Best Pal Inquiry
 

Are the Stewards serious about this???

If they are to take Kelley Leak down then Azul Leon should be taken down as well. I agree Kelley Leak drifted but he did not touch anyone. Azul Leon did a hack job on Charlies Moment. Horrible call by the stewards

No freken way...very bad call..

I bet Hardy's Horse...another less than good ride by CN..3 wide on the front the whole way..amazing the horse lasted for 3rd err 2nd I guess.

That was a bad call I agree, Kelly Leak got screwed. I think Bejarano on Azul Leon saw a hole opening and made the right move, I though maybe Charlie's Moment may have drifted out as Azul Leon was trying to go through that hole, then had to check. Bottom line the #10 Kelly Leak should have stayed up, they made a bad call here.

Bejarano did not ride safe and could have gotten Jon Court injured. If he saw Kelleys Leak drift in, his best way was to pull up and go around but NO he wanted to win this at any cost and put Jon Court in jeopardy.

I didn't see the replay, but I thought Bejarano rode a pretty subpar race for a rider of his reputation. He had the best horse in the field, there was no need for it to go to the stewards if he had rode a half decent race.

No Bueno.

:zz:

todd "t" shrupp = liposuction left overs..you know that fat glue like paste..

I was suprised the horse broke in last but Bejarano had plenty of horse top of the stretch. He was kinda blocked by the 10, then saw a hole open up and didn't wanna swing wider, and made a move to go through the hole. In the process the 8 drifts in a bit, Bejarano was agressive in trying to still get through there yeah, but I still say the 8 drifted in slightly before having to check. The way I saw it Bejarano to me made the right move in trying to go through the hole, but it closed quicker then perhaps he expected if anything, because the Court's horse drifted in a bit.

There was no fault by the 8 whatsoever. Most of it was done by Bejarano. He went through the opening in which he should not have.

I dont agree with the call but I see what the stewards are thinking.
Espinoza went a bit wide on the turn and then with that right handed whipping caused the horse to move in to other horses that were jumbled and drifting out a bit. Espinoza closed the hole with a longer shot not allowing the best horse (and favorite) to win.

If I had the 10... I would be mad. I understand what I think the reasoning is however. If that makes any sense. If Espinoza had kept it straight in the stretch the 9 would have won without DQ imo.

That hole was WIDE open when he decided to shoot through it instead of going wider. Like mclem posted, the hole just closed much too fast. As someone who singled AL in the late 4, and hit for $2(yippeee), I still feel that it was a bad call to take the 10 down.

I just viewed the replay, I thought it was a very questionable call. I'm not sure how the stewards determined the 10 was to blame when it could have easily be said Bejarano's horse caused the inside horse to take up...In addition it looked to me Ezpinoza may not have knew Bejarano went inside when he was hitting the horse right handed causing him to drift in abit; however I do think if Bejarano kept his horse on the outside he would have gotten up anyway, this despite going 8 wide on the turn. I wouldn't be happy if I was on the 10 and have to see a decision like that.

I think Trevor Denman's voice said it all when he announced the DQ. He was surprised.

That was my point declan, when he made the split second decision the room was there, and I think it was the correct move. Was it agressive yes, but once you've made the decision you go for it. The 10 should have stayed up, I had both along with the 5 on my p4, wish I would have hit it twice. Nice job declan!

Correct move or not he hit the 8 and made substantial contact with him. In my opinion both 9 and 10 should be taken down at the least

Reverse the betting on the 9 and 10 and you dont get that decision most likely.

9 was the best horse. So, I am glad the supporters of the best horse got paid. 10 was the 2nd best horse, but the only way to keep him top 2 would have resulted in the best horse getting 2nd place. As a horizontal player, I care about the best horse getting the win. Anytime you have a chance to give the win to the best horse, you should do it. They did it. Did Espinoza do much wrong? He let his horse drift out to block the best horse. Then ,he saw the best horse come inside, and he started whipping right handed to block him. Almost every single time a rider out here does what he did, the stewards ignore it. So, they're being 100% inconsistent with this call. This call is 100% about who was riding these horses etc. Espinoza can't get a call from them. He is absolutely on their s-h-i-t list. If you go back and take a look you will be astonished at how much it matters to these people(who is riding.) If Gomez(and probably Bejarano) was on this 10 horse, then it is coming down when hell freezes over. This is 100% political. They hate Espinoza, and don't give a s-h-i-t about Mike Machowski. Bejarano is the leading jock. O'neil is probably the trainer with the most starters on the circuit. I'd say that as a horizontal player you need to be aware that Gomez is probably gunna get taken down out here as often as a major quake occurs. It's about the same for Bejarano. These 2 are soooooooooo much better overall riders than the rest out here. Rosario has the potential to match them, but he makes mistakes. His brain takes races off(especially on horses he is expected to do something with.) You are almost never gunna get taken down out here if you use Gomez. You are rarely gunna get taken taken down if you use Bejarano. Now please read this next part carefully:

Let me put this in LIME f'n Green (so you hopefully remember this.) If you use Victor Espinoza or Corey Nakatani out here, then you are at a very high risk of getting taken down, and you have a very low shot of getting put up. A very good list of races will be offered up to show you this is fact(not opinion.) This race is just the 1st piece of evidence.

