Talamo
 

I wonder if his riding performance today was enough to cost him the mount?

Mullins won't care ... but I'm not sure about the owners.

Everyone made a big deal about Talamo when he posted those good numbers at Fair Grounds in 2007 before he left for Southern Cal.

In FG dirt races in '07 - he was 66-for-354 for a good 19% win percentage. However - his ROI of $1.36 produced a 32% loss on the dollar - double the takeout. Very poor stuff.

I haven't been all that impressed with what I've seen of him out West either - I think he makes Joel Rosario look like Jerry Bailey.

Riders mean very little overall ... but it's probably better to take one less likely to screw things up when you can.

i only saw the race via the nj thing, so, what is it you saw that looked so bad?

you blame the start on him?

I never thought he was all that great even when he was the live bug rider, if he were replaced, I guess it wouldn't hurt the horse...Then again if Stu Elliot can win a derby, almost anyone else can.

Nothing about his trip was smooth.

My knock on him is not so much that's he's a 19-year-old ... I just think he has the numbers of a guy who is very overrated. And from what I've seen visually - i've been FAR more impressed with other young riders out West like Rosario.

One rider that does impress me is Daniel Centeno from Tampa Downs. He could be a factor once he decides to try a higher profile track.

No doubt he gained a lot from this race ... he took a whole lot of dirt and kickback and everything else.

Gryder just won the Dubai World Cup by 14 - so even mediocre jocks can stumble into perfect trips and they do. He just seems a little higher percentage to screw it and he's overrated from a performance versus expectation standpoint according to the numbers.

If anything Talamo shold be considered to ride for all IEAH mounts. Horse broke slow but the kid never rushed his horse an guided him throughout, shifted outside and never showed the stick. Very classy and patient ride by Talamo.

I have no idea why people blame him for the poor break.

I may be nuts, but I agree with everything you've said. According to the post race interview, the 1 horse spooked IWR in some way just before the break.

What the hell could he have done better after the break? He didn't panic, let the horse settle into stride and patiently waited for a hole to open. Yeah, he left a little to chance, but I prefer a jockey who trusts a good horse to put himself in position to win, over one who gets flustered and rushes a horse after a bad break or goes stupid wide to try to assure running room. Less is more on a horse like this.

I prefer a jockey with a long record of good rides in pressure situations - you can have all the 19 yo's you want who made a big name for themselves by losing at double the takeout from over 300 dirt mounts at FG.

I guess if I didn't have some mix of $20 and $5 future book exactas at fixed odds with IWR over QR, IC, OF, WSB, field and Patena ... I wouldn't much care who rides him.

Agree.

Beautiful win and I don't give a crap how unpopular this is but congrats to Mullins.

Great win... love this horse.

edit - Not deleting what i said but **** this was before the detention barn episode...

you are right on the mark , he showed a cool head imo.

Maybe they should put him on Stardom Bound instead of Mike"choke boy"Smith.:eek:

I'm not Mike Smith's biggest fan, but please elaborate on how a rider who has won as many big races as Mike Smith has can be considered a choker.

Stardom Bound is a mediocrity. Mike Smith had zero to do with her performance today.

Centeno rode at Monmouth last year. He is no kid, I believe he is 37 or 38 years old.

Did you watch the start of the Excelsior?

Wow. Smith's a choker? Tough crowd!

What did he do wrong?

Rode an overrated horse

her last few starts have indicated the gap between her and her peers was closing quickly. today is an indication that gap has been shut. it's no surprise to me that she lost today. if anything, i'm surprised she made it to april without losing. it wasn't smiths fault, it's no one's fault. maybe she's precocious like her sire and dam?