Mohawk Vulnerable Favorites Thread

[Sea Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Race 10 #10 A Vf for me

#10 Trafalgar was outta the board. $7616 bet on him to win.

[ThreeHorseEntry]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Here is a few more of those that I found in the fines & suspensions at the Standardbred Canada site.

MACDONALD,BRETT A

AGCO - FAILING TO SET A PACE COMPARABLE TO CLASS

Commission Rule Number : 22.05.01(K)

Date Issued : 23-Apr-2022

Total Due : 200.00

Violation Occurred : Race 4 at WOODBINE MOHAWK PARK on 23-Apr-2022

Called the driver of # 9 Twin B Heart Throb, Brett Macdonald, regarding the
2nd ¼ in 31 seconds. Fractions were 26.4, 57.4, 126.4, 153.2. Violation AGCO
Standardbred Rule 22.05.01(k) failing to set a pace comparable to the class. $200
monetary penalty. Ruling 1687846

THERRES,ROD

BC - SLOW QUARTER

FAILING TO MAINTAIN A PACE COMPARABLE TO WHICH THE CALIBRE OF HORSES IN THE RACE

ARE CAPABLE OF, RESULTING IN AN EXCESSIVELY SLOW QUARTER OR ANY OTHER DISTANCE

Commission Rule Number : 248 (1) (L)

Date Issued : 10-Mar-2022
Total Due : 300.00
Violation Occurred : Race 5 at FRASER DOWNS on 07-Mar-2022 horse ROCKIN MYSTERY


HENRIKSEN,DAGFIN E
AGCO - FAILING TO SET A PACE COMPARABLE TO CLASS
Commission Rule Number : 22.05.01 (K)
Date Issued : 28-Feb-2022
Total Due : 200.00
Violation Occurred : Race 8 at WOODBINE MOHAWK PARK on 28-Feb-2022 horse PERFETTO

That $200 fine is meaningless. The connections of the winning horse would be most willing to pay the fine for the driver for a major share of the purse money any day any time.

Back in the day at Blue Bonnets things got so worse with the slow pace, that they started to DQ the front runner if he cuts slow fractions even if the horse was the favorite. You could tell from the mumblings in the crowds after a couple of DQs that all was not well for the racetrack. There was a such a hue and cry from indignant fans and they even threatened to boycott the track if they continued with the DQing. The track got the message and they stopped doing what they were doing.

About the criteria the judges are using to fine the driver can best be seen in the Bret MacDonald's case.

The fractions which are all interrelated were the following for the race

26.4--57.4--1:26.4--1:53.2

The judges cited the 31 second 2nd qtr as the culprit and hence the fine for the slow pace. What the judges don't understand is that the fractions in a race is all interrelated as I mentioned before.

Hypothetically speaking I ask the judges if the 2nd qtr had gone 2 secs faster ie 55.4 would the driver still have been fined or not because with a 55.4 half then the 3rd qtr would have been a slow 31 secs.

I have been a keen and avid student of pace for the last 30 years and I still don't have all the answers.

I have learned to live with the slow miles as a matter of reality and I suggest you do the same.

I'm on the drivers side on this one as I think you are. If they can get on the front end and eke out a win by saving ground, that's what good driving is about. Seems insulting to fine someone for a winning effort. Almost like a tax on having a successful strategy.

Especially true for a horse that has been consistently tiring on the front end.

[Sea Biscuit]

Race 1 #5 Sporty Tori A very VF to say the least.

[Sea Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Race 1 #5 Sporty Tori A very VF to say the least.

Sporty Tori Finished a no threat 4th as 6/5 favorite. $7778 bet on her to win.

[Sea Biscuit]

Race 4 #8 Trafalgar A Vf for me.

[Sea Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Race 4 #8 Trafalgar A Vf for me.

Trafalgar finished 2nd. $6769 bet on him to win.

[Sea Biscuit]

Race 3 #3 Rockme Rollme A VF for me

[Sea Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Race 3 #3 Rockme Rollme A VF for me

Rockme Rollme was the 2nd favorite in here and came in 2nd, $6109 bet on him to win.

[Sea Biscuit]

Race 6 #2 The Boss Said he wont be in the exacta or the tri. A VF for me


Gotta listen to the Boss.

[Sea Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Race 6 #2 The Boss Said he wont be in the exacta or the tri. A VF for me


Gotta listen to the Boss.

The Boss Said did finish 2nd as the 2nd favorite. $5745 bet on him to win.

[Sea Biscuit]

Race 7#5 Amazon Duharas A stale date, poor performance lines, a weak trainer and 2-1 odds. A VF for me

[Sea Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Race 7#5 Amazon Duharas A stale date, poor performance lines, a weak trainer and 2-1 odds. A VF for me

Poor PPs or not, A stale or not, A poor trainer or not Amazon Duharas still wins this race at 2-1.

[Sea Biscuit]

Race 8 #7 is the the 2nd fav in here. A VF for me

[Sea Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Sea Biscuit

Race 8 #7 is the the 2nd fav in here. A VF for me

#7 Take Command ended up as the 4/5 favorite in the race and finished a weak third. $8340 bet on him to win.

[Sea Biscuit]

Race 2 #4 Chiefs Dream Beach A VF for me.