Mike Smith takes off 'Bird for Belmont

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Dominguez for sure; GG would 'over power' him.

Agreed,Big Time!Gomez would beat the sh.it out of him.

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Lumpkins is available for the mount on MTB in the Belmont.

I have to get up off the floor from laughing so hard!!! Is he still at Mountaineer??

[The Indomitable DrugS]

He's only ridden 14 so far this year .. they think he's Kenny Powers down there but he's just keeping himself fresh and primed for the big comeback.

[Indian Charlie]

Lumpkins? I remember him! Wasn't he always getting in trouble?

Where's his next comeback going to happen? Someplace even worse than MNR?

[Left Bank]

I'm waiting for him to make his triumphant return to Canterbury

[The Indomitable DrugS]

People forget the greatness that was 'the Lumpy' back in the day.

7 straight years of profitability in route races from '96-to-'02..

'96: 45-for-226 ($2.38 ROI)
'97: 55-for-239 ($2.19 ROI)
'98: 56-for-232 ($2.31 ROI)
'99: 72-for-269 ($2.52 ROI)
'00: 67-for-314 ($2.16 ROI)
'01: 128-for-498 ($2.29 ROI)
'02: 134-for-530 ($2.09 ROI)

Combined 7 year total in routes from '96 through '02: 557-for-2,308 (24% wins) $2.25 ROI

He was actually profitable with all of his mounts in 2008 ... 35-for-247 with a $2.01 ROI

So even when he's in outer space he can still ride.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Gomez once went 23-for-53 with a $2.43 ROI at Sunland Park when he rode part of a meet in 2002.

That was before his great comeback. I assume he becomes the favorite to get the mount if RA goes in the Belmont ... if only for his Sunland connection.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

If Rachel goes I'd like to see either Dominguez or Gomez on Mine That Bird.

NT

I'd like to see Casey Lambert back on him...Since BTW thinks it doesn't matter.

[jpops757]

Originally Posted by CSC

Honestly MTB hasn't had who I would regard as a top rider on him yet, Chantal, Lambert, Borel, Smith. If Wooley makes the right choice the horse is bound to get a jockey upgrade in the Belmont.

after looking back and listening to bailey and stevens, ther wasnt another jockey that would have found the inside move that Borel made in the derby. Noone would have scraped the paint like Calvin. It gets old all this stuff about luck. He does this consistsntly, so it must be more than luck.

[JerseyJ]

Speaking of Maragh, I still can't get the image out of my head of maybe 2 or 3years ago on Derby Day when I bet Al Basha in a comeback race I believe, and Rajiv Maragh is riding him, he suddenly spurts to a 3-length lead or so in midstretch, and I think I am home free, and then whoops, all of a sudden Maragh just falls off...

[cowgirlintexas]

I think P. Val is available

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by Left Bank

Agreed,Big Time!Gomez would beat the sh.it out of him.

You mean like he did to Scrappy T? Oh wait, that was Dominguez.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

You make it sound like guys like Gomez, Dominguez, Prado (whoever you are considering top tier jockeys) are incapable of giving a bum ride. Whoever gets him next probably won't have to worry about navigating around 12 or 18 other horses, the way Borel and Smith did. But reguardless, he seems to be a nice horse (I'll admit I was wrong and thought that he would be off the board at Pimlico) and reguardless who is on him I think he has a good shot in NY if he runs.

Riding at Belmont is alot different than riding at other tracks, being that it is a 1 1/2 oval. Regardless of what I believe, given that N.Y boasts a very deep Jockey colony I have no trouble asserting that Mine That Bird will not be hurt by Smith's departure. I see the obvious names have been mentioned already but you could name any of the top current 9 in the standings and you would probably gain something on the Jockey change. Borel is good at CD, but did anyone watch him at Oaklawn? Personally I would love to see Lezcano get the chance on the big stage, his style would suit MTB's preferred running style.

[gales0678]

I would use the Mig - Richard Miglore

[Fearless Leader]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Unless Gomez is getting the mount back on Dunkirk, the Belmont winner, I bet he is trying hard to ride Mine That Bird......as are about ten riders.

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING ?

[Danzig]

they ought to call edgar.

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by JerseyJ

Speaking of Maragh, I still can't get the image out of my head of maybe 2 or 3years ago on Derby Day when I bet Al Basha in a comeback race I believe, and Rajiv Maragh is riding him, he suddenly spurts to a 3-length lead or so in midstretch, and I think I am home free, and then whoops, all of a sudden Maragh just falls off...

I remember that race,it got ugly real quick when he fell off.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Fearless Leader

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING ?

Yeah, it's very un BTW like to say something like that so far in advance of race day.

[2Hot4TV]

You need a rider that can reach into his bag of tricks! Kent Desormeaux.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

You need a rider that can reach into his bag of tricks! Kent Desormeaux.

ugh

sometimes his bag of tricks makes you wonder what he's smoking.