays. Of course, if Mucho Macho Man gets up....i get it all....but i'm not complaining on Monday morning either.

[ronsmac]

I am and here is why, I think it was a b/s call that Sutherland got yanked b/c of one riding faux pas. Look at who won the Classic, Hernandez bothched a ride on him before and the connections stuck with him!

I am glad "Dude" lost the race b/c I think Sutherland would still be in the racing game if that move wasn't made. That was (IMO) the major reason why she called it quits. Her heart was broken beyond repair due to a 2nd place finish and not another chance was given to her to show her ability to ride.

Serves the connections right to suffer a loss in the biggest race of the year!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching Chantal view the race Saturday and her reaction after they crossed the wire. . .
I pretty much agree with you, Though Bejarano is a better jockey, I think Sutherland is a better fit for that horse. I also think she would have panicked if she was riding and the horse had been a little slow, which in my opinion would have been a good thing. This is one of the few times that hustling after a bad break or sending wide around horses into the first time would have been a good thing.

[ldiatone]

I am and here is why, I think it was a b/s call that Sutherland got yanked b/c of one riding faux pas. Look at who won the Classic, Hernandez bothched a ride on him before and the connections stuck with him!

I am glad "Dude" lost the race b/c I think Sutherland would still be in the racing game if that move wasn't made. That was (IMO) the major reason why she called it quits. Her heart was broken beyond repair due to a 2nd place finish and not another chance was given to her to show her ability to ride.

Serves the connections right to suffer a loss in the biggest race of the year!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching Chantal view the race Saturday and her reaction after they crossed the wire. . .
couldn't have it stated better!

[Tom]

I wish Fort Larned had lost.
Missed it by that much!

[pandy]

Even though Bejarano is a terrific rider he does like to rate horses in a stalking position as often as possible. He rarely lets a horse relax and make one move from off the pace because he doesn't like to be far back, and he rarely tries to wire the field in routes, even with a speed horse. He is a stalking-style rider but some horses don't want to be held. If Bejarano had been on Royal Delta, I doubt he would've let her pull him to the lead, he would've taken a hold and let Love And Pride go. Mike Smith let her do her thing and she rolled. It's just a matter of style.

[ten2oneormore]

I'm glad he was out of the exacta and trifecta too!!!

This...I'm sorry for the redboard but I couldn't believe how they bet Fort Larned .Opened at 15-1 I think and went off at 9-1.That's just crazy.If you take out Game On Dude then MMM and Fort Larned should be vying for favortism.Thought it was very odd that the 3rd most likely exacta paid so well.

I did kind of feel bad for Baffert when he was sunken into his seat having to do an interview afterward.He must have thought he was going to have at least 2-3 winners and walked away with squadoosh.

[ArlJim78]

Yes because I was all over Ft Larned, but yes also because I don't think every rider switch is necessarily an upgrade, especially when in this case Sutherland had had such great success with the horse.

Others stuck with riders like Willie Martinez and Brian Hernandez and were rewarded with victories. and I have to say I love to see loyalty to guys like that and that they came through in the clutch for the connections. I guess I'm a bit of a sucker for the underdogs who have talent and work hard every day, when they finally get their shot at the brass ring on the big day.

[forced89]

I am and here is why, I think it was a b/s call that Sutherland got yanked b/c of one riding faux pas. Look at who won the Classic, Hernandez bothched a ride on him before and the connections stuck with him!


Agree. Sometimes owners and trainers outsmart themselves! I think this is one of those instances.

[Relwob Owner]

I am and here is why, I think it was a b/s call that Sutherland got yanked b/c of one riding faux pas. Look at who won the Classic, Hernandez bothched a ride on him before and the connections stuck with him!

I am glad "Dude" lost the race b/c I think Sutherland would still be in the racing game if that move wasn't made. That was (IMO) the major reason why she called it quits. Her heart was broken beyond repair due to a 2nd place finish and not another chance was given to her to show her ability to ride.

Serves the connections right to suffer a loss in the biggest race of the year!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching Chantal view the race Saturday and her reaction after they crossed the wire. . .


