Post Whitney 2015 talk
 

Liams Map reminds me of Cross Traffic, what a race he ran today. Honor Code ran great to win, despite not training all that great coming up to race.

Mike Smith gave one hell of a ride I'm not hating on the ride

Liams Map never out of the money, but the 46 flat I thought
he was cooked, he went on gamely though. Honor Code probably
2nd fav with American Pharoah. Can't think of any sleepers
Texas Red?

No stick. Fell asleep. 5 jumps from the wire he throws a cross too late

Hard to say if he had much left in the tank anyways. Think they should take the "easy" $$ in the BC Dirt Mile but worth trying again at 9f at least as the second place money is just as good as the win money for the Mile preps.

After the race Smith said he hit him once, the horse didn't like it, slowed a bit, so he rode him to the wire. He also took an awkward step near the wire.

I talked with a bunch of people tonight and Liam's Map is the talk of Saratoga.

I was lucky enough flying back from Saratoga today to have Mike Smith on my flight ( to San Diego). I was actually able to talk to him about the Whitney. He said when he hit him once he got mad. He said he thought sure he was going to win until that moment then he thought uh oh. He said you know its funny the paycheck for running second isn't quite as good as running first. I laughed.

Really cool guy to talk to. I was a fan before - now a bigger one.

He turns 50 tomorrow.

Said his horse in the Arlington Million got colic so he is without a mount.

I posted in the Whitney thread that I was using only Wicked Strong and Liams Map. Being objective about it, I only used Wicked Strong because I love him. Like a lot of people do. On beyer and timeform he had to move way up. I thought Liams Map would control, and he did and ran huge. The problem now is what happens next? Would anyone be surprised at all if he never ran again? This was his only hard race, and he obviously has issues. Earlier in the year he was pointing to the Donn and mentioned for the Met Mile. He missed both of those races. I'm a huge fan of his, at this point off of that grueling performance yesterday nothing would surprise me with him moving forward. If he was mine and he was healthy, I would go Kelso and Breeders Cup Mile. Who knows?
On to something else..... I'm as big an AP as any. I love the horse and I love Baffert. I'm not sure AP beats Liams Map yesterday. A lot of people believe its clear cut, I don't think it is.

Gabriel Charles

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/art...th-6433512.php


Still took the blame, expect no less.

"But I can tell you this. I'll bet Mike Smith was beating himself a little bit on the whole plane ride back to California on Saturday night."

He did - except he flew home Sunday AM ;)

What's next -- lunch with The Belmonts?

Ror!!! You and the future Mr. Sightypoo are the new power couple to be reckoned with ........:{>:

:D Hope to see you and your lovely lady!