Hangin' With Haskin - All Comments

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Coldfacts — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:21:53 GMT

Energy Spirit:

When a Todd Pletched horse walks out of the gates, erases big deficit, wins by 3L and return to the winner’s enclosure on the muscle, it is one to be followed with reservation. This colt went off at odds of 26-1 suggesting it was not impressing the clockers. It turns up and spots the field and blow by them with ease. It brings back too many memories of Pluck.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Floridabred — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:55:50 GMT

VE undoubtedly is in danger of "losing his ride" on California Chrome. "He's in the finest shape I've ever seen him" - no wait - "He was only about 40% to 60% ready for the Penn Derby" - no wait - film at eleven p.m.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Floridabred — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:42:19 GMT

Mike Smith, being the spiritual man he is... I doubt he would voice his feelings in such a direct threat. But, if Jerry Hollendorfer wasn't going to say anything but "We're all big boys here...", maybe it takes a superior rider and a grown man and Hall of Famer to make true feelings known. I would not have warned Victor Espinosa to "keep walking"... I would have taken a piece of him right then and there. Oh, but that's right, it's just a "game" and worth zillions of dollars in about thirty days or less. Business is business, or... is it ?.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Floridabred — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:18:45 GMT

Palace Malice will be back, you can count on that. I was so looking forward to another race between Palace Malice and "The 2013 Horse of The Year", Will Take Charge.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Householder — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 06:02:35 GMT

The same stewards give Easy Goer the Preakness and then give Pat Day days off for a poor ride. It's race riding! Did Easy Goer like being pinned on the rail. Didn't appear so. Did Pat V enjoy having to check on the far turn behind Houston? Probably not based on his comments on NBC "Pat tried to screw me the whole way around and couldn't do it." Jockeys trying to pin horses, float horses wide etc. etc. is part of the sport.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Mike Relva — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 04:09:58 GMT

Smoking Baby

Regarding Invasor,visited him a couple times in the past few years.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

slee — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 03:43:28 GMT

It was quite a day of racing.

Points have been well covered already, so I'll just stick in 2 things -

first, the reporter asking the questions after the Awesome Again was not Bob Costas. The races were on NBC Sports, not NBC "proper", but I'm blanking on the name of the reporter who does their trackside interviews. TVG has their race analysis up on YouTube but I can't find NBC's....

Second, in my mind, pushing a horse wide and out of his game is different than running a rabbit. In theory, anyway, a racehorse could ignore the rabbit, but you can't ignore being forced wide. Now, with Dr. Fager, a rabbit would incite him to fury and expending all sorts of energy too soon, but many horses can be trained to lay off rabbits. Having said that, I didn't think SB was pushed way, way out, and 7 days seems pretty stiff.

But I loved Beholder's win this past weekend, and I held my breath for Artemis Agrotera's "Forego Conclusion" at Belmont (sorry, La Verdad - you ran a wonderful race, but I love AA). Go get 'em ladies!

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Kyri — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 02:59:56 GMT

Shared Belief, while I didn't like seeing him have such a hard prep, might possibly improve in his second trip over the Santa Anita track, as horses will sometimes do on a surface new to them.

In terms of the suspension? I think it should have been longer. Because Sky Kingdom was ridden, deliberately, in a way that gave him no chance to win, and little chance to even finish second or third -- and he probably took quite a bit of "underneath" money, though not mine. To me that's a pretty short distance away from cheating. At best it defrauds the betting public. And I can't believe that it's a coincidence that Fed Biz shares a trainer with Sky Kingdom, though I don't think the details will ever be revealed.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Aluminaut — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 01:45:43 GMT

Smoking Baby,

I thought of Invasor also after reading that comment. Decided not to log in to post. After reading your comment, I had to stand up for Invasor. He didn't have the good early runners and isn't getting many mares from this hemisphere even for 4k. He doesn't have the numbers even if he gets a couple good ones in the next year or two. What a racehorse he was. Maybe he'll be a good broodmare sire.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

The Doctor — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:05:50 GMT

Deacon,

Your spot on with you last comment - "nuff said"