Do you really think that losing one(yes, a big one) mount was the reason she quit riding? I find this really hard to believe. She had been a rider for a long time and I would imagine she has learned how to handle such a situation and not let what you describe as a "broken heart" dictate the end of her entire career.

I have read a ton of speculation but I think the answer was written in her statement. She found love, is probably interested in starting a family and wants to do some new things. She has made a good amount of money and can now focus on different things in life and I hope she does well.

[racingfan378]

Do you really think that losing one(yes, a big one) mount was the reason she quit riding? I find this really hard to believe. She had been a rider for a long time and I would imagine she has learned how to handle such a situation and not let what you describe as a "broken heart" dictate the end of her entire career.

I have read a ton of speculation but I think the answer was written in her statement. She found love, is probably interested in starting a family and wants to do some new things. She has made a good amount of money and can now focus on different things in life and I hope she does well.

Yes I do! I think that is what got the "retirement" ball rolling. Don't tell me for one minute if she was still on Game On Dude that she would have said "oh I quit" before riding the Classic. C'mon now!

Her statement you say? She isn't going to reveal the exact truth, she isn't that dumb. It was a sugar coated answer to protect herself and in case she does come back riding again like our friend P Val:D

[Tom]

If she had kept the mount, she probably would have retired Saturday night.

[thaskalos]

I root against 6/5 shots as a rule, so YES...I was glad that Game On Dude lost. But the jockey change had nothing to do with it.

I will criticize the horses' connections when they operate in a manner which I deem adversarial to what the bettors' interests are...but I won't presume to tell them how to choose the jockeys for their horses.

I respect their rights...just as I ask that they respect mine.

[PaceAdvantage]

I am glad "Dude" lost the race b/c I think Sutherland would still be in the racing game if that move wasn't made.I think this is an unwise assumption to make. If jockeys are used to anything, especially veterans like Sutherland, it's losing good mounts.

And if it were true that that's the reason she retired (which it isn't), then that's a good thing...this game isn't for her if her mental fortitude and ego are that fragile (which they aren't).

[Relwob Owner]

If she had kept the mount, she probably would have retired Saturday night.

Exactly. Yes, she may have waited it out until after Game On Dude ran in the Classic, which anyone with an ounce of common sense would have done. However, I don't see getting taken off of one mount forcing the end of a career and like I believe Pace said, if that was the reason, which from what I have seen of her, it probably wasn't, then she didn't have the mental fortitude to continue to be riding anyways.

[racingfan378]

With all due respect I disagree 100% on the comments made above

No one makes $270,000 in two mins worth of work, if she was riding Game on Dude and if he would have won, that's one high you just dont come down off of and say "I quit" in the winners.

Hernandez for sure will be getting lots more phone calls to ride in bigger races and he doesnt do too bad at the Fair Grounds year after year.

We will never know the true answer to her pulling the plug on a excellent career that was just starting to perk up. :confused:

[Leparoux]

I am simply for the fact that he might have undeservedly won Horse of the Year if he had won the race.

[Robert Fischer]

Chantal Sutherland retired because of a broken heart.

I don't wish any ill-will on Baffert or the connections, this is part of the game. I'm not glad Dude lost either, not fair to the horse.

Just another colorful racing yarn. :ThmbUp::ThmbUp:

[johnhannibalsmith]

It's a grind. Some jocks just lose the desire and the will and unless you are an elite jock a la Bailey who can show up and ride six favorites for big money wherever he feels like it and watch the money roll in, it just compounds upon itself. I don't doubt that losing the mount probably accelerated the choice, but if she had the passion and the fire, she'd be hunting the next "big horse" like every other jock, trainer, and owner that suffers heartwrenching setback after setback in this game. She's not having to choose between piling up losing jock mounts and a winner here and there or becoming a gallop girl, she can walk away with security and without worries. It's not exactly an uncommon scenario for people in the industry to just get burned out and take advantage of a better option when it seems like its time.

