Gomez
 

Whatever his faults, G Gomez is the best finisher in the game. Nobody shakes up/hard rides a horse in the lane like he does. He might just be the best ever at it.

I always know I'm in deep sh!t when I see its gonna be a tight finish and he isn't the jock on the horse I bet. I still think he is much better on a closer than on the front end. He's an ace on a closing sprinter, best I have ever seen.

His ride on Scorewithcater yesterday in the feature was outstanding. I've complained about GG as much as anybody but Fats is right on, he's an absolutely terrific finisher.

NT

Agreed.

You see him on the Frankel horse in the 6th just now. Chantal has the lead, he's chasing, and when he goes to get her on the late turn, she starts with that BS of hers and tries to drift out into him; going as far as making contact. She's done this successfully to Talamo, among others. He just shakes her off, keeps a straight course, takes to pumping and puts her away. Too bad the cutback horse got him late. :rolleyes:

he is the best today........but i think in his prime mr. pincay might have something to say about it......

Pat Day was absolutely perfect at finishing with the chalk and knocking me out of tickets while the rest of the OTB screamed with delight over cashing a 3/5 shot.

Pincay gets my vote.

Sure ain't Bejarano.

What's happened to him lately? It's gotten so bad that the only one he can consistently outfinish in the lane these days is Chantal.

Don't know, not been quite as good lately, and if you're missing a lil you're probably gunna come 2nd, or 3rd. He'll get it back, but(as far as closing goes) he's not in Gomez' league(nobody is though.)

Why are some jockeys $$ one month and then cr*p the next? What makes their rides go so bad? Riding above their talent level? Personal problems? The horse they get? Why do we love them one week and think they suck the next??

Just curious...

There isn't any room for anything but their best potential effort. It's incredibly competitive. Unfortunately, horses often don't win by much out here in SOCAL. That means you need to save ground and/or finish like a madman. You see how tight the 2nd race at Anita was on Friday? The winner was determined by the best ride. There is no doubt in my mind Gomez would of won the last race if he had ridden Squire Trelawny. Bejarano was a little off, and it's enough to get beat. Unfortunately, it often takes a really good ride to win races out here(but not always.)

I wouldn't say their rides go so bad. They often don't have to be that off to get them beat.

what about the shoe eddie d or cordero when the money was down

best closer? Eddy D

and he was riding against the best of the best - :tro:

Go-Go is one heck of a closer, and in the world of all the PVals, its good to see someone make it back and want to stay there. I am very happy when I see him win one be it a Grade 1 or 5k claimer. And I wll admit that I have used some choice words as he has blown by my pick in the stretch to just get up! :D Then I cuss myself cause I should have known better than to not have him.

yes he is..i did see rafie blow by him late in the down hill laughing at go-go

With a lot of those Mitchell's that run down the hill, you just have to stay on board to win. I once wrote Steve about that, and he never wrote anything. Just thought it was Scud writing too much, but it's true. The guy does very well down that hill.

There are very few jockies that ride with the patience and strength down the stretch of a Gomez, I've seen him take horses to the lead and wire fields with a less superior horse in addtition to coming from off the pace. In my opinion he would fit in well when the era of great jockies were plentiful. Guys like Stevens, Bailey, Delahoussaye, Pincay... jockies that have the versatility of judging pace and having the patience and strength down the stretch. There aren't too many jockies with his head and hands in the game today. He's clearly the best we have.