I'm not quite understanding some of this blame-Napravnik and Bobby-didn't-get-a-chance sentiment.
Merit Man is coming out of a succession of frontrunning sprint efforts. Bobby has been running in routes and the last time he sprinted, in a 7f race back at Saratoga, he was sitting fourth and three lengths behind at the first call. Merit Man appeared to be the likeliest frontrunner and once he outbroke/outsped Bobby, there wasn't much Napravnik could do as another horse went and pressed from the outside so she couldn't swing off the rail into a pressing position outside of Merit Man.
As it was, the horse didn't have a bad trip. He was in a nearby chasing position while saving ground. It might not have been absolutely ideal for him but it wasn't bad.
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