[Relwob Owner]

With all due respect I disagree 100% on the comments made above

No one makes $270,000 in two mins worth of work, if she was riding Game on Dude and if he would have won, that's one high you just dont come down off of and say "I quit" in the winners.

Hernandez for sure will be getting lots more phone calls to ride in bigger races and he doesnt do too bad at the Fair Grounds year after year.

We will never know the true answer to her pulling the plug on a excellent career that was just starting to perk up. :confused:


We can agree to disagree on the "why" of her retirement. However, I believe(and I have to check the stats on this) that the statement that her career "was just starting to perk up" is incorrect. I think she peaked 2009/2010ish and since then, her numbers have fallen.

[Pace Cap'n]

Was glad he lost but I sure thought that sucker could at least clunk up in fourth.

[SandyLoam]

I did kind of feel bad for Baffert when he was sunken into his seat having to do an interview afterward.He must have thought he was going to have at least 2-3 winners and walked away with squadoosh.

But Hi-Ho Silver Bob wasn't so dejected that he couldn't throw Bejarano under the Amtrak Super Chief to a worldwide television audience.

I have never liked Game On Dude and just before the race, I wondered, "Who's he beaten?" And he lost to Dullahan, another horse I don't like (or who's been mismanaged). If 'Dude was right, think Johnny V. or Smith would have lost this race?

[Valuist]

I was alive to both Fort Larned and Game on Dude in the Pic 3, so yeah I was very happy how that turned out.

Let's not kid ourselves. This is a gambling driven game. We will always root for whoever we bet over any alleged stars. We overestimate the effect individual horses like Funny Cide or Zenyatta have.

[nijinski]

He didn't look pumped up in the paddock that day.

No I'm not happy he lost because of a rider change and I think Baffert and the owners have every right to switch jocks . It's been done many times before and will happen again.
If CS and G.O.D. won in Dubai along with every race as a team . You might wonder.
Not the case though.

[Bullet Plane]

Glad he lost. He would have been a crap HOTY.

[Beachbabe]

I don't like his name. A combination of two over-used, not-cool-anymore words (or phrases).

Game on-----puhleeeeze !! It's surpassing "twenty-four/seven" as the trite phrase of the new millennium.

Dude----need I say more ??

[Dahoss9698]

Hernandez for sure will be getting lots more phone calls to ride in bigger races and he doesnt do too bad at the Fair Grounds year after year.


No he won't.

[Robert Fischer]

No he won't.

got to have some fun with this stuff 'Hoss

[Dahoss9698]

got to have some fun with this stuff 'Hoss
Not sure what you are saying...but i have plenty of fun with the sport. But i also prefer to deal in reality. Hes an okay rider and he did his job on saturday by letting the horse do what he wanted to do. I just dont see his phone ringing off the hook because of the classic.

Did stewart elliot all of the sudden start riding in big races after he won the derby?

[austin]

Tom
You didn't use that system you posted
E2-E1= TT
TT + E2
TT + LP
Santa Anita always makes the track a concrete highway
on big race days.
Play TT + E2
Check out all the Breeder Cup Races that didn't have 3 or
more unknowens using that system.
Thanks for the tip and if ever in New York I owe you ONE.
Hope everyone is doing well on the East Coast

GOOD LUCK

[v j stauffer]

Not sure what you are saying...but i have plenty of fun with the sport. But i also prefer to deal in reality. Hes an okay rider and he did his job on saturday by letting the horse do what he wanted to do. I just dont see his phone ringing off the hook because of the classic.

Did stewart elliot all of the sudden start riding in big races after he won the derby?

Or Jose Valdivia Jr or any number of guys. Hoss is 100% right on this.

When Rosario and I won the Breeders Cup Sprint on Dancing in Silks we didn't even start to ride more for Carla Gaines.

I thought our business would really spike up after winning that race. Saw no evidence of it.

Don't think the other trainers really cared much at all. In fact although I can't prove it I sensed there was some resentment and jealousy.

[mannyberrios]

If she had kept the mount, she probably would have retired Saturday night.
Correct

[mannyberrios]

I think this is an unwise assumption to make. If jockeys are used to anything, especially veterans like Sutherland, it's losing good mounts.

