Gomez to ride Hard Spun
 

TVG just reported that Garret Gomez will be riding Hard Spun in the Belmont. Jones and Porter not happy with Pino's ride in the Preakness. This according to Chris Katoulak on tvg. Thoughts anyone?

This moves that horse up 5 lengths, at least

FTFY

So had Gomez been aboard in the prior two races, this horse would have dominated those two and be going for a Triple Crown?

basically

learn to rate the riders, you will win in this game!

No doubt!

Absolute nonsense, play jocks and you end up sleeping in a cardboard box on the street. Pino rode HS perfectly in the Derby, he may have moved too early in the Preakness but I don't know what his instructions were or whether the horse dictated that move...remember the 73 Preakness? No horse moves on the first turn in a distance race going from last to first and holds on...well, almost never! Point is that there are a lot of factors that dictate how a jock rides in a race; apparently the connections feel a change will benefit the horse...I doubt it!

basically gomez moves a horse up like Arcaro, the horse is a lock now, he already has a pace advantage on the others.

What I don't get is why this allegedly shows Rags to Riches probably won't go as Bloodhorse said. It's not like John V and Gomez are the only 2 riders on the planet. What I thought was amusing is that there's a couple that might enter if Street Sense is out but apparently they're not as obsessed with Curlin. SS was specifically mentioned as an obstacle instead of saying 'a couple of the big players' is what I'm saying.

Well, good luck with that! Gomez=Arcaro....humm! Not that I would bet HS to win if Arcaro was brought forward in time to ride him but that's an interesting assumption. You must rank Elliot pretty high, afterall he won the Derby and Preakness easily...or could it have been that he was sitting atop a monster?

I'm not sure if I had the pick, Gomez would have been the guy, I would have gone after Prado....but then again, I'm not writing the checks....

Bad decision. Larry Melancon was more than happy to ride.

I agree...I don't get it either...

this moves HS up...right now I give him an edge to win the Belmont.

I remember when they took off Gomez off Concern and put Mike Smith aboard.Did Concern win any triple crown races?So they'll use Pino as the scapegoat.What happens when he finishes off the board at Belmont?I know the 1 1/2 miles was too far for him or he didn't grab the track.As i've always stated pure bush league when they moves like that.That's why i applauded Serpe and Ritchey when the big races came along they left Elliot on Smarty Jones and Jeremy Rose on Afleet Alex.Kudos for them.Bull$hit for Hard Spuns connections.

Why is it such a big deal that they would changes jocks? It happens every day. They have given Pino eight straight mounts on Hard Spun including two TC races, is that nothing? If I'm the owner I would want the best rider on my horse and if Gomez was available I would go to him in a heartbeat. Especially after the ride in the Preakness.

It doesn't happen everyday in the middle of a TC series...

No other jockey could have given Hard Spun a better ride than the one Pino gave him in the derby. Despite the speedy workout he had that week. Then again, the ride he gave him (at his home track, mind you) in the Preakness merits a jockey change all by itself.

food for subjective thought
 

It is a move in the right direction for the future of this horse.

How it affects his performance in The Belmont Stakes will depend on what if any changes to his running style will be employed, as well as how the race itself plays out in the beginning stages.

totally agree bobby...sometimes you need to change starting pitchers, sometimes you need to change jockeys.