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Sardot — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 23:55:45 GMT

Espinosa's dirty riding wasn't unfair to just the horse and his owners. What about the betting public. I don't think a 7-day suspension was nearly enough. He wasn't riding his mount to win the race. He was there to disrupt the race.

re: Bombs Away in the JC Gold Cup

hopalong — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 23:26:53 GMT

Wicked Strong was the only horse in the Gold Cup to test free of any substance. Ask NYRA.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

greyghost — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 23:00:34 GMT

The usual congenial Mike Smith was nowhere to be seen after the Awesome Again & who can blame him? He took a tumble in the previous race & then experienced what he felt was undo pressure from Sky Kingdom in the following race. "We're all big boys here" according to Hollendorfer, but then he didn't have to put up with Espinoza's antics.

Plus we don't know that Smith didn't have a splitting headache as a result of the fall or a general feeling of uneasiness that only compounded the duress of a hotly contested race. So sorry that Espinoza felt disrespected, but if the shoe was on the other foot he would have plenty to complain about. Thank goodness no horse or rider was injured as a result of the failed tactics of Espinoza, only hurt feelings.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

hank — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 22:57:56 GMT

Thank you Mr Haskin for Explaining to most people on this site that the fine line of race riding and lack of effort on part of jockey is the real key here, I have been around track a long time,letting horse drift out happens every day, maybe he got just a little carried away with that, but he made SB look like a better horse.His acceptance of suspension was a little surprise, but on stewards call of lack of effort he has no recourse. To bad, but will make BC more interesting

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

The Deacon — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:23:54 GMT

Sceptre: I respectfully disagree with your comment that you are dumbfounded by most bloggers posts.

Whether they disagree with you or not they are entitled to their opinion.

People see these races differently. No one knows what goes on in the mind of these jockeys during a race except the jockeys.

I don't believe that Espinosa is a dirty rider, far from it. I posted that sometimes horses drift while racing and Shared Belief just got caught on his outside. Whether that was intentional or not only Victor knows.

Do I think jockeys can sabotage a race by their riding tactics, absolutely but its to prove. I don't feel a 7 day suspension was warranted but my guess is that the stewards wanted to send a message. I don't agree with Bailey's after race comments but he's entitled to them.

As far as California Chrome being sabotaged, I have no idea about that.

I do know this, when he draws the inside post he usually doesn't fire. Its safe to say that the horse really dislikes being down on the rail. This isn't the 1st time and it won't be the last that this happens.

Problem is, the race was on a big stage and everyone saw so they're drawn their conclusions.

As far as rabbits, Steve is Hedevar and Damascus were trained by Whiteley, same stable. Everyone knew why Hedevar was in the race. Not all stablemates entered in a big race had the talent as Damascus did.

Its all relative, each race is different.

I think we all, myself included need to just allow folks to state their opinions without the same bloggers always trying to tear apart their beliefs.

Disagree without being disagreeable..........nuff said....

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

livewire — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:50:38 GMT

Smoking baby, I agree with you on the other disparaging comment regarding the quality of west coast vs. east coast turf horses. It appeared to be biased reporting which seems out of character for Randy Moss. I wasn't as much surprised by Jerry Bailey's comments who can be quite opinionated and quite often wrong. I am grateful for Laffit Pincay and while I wish Gary Stevens well in his quest to return to riding, I think his observations were more accurate when on the broadcasting team.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

woodshadefarm — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 19:12:05 GMT

Mike Smith telling Espinoza to keep walking or he would cut his head off. Don't like Smith anymore.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

datflippinrabbit — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:57:12 GMT

Victor Espinosa rode his horse exactly the way a rabbit should be ridden,and got grounded for a week.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

rachel fan — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:45:19 GMT

JayJay: Energy Spirit reminded me of Rydilluc the way his elongated stride made him seem almost airborne. He seems to be even more high-headed than other Medaglia D'oro's. I wonder how much more ground he'd cover if he lowered his head and really stretched out. Can't wait to see him run again.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Smoking Baby — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:14:21 GMT

Coldfacts.

