Quote:
Originally Posted by ReplayRandall
Jerry Bailey's questionable ride on Eddington to induce Stewart Elliott to move prematurely aboard Smarty Jones, cost them the Triple Crown....If Bailey doesn't pull his BS stunt or Elliott doesn't react to it, history would have been different......That's how you sometimes define a "poor race pattern", as it has nothing to do with horse or it's ability.
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Both Eddington and Rock Hard Ten's trainers decided that if pressed by someone, Smarty Jones could be defeated and instructed their riders to do so. The 2 actually took turns at pushing him. The only problem is if you use your own horse to do that you will get him beat also. Especially in this case where the horse you are trying to beat has more natural speed, you will get yourself beat by far worse, which is exactly what happened. Anyone with half a brain has to realize that it's lunacy to try to act as your own rabbit.
You are also correct in pointing out that the inexperienced Elliot fell for this trap which ruined the chances of them all except for Birdstone, who's rider stayed out of it. Pace pattern clearly dictated the result of this race.
