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Old 06-12-2018, 02:10 PM   #206
papillon
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Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 282
Quote:
Originally Posted by FenceBored View Post
Neither Rock Hard Ten nor Purge finished on the board after their speed duel "troubling the early rhythms" of Smarty Jones (to use Jay Hovdey's phrase). They nuked their own chances solely to make sure that the favorite didn't win.
Do you believe they did that because they were acting as undercover, uncoupled agents of Birdstone, or colluding out of sheer hatred of Smarty Jones?

Do believe either had a chance taking back?

Is it possible that both saw each other as an opponent that must be vanquished, as much as they did Smarty Jones, which created an even more intense speed duel than they would have been a part of anyway just because neither gave 2f*ucks about the TC? They'd already established that they were cut throat SOB's, who just wanted to win.

Smarty Jones wasn't a victim, he ran them into the ground and almost won by open lengths. Unfortunately, Birdstone was in the race too.

This is nothing like Sat. RH, despite all of the revisionism by apologists, is in no way connected to Windstar, clearly scrupulous, unidentified Chinese billionaires, or the world's most beloved, upstanding citizen, George Soros. Other than by trainer. Bettors had a right to trust that he was in the race to, at the very least, attempt to finish it as opposed to sauntering down the stretch while his jockey was jovially conversing with the jockey on Noble Indy. They had a right to assume that even if the orders were "don't impede Justfy," that they did not also include "but try your damdest to impede every other horse."

Noble Indy was entered as Repole's uncoupled entry with Vino Rosso. His silks were changed to reflect that. Repole announced as loud and clear as Damascus' trainer did Hedevar that NI was running to test Justify on the lead and give VR a fighting chance. NI is not a sprinter, he has shown he can go a route of ground. Bettors were allowed to assess whether they wanted to take a shot on him with those odds. That he might hang on for 3rd or 4th was a real possibility, that the field might let him go, allowing him to possibly win was too. For those here complaining that coupled entries screw them out of money--the NI/VR situation is exactly what you say you want, it is fair for bettors and competitors. It is transparent.

Horses entered with no intention to compete screw you more. You don't care now, because you are in love with Justify, but karma's a b*tch so the next time it might be horse you have money on.

Castellano on NI chose not to contest, as much as did Geroux on RH. And in the post race interview when a reporter introduced his question with "Repole's horse NI," Walden interupted him with a belly laugh saying "you mean Windstar's horse," and the whole panel had a great chuckle. Geroux did the same thing to Mendelssohn. Just as he rode looking back at Mendelssohn in the derby, he road a good portion of the belmont looking backwards as well. Castellano swung out 4 wide on Audible shortly after the break pushing Enticed into Mendelssohn who was pinned by Magnum moon, then swung back. It is clear as day in the stills, given the Belmont antics and players, it is even ugly "optics." The only difference was Malibu Moon., but ordinary people, who've gone back to watch it now, think it was intentional too, rightly or wrongly. Justify's overnight Belmont ratings were dismal, the some of the lowest in the past 18 years, and 6 points lower than Smarty's.

True rabbits are sprinters like Hedevar. Speedy routers are "rabbits." If Hedevar had run offense against Fager like RH did, Damascus would be hated to this day. Why would anyone race against Justify now? Who wants to be just another Shared Belief? Brown, Mott, Romans are now saying they are moving these horses to turf. I'm thinking we'll be hearing a change of plans regarding Mendelssohn as well. If Justify runs in NY again, he may be booed. If he runs in CA...he has to some how overcome Baffert's CA curse for his superhorses.

Good for Repole. A billionaire from Queens is likely the only one with the "f*ck'em" cajones big enough to do it.
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