Post by cliff on Jan 11, 2009 14:35:16 GMT -5
Excuse me while I vent a bit. Why are some Northfield drivers afraid to put their horse in the lead? I won't cite specific examples, because it's not fair to rag on individual drivers, but several times this past week, drivers were content to sit the pocket with obviously live horses, when they were in a position to control the race on the front end. So they end up behind an inferior horse backing up, on or before the final turn, or the driver of the leader slowing the pace so a one mile race becomes 500 yard sprint to the finish. In either case the better horse wasn't given the best opportunity to win. Kakaley, Merriman, Deaton, and (usually) Stahl never let someone else control the front end if they have the horse and post to prevent it. I guess that's why their batting averages are where they are. It's at the point where one doesn't want to risk a dollar wagering on others even when they have the best horse in the race.
Last night there were examples of how it should be done, even on a night when the pocket trip was golden. In the third race, Ryan Stahl refused to stay in the pocket with Dan Chaz after the favorite, The Fonz, had extended himself going to the front from the seven hole. Stahl didn't allow his post position advantage be squandered by sitting behind a horse who had already made his move. He retook the lead and won the race. In the ninth, Sam Schillaci had the class of the trotters with Bama Bound. He didn't mess around, went right to the lead, and was never headed. By the way, how could he not be made the favorite by the bettors? 5-2 seemed like a pretty square mutual for that one. There are plenty of other examples, including Matt Kakaley putting Lakeside Al on the lead from the start. Even though he and others were beaten by the pocket sitters on this blustery night, it's still a winning strategy most of the time. Vent over, I feel better now, thanks for listening.
Speaking of pocket sitters, how about Oneforthepresident, at nearly 50-1 getting up to beat prohibitive favorite BJ's Tune in the tenth. That's the kind of night it was for front runners. Oneforthepresident was completely ignored by the Northfield faithful, me included. I never even mentioned him in my selections. After further review, that was a poor piece of handicapping. Note first the driver change to Elliott Deaton, note also place finishes to a very sharp J T Stena, and Bobsujak from inside posts. Some very completive races against the likes of Happy Riggs and others earlier this fall. Should I have picked him on top in this race? Nope, but to not have mentioned him in the selections was a big error. To let him go off at those odds was also dumb on everyone's part.
Did you hear Ayres keep referring to Oneforthepresident as "OneforW" ? I'm not sure whether he was making a political statement or just trying to be clever. It got me thinking (a very dangerous thing) about what we can look forward to in a couple, three years when the young colts and fillies take center stage. I have to believe there will be a Yeswecan Hanover in our future. How about Fox Valley Obama or Obama Sahbra. Of course Ed Mullinax will have an Up Front Barack. Someone has to name a filly Sarah Palin with stable mate First Dude. I guess we can get used to Changewecanbelievein, but I have to draw the line with Theworstfinancialcrisessincethegreatdepression. Oops, let's not forget Where's My Bailout.
Change is in the air department has Patrick Malloy doing at least a partial purge of his stable, with Soul Redeemer getting a smart victory for his new connections last evening. Should be the first of many. Always thought he had some pretty fair stock. Also young mister Hough climbs aboard a bevy of trainer Brian Loney's entries Monday. Did you see the move he made with S A Sugar Bear last night? With arguably his only live horse of the night, he had him out and winging on the last turn. The kid can drive. I hope he sticks around. Gives us handicappers another option to consider.
Hey Browns fans, did you catch the Arizona Cardinals yesterday? There is hope for northeast Ohio. If the lowly Cards can get their act together, anyone can. I've sort of adopted the Cardinals since I've moved west. Having been a Browns fan my whole life, it sort of felt right to root for another group of down and outs. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Browns, but I needed an NFC team to follow, and Cards are on TV here a lot. Besides, the St. Louis Cardinals were my brother's favorite team growing up. I haven't a clue why, he is wacko in a lot of respects. Anyway, it took a young coach, brought in from a winning organization, to get the players to believe in themselves. Talent wise, they probably don't stack up with the rest of the playoff teams, but here they are a victory away from the super bowl. Hope everyone joins me in giving new coach Mangini a chance.
Think I'll go out for a walk this afternoon...sunny and 50 something...sorry, couldn't resist it. ;D
Last night there were examples of how it should be done, even on a night when the pocket trip was golden. In the third race, Ryan Stahl refused to stay in the pocket with Dan Chaz after the favorite, The Fonz, had extended himself going to the front from the seven hole. Stahl didn't allow his post position advantage be squandered by sitting behind a horse who had already made his move. He retook the lead and won the race. In the ninth, Sam Schillaci had the class of the trotters with Bama Bound. He didn't mess around, went right to the lead, and was never headed. By the way, how could he not be made the favorite by the bettors? 5-2 seemed like a pretty square mutual for that one. There are plenty of other examples, including Matt Kakaley putting Lakeside Al on the lead from the start. Even though he and others were beaten by the pocket sitters on this blustery night, it's still a winning strategy most of the time. Vent over, I feel better now, thanks for listening.
Speaking of pocket sitters, how about Oneforthepresident, at nearly 50-1 getting up to beat prohibitive favorite BJ's Tune in the tenth. That's the kind of night it was for front runners. Oneforthepresident was completely ignored by the Northfield faithful, me included. I never even mentioned him in my selections. After further review, that was a poor piece of handicapping. Note first the driver change to Elliott Deaton, note also place finishes to a very sharp J T Stena, and Bobsujak from inside posts. Some very completive races against the likes of Happy Riggs and others earlier this fall. Should I have picked him on top in this race? Nope, but to not have mentioned him in the selections was a big error. To let him go off at those odds was also dumb on everyone's part.
Did you hear Ayres keep referring to Oneforthepresident as "OneforW" ? I'm not sure whether he was making a political statement or just trying to be clever. It got me thinking (a very dangerous thing) about what we can look forward to in a couple, three years when the young colts and fillies take center stage. I have to believe there will be a Yeswecan Hanover in our future. How about Fox Valley Obama or Obama Sahbra. Of course Ed Mullinax will have an Up Front Barack. Someone has to name a filly Sarah Palin with stable mate First Dude. I guess we can get used to Changewecanbelievein, but I have to draw the line with Theworstfinancialcrisessincethegreatdepression. Oops, let's not forget Where's My Bailout.
Change is in the air department has Patrick Malloy doing at least a partial purge of his stable, with Soul Redeemer getting a smart victory for his new connections last evening. Should be the first of many. Always thought he had some pretty fair stock. Also young mister Hough climbs aboard a bevy of trainer Brian Loney's entries Monday. Did you see the move he made with S A Sugar Bear last night? With arguably his only live horse of the night, he had him out and winging on the last turn. The kid can drive. I hope he sticks around. Gives us handicappers another option to consider.
Hey Browns fans, did you catch the Arizona Cardinals yesterday? There is hope for northeast Ohio. If the lowly Cards can get their act together, anyone can. I've sort of adopted the Cardinals since I've moved west. Having been a Browns fan my whole life, it sort of felt right to root for another group of down and outs. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Browns, but I needed an NFC team to follow, and Cards are on TV here a lot. Besides, the St. Louis Cardinals were my brother's favorite team growing up. I haven't a clue why, he is wacko in a lot of respects. Anyway, it took a young coach, brought in from a winning organization, to get the players to believe in themselves. Talent wise, they probably don't stack up with the rest of the playoff teams, but here they are a victory away from the super bowl. Hope everyone joins me in giving new coach Mangini a chance.
Think I'll go out for a walk this afternoon...sunny and 50 something...sorry, couldn't resist it. ;D