I thought this was a good job by the stewards - the 10 was all over the place, as soon as the 9 came inside at the top of the stretch the 10 bashes over towards the rail starting a chain reaction affecting three other horses where one of those horses got squeezed and had to pull up to keep from clipping heels and crashing.

Of course the 10 comes down behind the three he interfered with.

I agree. He never hits him right handed until he sees Bejarano try to go inside. Then the effort to herd /intimidate begins. What I am saying is if Gomez is on a horse that is gunna get beat, he does quite the same thing as Victor did, and they are more than happy to overlook it. This is more about who than what. I guarantee you that.

7/11/08-HWD RACE 4-Stewards welcome home Gomez by overlooking the fact he let a tired horse drift out(because he saw he wasn't gunna hold off a Mullins oncomer if he stayed straight.) Watch the pan shot, and you'll see the Mullins horse had the momentum to go by, but comes outward towards the viewer. It broke his momentum just enough to keep him from going by, and he lost by a head. If Gomez doesn't foul, he doesn't hold on. The best horse on the day was not Gomez' horse, but the stewards overlooked that. He is very good at cheating. He makes it easy on them to help him. This is a great example of it. They are blind when they want to be. Look at Gomez on the head-on. You will see he knows the horse wants to come out. So, he keeps hitting hard righthanded. The instant he realizes the other horse has got enough late run to get him, what does he do, folks? He stops hitting him. That's not a random decision. His only shot at holding on was to foul. So, he stops hitting righthanded, and the horse shifts out right away. He forces the other horse to avoid him, and that was just enough cheating to allow him to hold on. It's a foul. They overlooked it, because of who was fouling. If Espinoza had done that, he was coming down that night. 100% sure of this.

6/26/08-HWD RACE 1-This is such an incredible take down. I can't begin to help them on this. It's 100% payback for Nakatani saying "they don't know what they're doing"(the weekend before this.) They are supposed to be above revenge. They aren't.

6/26/08-HWD RACE 2-Whatever they are saying Victor did wrong in the BEST PAL stakes pales in comparison to the herding intimidation etc. that the winner is allowed to take part in here. Look at the 2nd place horse as he constantly is worried about the winner coming over, and he just has to keep running sideways(into slower n' slower track surface.) This, they didn't care about, because it was the 1st winner for an apprentice jock. Again, the jock matters a lot to these individuals.

5/23/08-HWD RACE 8-The winner of this race was best. He bumped the 2nd place horse enough that you could take him down if you wanted to. So, they did. The winner had plenty of run, but was a lil sloppy. The 2nd place horse was gunna get his normal 2nd place finish. If Gomez(or probably Bejarano) was on the winner, then 99.99 % of the time he would stay up. This was Espinoza up, and so he must come down. I don't have a problem with this take down. I think the winner was best, but this was not an easy call. I'm just saying I know this call would have gone another way if a jockey they liked was riding the winner.

12/02/07-HWD RACE 9-This was the Vernon Underwood Stakes. Folks, this is rich. Compare this to the Best Pal Stakes. Look at how much they let the winner of this race get away with as he staggers home while intimidating and herding all the way in the last half furlong. Look where he is midstretch, and then look at what part of the track he finishes on. Both horses who ran 2nd n' 3rd are bothered by his crap, and who was riding those 2 horses? That's right. It was Corey Nakatani, and Victor Espinoza.To say the 2nd place horse wasn't badly bothered by the winner is simply a lie. The same people overlooking that trouble saw fit to take the winner of the Best Pal down. I don't see anywhere near the trouble caused by the winner of the Underwood. The only thing that's consistent with these stewards is the way they treat certain jocks. They aren't consistent in any other way.

