Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I told you I would be honest with you when I started getting some opinions from horsemen. I just got off the phone with a big racing manager/bloodstock agent out here who is at the track every morning. Here is his opinion: He agreed with you about Kent's ability. He thought that Kent was good as anyone at one time. He thought that Kent had a ton of natural ability. He thinks the problem was that Kent started to overanalyze every race and was always trying to get too cute and ride the other horses in the race. He said his attitude has rubbed some people the wrong way. He says that Kent has a pretty big ego.

So he did agree with some of the things you have said. However, he also agreed with what I have said. He doesn't think it's so much a matter of politics. He thinks that Kent doesn't ride that well any more. He thinks that instead of using his natural ability like he used to, that he overanalyzes races and tries to get cute and ends up giving sub-par rides. My opinion differs from this guy in that he thinks that Kent was a great rider at one time. I don't think he was ever great. Me and him both agree that Kent does not ride great any more. He thinks its' more mental. I think it's physical and mental. I don't think he ever had the physical ability of guys like Stevens, McCarron, Bailey, etc.

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Fair enough! And what he said I would agree with hands down. As far as riding well, he is just much more inconsistent now. He does try to ride other horses too much at times. At times it works incredibly well (see ticker tape in the american derby) and at times it fails miserably when it is unnecessary.

He is riding better than he has since 2001 right now. He just isnt getting the top mounts again yet. His ROI right now is off the charts at Saratoga. As for physical ability, you mention bailey and he has much more natural ability than Biailey did. Bailey would be the first to tell you that he wasnt that gifted naturally and that most of his success came through hard work. Kent is about as natural and instinctive as they come.

Either way, its been fun. Thanks for the feedback.:)