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Post by trackrat on Apr 1, 2014 19:01:31 GMT -5
Which driver would you have driving for you? And why.
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Post by jimhorseman on Apr 1, 2014 20:20:26 GMT -5
Trackrat:
Good to see you posting an old fashioned poll. I am assuming you are asking which driver would you have driving for you at Northfield and not anywhere in the country.(At which point I would clearly pick Yannick Gingras) With the choices you listed I would have to go with Aaron. Peter Wrenn just doesn't drive there often enough to really judge though he is very successful when running at half mile Buffalo Raceway. Greg Grismore seems to have lost a bit of his 1990's magic since his part time return to Northfield. That leaves Sutton and Merriman. While Josh has been the latest top regular I still lean to Merriman. Aaron left full time driving at Northfield as their leading driver. He has since gained national experience and press becoming a top ten nationally ranked driver. He still drives enough at Northfield to retain his edge. I like that he is generally very aggressive going to the front or leaving for position on most drives. To be honest, I don't follow Northfield as much as I did in the good old days since they dropped weekends. I know a great case can be made for Sutton but combining local track knowledge, driving style and experience my choice is Aaron.
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Post by trackrat on Apr 3, 2014 12:16:53 GMT -5
Here is how I see it, Jimhorseman. When Grismore was here with Aaron Merriman, Aaron could not touch him. Gris had all the good trainers and horses locked up. Gris may have burned a few bridges going to Yonkers and then gravitating back to the Meadows, then Scioto and now Northfield. Nevertheless, he is a talented driver. Aaron, on the other hand, honed his skills on the 5/8 Meadows track and stayed constant with Northfield, community back and forth for the evening programs.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. is the up and coming star who can dominate a half mile track and just needs more seasoning before becoming a legitimate top tier. Josh Sutton seems to have re-emerged from oblivion in Indiana and southern Ohio tracks. I remember he had quite a few penalties for overwhipping his horses. Hopefully that has passed. The good thing about Sutton, at this time, he can still command a good parimutel payout. If Wrenn and Sutton are in the same race, Wrenn will generally take most of the money on his horse, leaving Sutton an opportunity to make some money for the BETTOR. While the other horses in the field are gunning to beat Wrenn, Sutton is maneuvering to beat them all.
It is amazing how many good drivers come though Northfield on their way to stardom: Matt Kakaley, Brett Miller, Greg Grismore, David Miller, Jason Bartlett, Jordan Stratton, Tony Hall, etc.
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Post by jimhorseman on Apr 3, 2014 21:42:33 GMT -5
Trackrat:
I guess I demonstrated how little I have followed Northfield racing and have Buffalo on my mind when I saw the name "Wrenn" on your poll and instantly thought of Peter; who has been driving successfully at Buffalo and not Ronnie. Of course you made it apparent by putting the Jr at the end of the Wrenn name. Can I blame it on age? fatigue? being too vain to use reading glasses? Either way there is still red on my cheeks. In thinking more about your question I guess the answer would depend on if I am looking at who I would want driving from an owner or bettor's perspective. I agree with your analysis that Sutton gives the bettor the most bang for the buck. If I am an owner I probably still lean toward Merriman though I think Ronnie Wren Jr may eventually be the best of the list of good drivers you listed that have come through Northfield.
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Post by trackrat on Apr 4, 2014 16:10:01 GMT -5
Jimhorseman, even though I totally DESPISE the lack of weekend racing at Northfield and equally despise the closing of the upstairs seating areas, I understand that it was Northfield's business decision to cater to the new rocksino and to the simulcast bettors. It is a given that Northfield cannot, even with slot subsidies, compete with any other tracks during the weekend, so they have chosen to make money where they can, fans be damned. In the good old days, Northfield would have cut down the number of racing days but kept weekends and raised the purses, FOR THE FANS. But today, everything is FOR THE PROFIT.
Are there any video slots inside the racetrack? Haven't seen them.
Any horseracing similcasting carrels in the rocksino? Haven't seen them.
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Post by gtapp on Apr 5, 2014 8:22:39 GMT -5
Aaron for sure. He has the ability to win with any horse from any post but as you say usually for a short purse.
I don't go much anymore either since Fri and Sat were my favorite days. I still look at the results everyday
and it seems like Sutton doesn't make the ticket as much as he did last year, but I agree he brings a bigger bang for the buck.
Seems like I need to at least consider David Lake and Jason Merriman for many tickets. They seem to be up and coming at NF.
My least favorite is Keith Kash. He is totally unpredictable and I seldom bet him.
Interesting topic. Hope we get more responces. Keep trying Track.
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Post by trackrat on Apr 5, 2014 19:44:38 GMT -5
Gtapp, I am still trying to get a feel for Jason Merriman (no relation to Aaron). But David Lake has proven to me that he is a competent reinsman, particularly on horses that he also trains. I have always like the angle of a relationship between the horse and the driver, beyond just catch driving. For instance, I think Deaton is better on a horse that he owns/trains than he is catch driving, my theory being that he knows EXACTLY what his horse is capable of and he is not making an educated guess whether that horse has what it takes to win in a specific situation [first over, brush at the 3/4, inside the speed lane, etc.].
I think David Lake is similar. First of all, if he owns or trains the horse, he is not going to abuse the horse merely for a one time win. And he knows what the horse can do, better than if he picked up a catch drive.
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Post by goldsheetbob on Apr 13, 2014 11:56:30 GMT -5
If I had a horse that had good early gate speed...The real Minister of Speed, Aaron Merriman would be my man. He can keep a horse focused and live, even in miles where the horse should tire and give way late...any other type of horse would CLEARLY be Ronnie Wrenn Jr. He gets his horses in position to contend early and rations out their speed to have something left late. He gives a 100% effort in every race. He is a rare talent that is destined for greatness.
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Post by gtapp on Apr 25, 2014 6:53:06 GMT -5
How disappointing that you had only 4 responces to your poll. (mine was one of them)
I hope someday this forum will become relevant again. It used to be so much fun.
Track, since your reply to my comment about David Lake, that he does well on horses that
he trains I have been watching his results. You hit the nail on the head with that. If he
is driving someone else's horse he doesn't do much. When he drives his own trained horses
he is often a factor.
That is the kind of information I got many times from this forum and it is always helpful
to me with my handicapping.
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