Baffert, Point Given among Hall of Fame finalists

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Baffert among Hall of Fame finalists
By Jay Privman

Trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, is on the ballot for the first time as a finalist for the Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Baffert is one of just two finalists for trainer along with the late Bob Wheeler, mirroring last year's ballot, when Wheeler was a finalist with Carl Nafzger, who was elected.

A minimum of two and maximum of four finalists can be named in four categories, according to rules currently in place by the Hall of Fame. In the other three categories, there were three finalists each. According to the Hall's current rules, only one can get in from each category, unless there is a tie for first.

Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, and Alex Solis - all of whom have been finalists before - are the jockeys up for election.

Best Pal, Point Given, and Tiznow are the finalists in the contemporary male category.

The contemporary female category numbers Open Mind, Silverbulletday, and Sky Beauty.

Baffert trained Point Given and Silverbulletday.

The 11 finalists were chosen from a pool of 91 nominees by the Hall's 16-member nominating committee. A total of 180 people will receive ballots. The winners will be inducted in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 14.

steve - i was a fan of steady edidie but are any of these 3 really hall of famer?

i think of cordero , vasquez, day , mccaron , bailey to name a few but i don't know about these 3 - any thoughts if any of the 3 will make it?

[Kasept]

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

agreed -

[sumitas]

What is Baffert's record insofar as suspensions for drug abuse of his horses ?

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by sumitas

What is Baffert's record insofar as suspensions for drug abuse of his horses ?

There was the morphine suspension in 2001 that eventually got thrown out in court. Don't know if there were any others.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

There was the morphine suspension in 2001 that eventually got thrown out in court. Don't know if there were any others.

Wasn't there a controversy regarding War Emblem after Baffert took over for Reavis, a drug to help out his joints?

[slotdirt]

War Emblem was always rumored to have been nerve blocked in the Belmont, but what do I know?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by CSC

Wasn't there a controversy regarding War Emblem after Baffert took over for Reavis, a drug to help out his joints?

He took over from Frank Springer. War Emblem dusted my future book bet Repent by 6+ lengths and got a 112 Beyer in his final Derby prep.

Considering the pokey pace in that years Derby - and WE's candy trip - I doubt Baffert moved him up a yard.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

How about Earlie Fires? Isn't he in there?

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

I beg to differ. At least Kent can ride when he wants to and actually has a strong sense of pace/race dynamics. Maple was a wide riding, clueless clown whose best attribute was that he was WHITE, and how Romero ever got in the mix (and Solis) is just flat out ridiculous. Romero? Solis? Maple? What is this the SPECIAL, the CHALLENGED Hall of Fame for jocks? Who's next, Luzzi and Potts?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I beg to differ. At least Kent can ride when he wants to and actually has a strong sense of pace/race dynamics. Maple was a wide riding, clueless clown whose best attribute was that he was WHITE, and how Romero ever got in the mix (and Solis) is just flat out ridiculous. Romero? Solis? Maple? What is this the SPECIAL, the CHALLENGED Hall of Fame for jocks? Who's next, Luzzi and Potts?

I agree.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I agree.

hall of fame s/b tough tough tough to get into , even above avg riders should not get in , but once 1 gets in , then u can make a point for many other above avg riders

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I beg to differ. At least Kent can ride when he wants to and actually has a strong sense of pace/race dynamics. Maple was a wide riding, clueless clown whose best attribute was that he was WHITE, and how Romero ever got in the mix (and Solis) is just flat out ridiculous. Romero? Solis? Maple? What is this the SPECIAL, the CHALLENGED Hall of Fame for jocks? Who's next, Luzzi and Potts?

Maple rode many if not most of Woody Stephens' horses in the 1970s and 1980s. I don't think he would have riden him if he was so clueless. There have been jocks who are in the hall that have indicated that it is a great over-sight that Eddie hasn't gotten in. But we are all going to like certain riders for certain reasons. The hall is for what they have accomplished in their career. I wince at some who get in so early. But to throw Luzzi into this is a bit silly, don't you think?