Solomini

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by GMB@BP

agree. I wonder how Solemini will run with a lot of pace where he is forced to rate....he feels like a horse with a big heart who hasnt been able to figure it all out yet.

He's dangerous.
Today he ran better than usual on the 2nd turn. Usually it's a weakness, but due to being a bit more off the pace he was in a fairly long drive.

No sense of urgency. Wasn't apparent that there was a plan at all out of the gate. No excuse for being the widest horse on the 1st turn.

Had to do the long drive thing. Was wide around the 2nd turn.

Did not change leads (not going to be easy when under a full-out drive while swinging wide. You'd think the jockey would anticipate and pull the reigns inward entering, because it's a recurring issue). Should have really been 5th, but his stamina is so good that even on the wrong lead after that trip managed to out-finish some horses to grab 3rd.

If he could change leads and get some momentum he could run a big race. Even with this kind of race, may be able to hit the board. Distance and class may actually help him show off his stamina.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

He's dangerous.
Today he ran better than usual on the 2nd turn. Usually it's a weakness, but due to being a bit more off the pace he was in a fairly long drive.

No sense of urgency. Wasn't apparent that there was a plan at all out of the gate. No excuse for being the widest horse on the 1st turn.

Had to do the long drive thing. Was wide around the 2nd turn.

Did not change leads (not going to be easy when under a full-out drive while swinging wide. You'd think the jockey would anticipate and pull the reigns inward entering, because it's a recurring issue). Should have really been 5th, but his stamina is so good that even on the wrong lead after that trip managed to out-finish some horses to grab 3rd.

If he could change leads and get some momentum he could run a big race. Even with this kind of race, may be able to hit the board. Distance and class may actually help him show off his stamina.

He never changes lead, they have been trying hard to get him to do it....

Prat, great turf rider but on the dirt, meh. I am not sure he has ridden at Oaklawn before either.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by GMB@BP

He never changes lead, they have been trying hard to get him to do it....

yup

he's one of those horses that they can get to change leads in the morning, but not the afternoon.

https://www.xbtv.com/video/tc18/solo...ta-anita-park/

I don't know (and I'm guessing it was not??) whether Prat is up on him in the mornings, but being patient into the turn, and giving him cues upon entering the stretch seems to work for him.

In a race you usually have to really be in a drive entering the 2nd turn, unless you are on or near a fast pace and getting a breather.

If it is Prat in the morning, it's just the difference in race stress vs. workouts, but if it is not Prat in the morning, they may do well to either get him up early, or find a jock who can.

I don't have a book on Prat, I just trusted him if Baffert trusts him. Today was a bad ride, but I don't remember a history of bad rides with him. Pretty nondescript from memory.