One of the greatest 11.25 length defeats by a filly in history

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Instead of opting to concede an easy lead to Rachel Alexandra - which Borel tried to force him to do by floating him out - Johnny V. - no doubt following instructions - decided to go on a suicide mission with Life At Ten. Those two quickly opened up 15 lengths on the rest of the field.

I just watched the race again to reconfirm what I thought I saw during the live running of it. Where exactly does Borel ever urge her to the front? (Maybe ever so slightly out of the gate.) Typically horses on 'suicide missions' are, very visibly, urged. In fact, it's clear in the run to the 1st turn, and in the run around the 2nd turn on the headon, that there's quite a bit of slack on the reins. In other words, Borel is long reining rather than restraining her. So, she was given her head and was going nicely as Borel never made the effort to either urge her or restrain her. She did it all well within herself and just flat out collapsed late.

Looks like they either didn't tie her tongue down or didn't do a good job of it, as she's got it out during the entire running of the race.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I just watched the race again to reconfirm what I thought I saw during the live running of it. Where exactly does Borel ever urge her to the front? (Maybe ever so slightly out of the gate.) Typically horses on 'suicide missions' are visibly urged. In fact, it's clear in the run to the 1st turn, and in the run around the 2nd turn on the headon, that there's quite a bit of slack on the reins. In other words, Borel is long reigning rather than restraining her. So, she was given her head and was going nicely as Borel never made the effort to either urge her or restrain her. She did it all well within herself and just flat out collapsed late.

Looks like they either didn't tie her tongue down or didn't do a good job of it as she's got it out during the entire running of the race.

Was the same way in the last race.

[Cannon Shell]

It looked to me like the two jocks thought it was strictly a 2 horse race and rode to simply try to beat the other. I enjoyed seeing it but Shugs horse clunked up to win.

And the idea of a tongue tie is to prevnt the tongue from being pulled back into the throat which can cause interference with the breathing mechanism, hanging out is of no signifigance since they breathe through their nostrils.

[Round Pen]

[quote=Cannon Shell;689701]It looked to me like the two jocks thought it was strictly a 2 horse race and rode to simply try to beat the other. I enjoyed seeing it but Shugs horse clunked up to win.


Absolutely 100% Correct

[Danzig]

[quote=Round Pen;689708]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

It looked to me like the two jocks thought it was strictly a 2 horse race and rode to simply try to beat the other. I enjoyed seeing it but Shugs horse clunked up to win.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Absolutely 100% Correct

i thought cannon was correct also. they completely ignored the other horses. it cost both of them.

[cmorioles]

I would say the race wasn't that great. Sure, the pace was on the quick side, but the final time is pathetic. I don't think the pace explains all of it, or the little bit of wide on the first turn. RA and LAT ran better than the Beyer will indicate for sure, but it wasn't that great.

[Smooth Operator]

Yeah, that :47.73 first half was brutal.

[clyde]

Sometime people will overlook a great race as they get caught up in the "intellectual" aspect.



I think it's always a great race when a 21:1 runs down a big fave.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I would say the race wasn't that great. Sure, the pace was on the quick side, but the final time is pathetic. I don't think the pace explains all of it, or the little bit of wide on the first turn. RA and LAT ran better than the Beyer will indicate for sure, but it wasn't that great.

For a 3rd beaten 11.25 lengths with a Beyer in the 70's - it was a great performance. Great in relation to the running line it yields obviously.

I even liked Miss Singhsix's race - even though she was a mile off of the pace early - and ended up finishing 4th by 16.5 lengths.

Persistantly is a grinder and has been successful as a closing sprinter - Miss Singhsix is a slowpoke who's never even attempted a sprint race in her career - she moved WAY too soon imo. Valdivia should have had her 20+ lengths behind that pace instead of just 15.

Miss Singhsix ended up running her final half mile in 53.83 seconds - after making a huge middle move in tandem with Persist.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

And the idea of a tongue tie is to prevnt the tongue from being pulled back into the throat which can cause interference with the breathing mechanism, hanging out is of no signifigance since they breathe through their nostrils.

No doubt. However, shouldn't it be tied down sufficiently so that the horse can 'focus' on running, rather than paying with its (significantly extended) tongue, as RA was doing?

[the_fat_man]

Some interesting post race comments:

'Calvin Borel, rider of runner-up Rachel Alexandra (No. 2): “She just got outrun. I had everything my way, and she just got outrun.
“After we put away Life At Ten at the quarter pole, I didn’t feel any acceleration and I got worried. She wasn’t really there. I knew if anyone was running behind us, we were in trouble. If you can’t take the losing with the winning, you can’t be in the game.”