Ooooh. Invasor was good too. He's right up there with the other two mentioned. Wish he was a better sire, but oh what a runner.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Kimmons Mitchell — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:54:42 GMT

Haskin as always a good article. What I see is a can of worms has been opened with the penalty that has been imposed on Victor that can not be closed. The stewards will be held to that standard by the Fans, Trainers, Owners, Jockeys and the media when they perceive another Jockey has targeted them or Jockeys. I watched the race and saw nothing that I have not seen many times before. I don't think for a minute Victor had any intentions of impeding the other horse, but in any case it has been done and I think we all will live to regret that decision. I have seen California Chrome blocked in two different races, one being the Belmont and the other the PA Derby of course we don't know if he would have won but the opportunity in my opinion was taken from him. I did not hear anyone one saying anything about those races other than that is horse racing other than the fans of CC and a few writers! There were no penalties imposed on the Jockeys involved in either race and it was obvious what they were doing. In my humble opinion what is Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander!! Go Wise Dan!!

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Quinnbit — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:51:39 GMT

Love 'em all,

"Only his hairdresser knows for sure!"

I do agree, it is very unbecoming. Perhaps all the Europeans coming in for Breeder's Cup, with their long bushy tails, could each donate a few strands to the Pharaoh, a most worthy cause.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Coldfacts — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:06:12 GMT

Long River/Footbridge

I am of the opinion the above horses should be removed from their current trainers. They are both well bred horses with ability but neither of their trainers have been able to get them to perform consistently at an acceptable level.

One should not be fooled by Long River’s performance in the JCGC. His best performances have been at either Belmont or Aqueduct. He contested races at Charles Town, Churchill Downs, Monmouth & Saratoga and have not hit the board. He appears to be a two track horse. His record away from those two NY tracks is consistent that of his trainer as Mr.McLaughlin rarely ships and wins. To take this horse to Santa Anita would be an excise in futility given his performance when he ships.

Footbridge walked into the parade ring for the Awesome Again looking either drunk or tranquilized. The fact that he ran so well suggested the 4YO has a ton of ability that is being suppressed by his current handlers. He won a 10F two races back in a good time of 2:01.94 and at the end of the Awesome Again had absolutely no gallop out which coincided lethargy he displayed in the parade ring. I do not believe that under his current handlers he can be seriously competitive against top class horses.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Quinnbit — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:55:22 GMT

It is sad day for me when the sport/game/business has been been transformed into jockey racing. Tactic this, ruling that, suspension here, analyst there; aren't the horses being ignored, shameful, it is horse racing afterall.

I quote the late great Bill Shoemaker when queried if he was going to win a race, "If that ol' horse carries me 'round there fast enough I will.", words of wisdom for all to ponder.

Paula Higgins,

You touched on the subject of inconsistency by stewards. One of the most highly respected stewards the game has ever known, Pete Pederson, had a very simple philosophy for his job-always be consistent. The fact that the talk on this blog is mostly about the jockeys is an indictment of the stewards through their lack of control of the jockey colonies at the respective tracks where the incidents occurred. I'm not naive (thanks Sceptre), they can't prevent incidents from occurring, but they can and should be firm in telling the jockeys what is expected of their riding, if the expected is deviated from consequences should be warranted. Of course, I would never be a good steward because I'm much too gregarious on one hand and too stern on the other, hard for me to find the happy medium, not being a politician hurts also.

re: Haskin: Thoughts on a Super Saturday

Love 'em all — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:41:08 GMT

Always think of War Pass, now deceased, when reading about horses with a target on their backs. To me, WP was never the same after his race in the Tampa Bay Derby in 2008. Enough said. Hope Shared Belief is able to come out of this 'experience' more determined than ever .... stronger in mind and body.

Speaking of American Pharoah, just what did happen to that horse's tail? Baffert said no one would say, but that's how the tail looked when he got him. AP is such a fine looking horse but that short tail looks ridiculous. Would an 'extension' ever be allowed .... and it would be especially useful to swat flies? Just curious.