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Currently I cannot think of any other rider in New York who I feel more confident in backing than Ramon. Likewise I cannot think of any other rider in New York who breaks my heart more when I'm backing a horse he isn't riding. My impression is that he goes into every race better prepared than his competitors. I think he anticipates better, reacts better, and judges the pace better. He has very good instincts and is probably, comparatively speaking, more cerebral than many of the other riders. I know Ramon has a reputation as not getting into the races quickly but that simply has not been my observation. When he needs to get out of the gate quick, or if he thinks he can surprise the others with an unforeseen early advantage that isn't immeadiately apparent by viewing the horse's tendancies on paper, he can do that as well, just as well as those with reputations as good gate riders. At this time I'll take Coa, Dominguez, and maybe even Maragh, over Prado, C. Velasquez and J. Velazquez with all other variables being equal. Johnny has had a great career and I admire him very much, but I can't think of any other rider who currently frustrates me more on turf with his insistance on parking horses out into that dreaded 3-wide 4-wide outside stalking position, a position that unless the horse is much the best will often result in flatness in the final 16th.
Last edited by Bobzilla; 06-16-2009 at 08:22 AM.
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