'Shug McGaughey, winning trainer of Persistently (No. 3):“I thought that [Rachel Alexandra] might be a little vulnerable going a mile and a quarter, and I knew we’d run a mile and a quarter. I knew we would run a mile and a quarter. Her female family runs a long way.....We were just lucky enough to pick up the pieces.”

' John Velazquez, jockey aboard third-place finisher Life At Ten (No. 4):
“That was a speed duel. I thought my filly would be on the lead, [Calvin Borel, jockey aboard Rachel Alexandra (No. 2)] would rate in second, but he sent her out and got in the lead and all that did was create more problems for my horse because now she was engaged. But I wasn’t going to take her back; I just left her alone. I wasn’t going to go back either, so I just held my position and left it alone. The half-mile pole came and I thought she was dead and then the three eighths pole came and she was done. Nothing left"

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Some interesting post race comments:

'Calvin Borel, rider of runner-up Rachel Alexandra (No. 2): “She just got outrun. I had everything my way, and she just got outrun.
“After we put away Life At Ten at the quarter pole, I didn’t feel any acceleration and I got worried. She wasn’t really there. I knew if anyone was running behind us, we were in trouble. If you can’t take the losing with the winning, you can’t be in the game.”

'Shug McGaughey, winning trainer of Persistently (No. 3):“I thought that [Rachel Alexandra] might be a little vulnerable going a mile and a quarter, and I knew we’d run a mile and a quarter. I knew we would run a mile and a quarter. Her female family runs a long way.....We were just lucky enough to pick up the pieces.”

' John Velazquez, jockey aboard third-place finisher Life At Ten (No. 4):
“That was a speed duel. I thought my filly would be on the lead, [Calvin Borel, jockey aboard Rachel Alexandra (No. 2)] would rate in second, but he sent her out and got in the lead and all that did was create more problems for my horse because now she was engaged. But I wasn’t going to take her back; I just left her alone. I wasn’t going to go back either, so I just held my position and left it alone. The half-mile pole came and I thought she was dead and then the three eighths pole came and she was done. Nothing left"

Both RA and Life At Ten were dead after a half mile. It's a true testament to Life At Ten that she was able to run her final six furlongs in a sensational 1:18.78 seconds after what happened in the first four furlongs.

Rachel Alexandra got her final six furlongs in an absolutely dazzling 1:16.94 seconds considering the pace.

That's called a speed duel. Borel doesn't want to admit he was involved in one because he doesn't want blame for the result.

Borel rode a perfect race - he tried to discourage Velazquez from commiting suicide by floating him out - but Johnny V. never backed down. If I was Borel I would have said the exact same thing. If you admit you got involved in a duel - you're just giving an owner an excuse to replace you.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

No doubt. However, shouldn't it be tied down sufficiently so that the horse can 'focus' on running, rather than paying with its (significantly extended) tongue, as RA was doing?

You tie it down as deep in the mouth as possible. The part of the tongue that you see isnt signifigant. It is really a non issue.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

It looked to me like the two jocks thought it was strictly a 2 horse race and rode to simply try to beat the other. I enjoyed seeing it but Shugs horse clunked up to win.

And the idea of a tongue tie is to prevnt the tongue from being pulled back into the throat which can cause interference with the breathing mechanism, hanging out is of no signifigance since they breathe through their nostrils.

[Smooth Operator]

As we said many months ago … RA is just like her old man … a good 9f runner … but clearly vulnerable at ten.


Gotta luv classic distance races

Almost always expose the PRETENDERS…

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

As we said many months ago … RA is just like her old man … a good 9f runner … but clearly vulnerable at ten.


Gotta luv classic distance races

Almost always expose the PRETENDERS…

Yes, 10 furlongs over real dirt is the test of greatness.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

As we said many months ago … RA is just like her old man … a good 9f runner … but clearly vulnerable at ten.


Gotta luv classic distance races

Almost always expose the PRETENDERS…

You may require a tongue tie despite being a noted mouth breather. Perhaps your boy Lane could use a tongue tie as well.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

You may require a tongue tie despite being a noted mouth breather.

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

You may require a tongue tie despite being a noted mouth breather. Perhaps your boy Lane could use a tongue tie as well.

Was thrilled to see Pat come home for good

Future looking VERY bright