Baze, no wonder he's tops - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

46zilzal · 10-30-2009, 05:22 PM

I have re-introduced myself in watching Russel Baze and have to conclude there nothing flashy yet there is TONS of competence expressed in each ride. He lulls the others to sleep often and then surprises then with another move....

Carl Baze trained up here in the Pacific Northwest, Gary was a leading rider many times at Longacres, then there are Tyler and the others......a going concern in the racing game.

Greyfox · 10-30-2009, 05:45 PM

Any jockey who rides over 4,000 winners has to have a lot of talent and moxie.
However, Russel's main victories are in Northern California.
It is doubtful that he would have been half as successful competing in the So Cal circuit imo.
Unfortunately at Golden Gate you don't need to buy a program to find out what horse R. Baze is on. Just look at the tote board. He murders the odds.

(Years ago I read where Gary and Scott Stevens are also related to the Baze family. I haven't found any sites on the net that provide evidence of that though.)

toetoe · 10-30-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Any jockey who rides over 4,000 winners has to have a lot of talent and moxie.

So you agree with the threadstarter.

.

Greyfox · 10-30-2009, 05:47 PM

Yes.

GaryG · 10-30-2009, 05:56 PM

I don't know what % of favorites Russell has been on for the last 20 years or so. When Pincay was winning his races in SoCal he got good mounts, of course, but he was going head to head with some of the finest riders in the country. Russell is a great rider, I'm just sayin...he may not by a Pincay or a Shoe.

JohnGalt1 · 10-31-2009, 09:04 AM

Baze is like the poker pro who sees a 500-1000 dollar hold'em table filled with players with world series bracelets and another 100-200 dollar table with only decent players. He knows he has the ability to win 3 times as many pots in the lower limit game.

I know it's only one day, but he rode $17 and $23 winners at this year's Claiming Crown. He rode against Theriot, Leparoux, and Albarado in those races.

How often have you seen him bring in two longshot winners in one day?

On paper his horses were not the best, but there are fewer jockeys that judge pace better, and that work a 4K claimer has hard as an allowance horse.

I didn't have either winner, in fact he cost me some pick 3's

and I don't play GG often because of the small fields.

Tom · 10-31-2009, 10:04 AM

Sorry 46, he is plain lucky. After all, in your own words, the jockey is just a passenger. Or you contradicting yourself....again?

NoCal Boy · 10-31-2009, 10:20 AM

Russell has made a great living while enjoying a good family life in one of the best places in this country to live year round. How many jocks can make that claim? How many people can make that claim? He could have made more money elsewhere while winning fewer races, but at what personal price?

My guess is Russell Baze has had a more fulfilling, less stressful all around life than Pincay and Shoe combined, with more than enough material goodies to go around.

Think about it. Russell likely has been the most fortunate jockey in modern history. Good for him.

Boats · 10-31-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyfox

It is doubtful that he would have been half as successful competing in the So Cal circuit imo.

You are right. He spent 3 years riding in so cal and couldn't make it.

cj's dad · 10-31-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boats

You are right. He spent 3 years riding in so cal and couldn't make it.

Define "make it".

4000+ winners X purse money (?) x 10% = $$$$$$$$$$

I'd say he's made it quite well $$$ wise; which is what it's all about.

Greyfox · 10-31-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj's dad

Define "make it".

4000+ winners X purse money (?) x 10% = $$$$$$$$$$

I'd say he's made it quite well $$$ wise; which is what it's all about.

It was clear to me that Boats meant R. Baze couldn't make "it" in Southern California so he went north.

how cliche · 10-31-2009, 01:48 PM

Russell Baze gives off the body language that he's on the best horse in every race he rides. I think that confidence is transferred to his mounts & therefore their performances are enhanced. He's also very stubborn on the lead and wins a lot of races others would not, like Edgar Prado once was.

Pell Mell · 10-31-2009, 01:58 PM

Equally good on front runner or closer and usually put himself in position to win. I can't recall seeing him make no move at all in a race. As a longshot bettor, he's a nightmare to me because he's usually the one to beat.

toetoe · 10-31-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boats

You are right. He spent 3 years riding in so cal and couldn't make it.

That's the kind of cursory "logic" present in the following brilliant conclusions:

* Pico Central was garbage because his craven connections ducked (

) the B.C. Sprint;

* Curlin was common because he lost the Belmont Stakes to a filly, and because he only beat "sprinter" Hard Spun by four lengths in the B.C. Classic (thank you so much for this one, Mr. Alan Shuback);

Care to back up your conclusion with Mr. Baze's dismal figures for 1990-1992, or whichever stretch that was ?

PaceAdvantage · 10-31-2009, 07:14 PM

What the hell part of "no political talk in the horse racing section" don't some of you understand? Especially those of you who have been here long enough to have seen me type this over and over again.