There is zero doubt in my mind that he knew exactly where Bejarano was the whole way, and he knew Bejarano had the best horse. No doubt in my mind that he knew the 9 went inside of him, and then(and only then) did he start with the right hand whipping. Espinoza was doing what other guys do when they don't have the horse to win fairly. The problem with this whole situation is that they normally ignore these tactics, and all the sudden(when the cast of characters is a certain way,) they have a problem with riding this way. People, ya momma smoking a pound of weed a week could be more consistent and objective than this bunch. Don't expect Gomez to get taken down for doing the same thing(ain't gunna happen.)

HOLLYWOOD PARK
Sat, May 10th, 2008 - Race 7
Senorita S. (3) Purse: $100,000 Type: Stakes, 3yo Distance: 1M Surface: Turf

^^^^^ If you're running slower than somebody else, then the best way to stop an opponent is for you both to have to run sideways. Delay,delay,delay. The best way to do that is to threaten a horse with contact if they were to even consider running straight. Then, if they don't go by, they are a hanger, and "I didn't make that much contact." No, but you threatened them with contact if they kept on their straight path. See a lil gangsta girl in action. She only weighs like 500-600 pounds. A horse should be allowed to run straight. That is the way to catch a horse. Once you have to start running sideways(to avoid someone who comes over on you,) you are not gunna run as fast as you would if you were allowed to run straight. Sweeter Still seems to understand the science of physics quite well, and the stewards are ignorant about it.

squabble
 

I have no doubt Bejarano could kick that bus driver's butt pretty easily. He would easily have gotten a decent check if he didn't try to cheat the best horse out of a win. He tried it one time. That's enough. You can't follow him back in like that. People just don't realize how obvious it is that he tried twice to keep the best horse from gettin' through. Btch, next time, just take your 2nd place jock's check. It's the right call, but the problem is that they usually ignore this activity when a jock they like is doing it. That's why people are saying it's a bad call. They've seen them ignore this before. No, you shouldn't be allowed to block horses the way the leading car in the Daytona 500 is allowed to block cars. He forced him to run wide, and then only made an effort to come inside after he saw the best horse make a big move inside. They just can't allow that. I don't know why you think they should allow that, but you're wrong. Where you're really wrong is thinking they would ever let Espinoza do it. This guy is on a choke collar. Simple as that(a one foot leash with a choke collar.) I don't care how badly he gets fouled, you're chances of getting put up aren't good now.They weren't good before, but they are gunna pay him back. You think they want to take the winner of a stakes down? They don't want to have to do that. They hate that btch for making them do that. Think about it before you play him, because you will get nothing from the stewards....Nothing!!

I didn't really want to get into this anymore, however I watched the replay again/head on and to me there was plenty of blame that goes both ways for both riders. I doubt if Court's horse was to the inside of Bejarano's that there would have been a dq'd. My opinion is yes perhaps Victor tried to intimidate Bejarano's mount but bejarano was not clear, he chose that route where he could have stayed wide. Yes I know Victor's horse drifted however if a horse was to be taken down everytime they drifted, everyone here would probably stop playing this game. It's done and over, I suspect the consensus will be split on this topic. I hope we can move on.

No, we aren't just gunna move on. You are wrong. He was intentionally blocking. They would of let it go once, but he did it twice. Fact is they allow too much of this, and so when they actually do the right thing they look inconsistent.They are inconsistent, and that's why there is disagreement about this take down. This was intentional blocking done in a reckless and obvious way. Fact is we move on too much, and that's why people are so ignorant that they don't recognize the dangerous irresponsible stuff Victor did. Even when people recognize it, they don't think it should be called. This is the steward's fault for overlooking it when a more popular rider does it. He makes a horse go wide(doesn't ever hit him righthanded in an effort to get him to stop running wide,) and then he starts whipping righthanded to block the same horse from going inside of him. No, that can't be allowed. Like I said, if you think that should be part of sports, then watch the Daytona 500. That's allowed in that race (constantly.) If you allow it in horseracing, you're gunna get somebody killed, and they were taking their chances of getting somebody killed when Victor did this. To be honest, this shouldn't even have had to go to the stewards. On any real track, the best horse would of easily gotten up(despite the cheating Victor did.) That is a pathetically short stretch. Having the finish line that close to the final turn is just asking for trouble like this. Any adult track would of given Bejarano's horse plenty of time to get up. This short stretch is just tempting guys to do stuff like this. My God, this horse lost by a head, and you don't think Victor gave him a head's worth of trouble? This isn't a tough call. Bejarano's horse was much the best. He was blocked twice, and the 2nd time was very reckless and endangered all those riders. I'm not surprised they had a fight. The other riders can't allow a guy to do what Victor did, or during each meet, one of them would be dead( or in a chair sucking straw.)

