Chop Chop moves tack to SoCal

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Do you want me to put up more?

Everyone that has any knowledge of the jock situation in So Cal knows all about Kent's problems with trainers. I forgot about the weight issue as well but that ties in with his reputation for being lazy. Everyone knows that his rep in So Cal was that he doesnt ride cheap horses. I have to seriously question how in touch with things you really are out there Rupert.

Kent is a hall of fame rider. I dont think i have to go over his resume. The trainers never questioned his ability to ride horses, they just grew tired of wondering if he was going to make weight, show up in the mornings or ride out to the wire. The trainers wouldnt have given him the amount of chances that they did without him being exceptional.

Calling a rider with that resume "average" and implying that he would get outridden by the likes of Juan Ochoa is just dumb.

There are plenty of riders that aren't great that are in the Hall of Fame. Mike Smith is in the Hall of Fame. He's alright but he's not as good as the top guys. I would say the same thing about Desormeaux.

As I said before, if Desormeuax is going out there every morning and working his butt off, he's not going to have a reputation of being lazy. It doesn't make sense.

I can practically guarantee you that if I ask Ron Ellis and Richard Mandella the following question, that I know what their answer will be. I will ask them the following question: I noticed that you rarely ride Kent Desormeaux. Is it beacause you don't like his attitude or is it because you think the other riders you use are better riders? I guarantee you that they will say that they think these other riders are better.

I can guarantee you that Baffert would say the same thing. He would say that Gomez, Espinoza, etc. are better riders. I don't really know Baffert well enough to ask him but I could have a friend ask him.