Belmont angle

[JJP]

I don't have numbers on this but I've heard in the past that a workout over the Belmont track has been an extremely important angle historically. While quite a few Belmont Stakes entrants have at least one previous work over the track, including Summer Bird, it should be pointed out that one horse who didn't have the work over the track was Mine that Bird, the 6-5 chalk.

Interesting in that Ice got Summer Bird to Belmont early enough to have 2 drills over the track and he remarked early on that the horse initially didn't seem to care for the track but as time went on he said SB handled it better.

The 4 entrants who didn't have a workout over the Belmont strip:
Mr. Hot Stuff, Luv Guv, Mine that Bird and Flying Private.

While no one angle should be bet blindly, this one should be kept in mind, if no other reason than to find a reason to toss out an overbet favorite.

[DaTruth]

Da'Tara didn't have a work over the track last year, but Big Brown did.

[the_fat_man]

There's no way to prepare a horse to withstand a premature move in a race. No horse wins with that type of move.

[NTamm1215]

There were plenty of reasons why Summer Bird won today and I'd have to imagine having a workout at the track was far down the list.

NT

[Stickhorse]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

There's no way to prepare a horse to withstand a premature move in a race. No horse wins with that type of move.

Lots of premature move comments after the race.

Seems like a jock does not have much choice when you've done all you can to keep a horse relaxed yet he is rank and wants to run.

Mine that Bird was the third best horse on the track Saturday.

But if the Mine That Bird had kept it going and won well Calvin would be a hero!

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by Stickhorse

Lots of premature move comments after the race.

Seems like a jock does not have much choice when you've done all you can to keep a horse relaxed yet he is rank and wants to run.

Mine that Bird was the third best horse on the track Saturday.

But if the Mine That Bird had kept it going and won well Calvin would be a hero!

I agree with you there. During the running of the race around the far turn who really believed he would have lost that race?

Ron Turcotte made a premature move with Secratariat but no one ever questioned him.



Monday morning quarterbacking.

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by Port Conway Lane

I agree with you there. During the running of the race around the far turn who really believed he would have lost that race?

Ron Turcotte made a premature move with Secratariat but no one ever questioned him.



Monday morning quarterbacking.

I'm sure very many believed he would lose the race. It's a long race. Smarty Jones and Real Quiet weren't that long ago were they?

Secretariat and Mine That Bird are not the same species. Without Monday morning quarterbacking, these boards would not be in existence. What else is there to question in this race?? Everyone harped about the reason for Mine That Bird's huge improvement in the TC races was saving his move. The excuse in the Sunland races for the horse was Lambert rushed him way too early. Woolley has gone on and on and on on the fact that the horse runs 3 furlongs. It seemed pretty obvious the same thing happened yesterday. It seems a pretty obvious thing to discuss.

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

I'm sure very many believed he would lose the race. It's a long race. Smarty Jones and Real Quiet weren't that long ago were they?

Secretariat and Mine That Bird are not the same species. Without Monday morning quarterbacking, these boards would not be in existence. What else is there to question in this race?? Everyone harped about the reason for Mine That Bird's huge improvement in the TC races was saving his move. The excuse in the Sunland races for the horse was Lambert rushed him way too early. Woolley has gone on and on and on on the fact that the horse runs 3 furlongs. It seemed pretty obvious the same thing happened yesterday. It seems a pretty obvious thing to discuss.

I agree there should be discussion.I believe MTB ran a race that many thought he couldn't, coming from behind in a race that historically has favored horses on or near the pace. He made what looked like a winning move around the far turn and couldn't sustain it.He is not Secretariat. That is my point. I don't believe Borel thought he was going to lose that race when he began his move and he had the horse to put away the field when he began that run.He could have waited patiently and let the frontrunners get the jump on him. He chose not to and because he faded in the stretch it is oh so easy to question his tactics.Maybe MTB should have moved sooner in the Preakness.I never heard anyone question Smith's tactics in that race.With good reason.

The horse wasn't good enough to win. It was Summer Bird's day.