Wow, look at the head-on at 1:06. Victor's horse looks like it would never ever come back inside. Then look at 1:11. He has moved way back down inside to simply block the best horse. This was one of the most dangerous things I have seen a rider do. I think, if they can, they will give this guy weeks off(not just days off.) Yea, I have seen them ignore this amount of trouble. That's why I am saying they are inconsistent. Fact is they weren't gunna ignore this obvious an effort to block. This is simply a jockey making stupid decisions that endangered horses and riders.

Here we go again with Gomez getting the breaks from the stewards. 8-13-08 race 8 Del Mar is very close to the same thing he did 7-11-08 race 4 at HWD. I am 100% sure the horse he fouled on 7/11 was gunna go by him that night. Today's race I am not sure the horse would have gone by, but I think it would be nice if he didn't have to spend from 1:38-1:40 running sideways, and hesitating to avoid Gomez' horse that came over. He has very little time to then start going by again. This guy is very good at making it look like his horse had the most run. He couldn't do it on 7/11/08. That other horse had a run on him, and he stopped hitting his horse righthanded in order let him come out in an effort to bump/intimidate the horse who was gunna go by. Today's was probably not intentional, but he swats his horse hard lefthanded, and the horse comes out into the other horse's way for 2 seconds. The horse can't run straight for 2 seconds. He has to run sideways, and wait until the other horse is out of his way. If Garrett's horse gets to run full out in those 2 seconds, and the other horse can't, then guess what? The other horse is gunna look like a hanger. I certainly think it could of affected the finish. This (to me) is a tough call, but I have seen Gomez do this stuff too much for my taste. I might leave him up on this one, but if he does this again within the next month. He has to come down. Getting to be a bad habit. Stay straight, and give horses a chance to run straight. 7-11-08 should of been a d.q. They didn't even call an inquiry. The other horse was best. That was just a cheat in action. See, he is fouling. They have every right to take his horses down in both cases, and they just don't take him down in either. If they let everyone do the same, then it would be a lot more objective of them.

I was just going to post about it. I couldn't believe that there was no inquiry. Then after watching the replay there was no change. The horse that got interfered with lost by a head. How could they not take down Gomez? He came out at least 2 paths. I guess if Doug Collins could have the Jordan Rules, why can't the stewards at Del Mar have the Gomez rules. He is the new Teflon Don!

Before I comment I will say I did have the 6 and not the 4 in my Pick 3


How is that not a foul????? not even an inquiry???????? Gomez did have contact with the #4 and probably cost him the race. It was not like the #4 had no chance of winning but that contact detered the horse/jockey to push harder for the win. That is absolutely inconsistent to the call made in the Best Pal as far as keeping the same path explanation. Gomez gets a free pass on this one

No, trust me, GOMEZ gets gets a free pass on all of them. Let me tell ya EAJ. THIS IS A FOUL. The thing is whether you think the winner was the better horse. That's the way they judge this stuff. That's pretty hard to determine when ya have to wait around for 2 seconds while somebody is in your way. He isn't making up a lot of ground late. So, it's a tough choice, because they don't go by fouls.They go by who they think was the better horse. If they went by whether it was a foul or not, then he has to come down. If a horse is fouled, and gobbling up ground at the wire, then it's an easy decision. What I am saying is this is a judgement call. Gomez gets every judgement call they can possibly give him, and Espinoza loses every possible judgement call. If Espinoza was on this winner of the last race, then there is no doubt that guy would come down. Bodacat did less(I think) and got taken down.

I remember Bodacat!! I had a pick 4 going with him in the last race on a Friday night. I remeber throwing the remote at the TV when they took him down. Memories

Yea, I'm telling ya that Bodacat had enough run that night to stay up. They usually leave a horse up that has that much run. We all know he had a lil more run than that trial maiden he fouled. They took that Bodacat down, cuz they don't like Espinoza, and they want him to stop doing that lazy riding (like he did that night.) He had the best horse. He should of kept Bodacat more clear of that horse. Espinoza is often a mentally lazy individual.You ever see him do interviews? No patience. Just starts mumbling at the ends of sentences, and basically wants them to end the interview after they've barely started it. Mentally, he takes shortcuts(doesn't want to wait his turn etc.)

I guess he didn't bother to show up for work today...
http://www.dmtc.com/racinginfo/changes/

Omar won't be there either.

Rulings
The board of stewards suspended jockey Omar Berrio, 39, for six months (through Feb. 8) for “Evidence of unfitness for license and disorderly conduct: Illegal substances – cocaine.” Berrio must complete an in-house rehabilitation program and appear before stewards for a fitness for license hearing before being reinstated.