And if it were true that that's the reason she retired (which it isn't), then that's a good thing...this game isn't for her if her mental fortitude and ego are that fragile (which they aren't).
She wants to be a movie star

[statepierback]

I was alive to both Fort Larned and Game on Dude in the Pic 3, so yeah I was very happy how that turned out.

Let's not kid ourselves. This is a gambling driven game. We will always root for whoever we bet over any alleged stars. We overestimate the effect individual horses like Funny Cide or Zenyatta have.

I voted yes for the same reason.

[Stillriledup]

I just get so heartbroken when Baffert doesnt win another big race, for a guy like Bob who gives so much to this game and is one of the few humans who is an indispensable part of horse racing, its really sad when he doesnt win. :(

[usedtolovetvg]

I never take solace in seeing a horse lose. I root for my horse to win, not another horse to lose. That reminds of the horse player who cheers against his buddies' horse. I never really understood that.

[nijinski]

I am and here is why, I think it was a b/s call that Sutherland got yanked b/c of one riding faux pas. Look at who won the Classic, Hernandez bothched a ride on him before and the connections stuck with him!

I am glad "Dude" lost the race b/c I think Sutherland would still be in the racing game if that move wasn't made. That was (IMO) the major reason why she called it quits. Her heart was broken beyond repair due to a 2nd place finish and not another chance was given to her to show her ability to ride.

Serves the connections right to suffer a loss in the biggest race of the year!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching Chantal view the race Saturday and her reaction after they crossed the wire. . .

Watch the interview in the CS hangs up her tack thread . By admission , she was not in the game 100% and claimed to be physically and mentally tired and in need of relaxation . No question in my mind after viewing . Dude's connections , whether or not we think the horse was good enough or not , had every right to make a switch .
As for Chantal , I wish her well and admire her for disclosing the these points . She is human and has to do whats best and healthy for her.

[raybo]

I don't care that he lost because he was Game On Dude, or that there was or wasn't a jockey switch. The horse didn't even make my contenders, much less the win line. He just didn't have the right stuff for that race.

[Paseana]

Or Jose Valdivia Jr or any number of guys. Hoss is 100% right on this.

When Rosario and I won the Breeders Cup Sprint on Dancing in Silks we didn't even start to ride more for Carla Gaines.

I thought our business would really spike up after winning that race. Saw no evidence of it.

Don't think the other trainers really cared much at all. In fact although I can't prove it I sensed there was some resentment and jealousy.


There's no better or more recent case in point for this than Mario Gutierrez. He turned in two stellar rides in the Derby & Preakness under unbelievable pressure.....never cracked and never panicked. He was also greatly praised for his handling of the media through it all, and how gracious and humble he was, especially for one so young and inexperienced in the spotlight.

He went back to Hastings to ride for the summer (maybe that didn't really help), and now that he's back down in SoCal, it seems like O'Neill and Reddam are the only ones interested in using him. I don't know who's handling his book now, and maybe that has something to do with it, but it still seems a little strange.

The point is that a success or two on a major stage is no guarantee that the phone is going to start ringing off the hook.

[v j stauffer]

There's no better or more recent case in point for this than Mario Gutierrez. He turned in two stellar rides in the Derby & Preakness under unbelievable pressure.....never cracked and never panicked. He was also greatly praised for his handling of the media through it all, and how gracious and humble he was, especially for one so young and inexperienced in the spotlight.

He went back to Hastings to ride for the summer (maybe that didn't really help), and now that he's back down in SoCal, it seems like O'Neill and Reddam are the only ones interested in using him. I don't know who's handling his book now, and maybe that has something to do with it, but it still seems a little strange.

The point is that a success or two on a major stage is no guarantee that the phone is going to start ringing off the hook.

Trainers ride guys that have been winning for them consistently. Especially top barns. They couldn't care less what someone else does somewhere else. Several reasons not to change. One of the biggest is you might not get the top guy back if you change. No reason to risk it if things are already going well.