John R. Velazquez

[estreetposse]

I don't think he's been right since going down on Massoud in the Opener.

[fpsoxfan]

Something seems amiss. Obviously Pletcher is not having his usual dominating year which has had an affect on Gomez as well. Can you think of some other Jockey's who just may have hammered a way through with Octave yesterday?

[ELA]

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

Something seems amiss. Obviously Pletcher is not having his usual dominating year which has had an affect on Gomez as well. Can you think of some other Jockey's who just may have hammered a way through with Octave yesterday?

No, I can't think of a jock who would have hammered a way through because regardless of the jock, whoever would have been riding Octave, the jock would not have been sitting on enough horse to hammer a way through.

Eric

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by ELA

No, I can't think of a jock who would have hammered a way through because regardless of the jock, whoever would have been riding Octave, the jock would not have been sitting on enough horse to hammer a way through.

Eric

Fair enough. I never saw the head on of the race. That's why I asked.
I'm fairly certain he's still going to be in the top 3 when everything is said and done.

[Scav]

An angle to consider in the coming weeks is to play against some of Mott's horses. He has had these horses so keyed up for this meet that you would have to think that some of them will regress at the end of this meet or the Belmont Fall.

[ELA]

That's one of the downsides in riding first call for a barn like Pletcher -- although there has never truly been a barn like his before. You get so caught up, committed, etc. in working with this barn, when the barn doesn't fire (that bar is set pretty high) you don't have a lot else lined up, to fall back on, etc. Now, it hasn't been an issue for a very long time -- time after time Pletcher fires on all cylinders, meet after meet, year after year.

But what most people don't understand is that when your first call barn doesn't fire -- it's too late to go find other spots. You've already lined up your calls. In some cases, people don't call on you because they know you are committed, and in other cases, you've already said you've taken a call so they have gone elsewhere. Every single horse that races back (everyone excluding the winner) is a tough mount to get because someone else already got the call and wants to ride back.

Johnny is a talented rider. He will always be at or near the top.

Eric

[fpsoxfan]

That's right..I forgot about that spill at keeneland.

[Ronnie]

I think it is Pletcher, not JV.

[MaTH716]

It seems like the other trainers have these 2 year olds ready to go at first asking, and that is the area that JV and Pletcher have teamed up for so many winners in past years. Bill Mott never used to have the firsters so primed up in past years, but everything he put out now is live. It just seems JV and even Prado (even though he is 3rd in the standings) have not been in the winners circle that much. Face it, if your name is not Velasquez, Desormeaux or Borel you are having mediocore meet.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

I think it is Pletcher, not JV.

Right you are.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

He hasn't been the same since his fall last year at Keeneland IMO. However, I don't think anyone could have got through yesterday. Octave didn't look like she wanted any part of coming through that hole.

Agreed.

Eric