tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post2043047432626554682..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Wednesday Morning NotesAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-44416018046968071062008-06-13T21:50:00.000-04:002008-06-13T21:50:00.000-04:00Romp belongs with your friends cheap horses in phi...Romp belongs with your friends cheap horses in philadelphia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-72628676884746898042008-06-12T12:10:00.000-04:002008-06-12T12:10:00.000-04:00You know what Glimmerglass, this is the 21st centu...You know what Glimmerglass, this is the 21st century and horseracing is a different game. I think it was a compliment to Curlins competition that Asmussen is hesitant to run him at 128 against them. Curlin is still running races which allows you to keep running your mouth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-88250148871986286482008-06-12T09:11:00.000-04:002008-06-12T09:11:00.000-04:00I thought yesterdays card was a fun, exciting hand...I thought yesterdays card was a fun, exciting handicapping challenge.<BR/><BR/>If you are seeking 5 horse fields with 1-5 shots, god bless, but racing ultimately is about wagering, and the P6 without a single maiden event was a blast.<BR/><BR/>This was Wednesday, not Saturday, after all.<BR/><BR/>What were the Wednesday cards at Belmont like in the glory days?<BR/><BR/>I doubt they were any better than yesterdays.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-75047556372503608312008-06-11T11:42:00.000-04:002008-06-11T11:42:00.000-04:00Hey Green Mtn - It's like the old days, eh? Frank...Hey Green Mtn - It's like the old days, eh? Frank Whiteley bitching about 135 pounds on Forego. That stuff used to be back page news in the NY Post around here. I agree that it's nice to read for a change.Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-72234023869398195442008-06-11T11:33:00.000-04:002008-06-11T11:33:00.000-04:00And you don't think that Carl Hanford and Johnny N...And you don't think that Carl Hanford and Johnny Nerud didn't moan about the crushing weights put on their tigers? By the way, those two won more than once at 135 + giving away lots of weight to their rivals. Of course, it's just part of the pre-race ritual, sort of like bitching about the refereeing when you're down in the the NBA finals. Maybe Asmussen is the Obama of horse racing, or Obama is the Asmussen of presidential politics? I, for one, am thrilled to hear trainers complaining about high weight in a handicap race, that's the way it's s'pposed to be, that's why they're called handicap races, right?<BR/>/S/Green Mtn PunterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-64881145721221482092008-06-11T11:07:00.000-04:002008-06-11T11:07:00.000-04:00On Curlin I respectfully disagree. Weight differe...On Curlin I respectfully disagree. Weight differentials don't belong in Grade 1 races.<BR/><BR/>I agree with Alan & the earlier commenter that Wednesday's card is pitiful, but I'm not sure what can be done to improve it. It appears that NYRA & the racing secretary are under marching orders to card a third or more of the cards for NY breds, which are full fields but terrible horses. Beyond that though, you can only card for the horses that are available, and if there aren't sufficient horses to fill allowance races, they're sorta stuck. One would think this might improve with a purse hike from the slots....ah, never mind.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-86423058445083050962008-06-11T10:40:00.000-04:002008-06-11T10:40:00.000-04:00Looking ahead to Saturday I see that the Curlin co...Looking ahead to Saturday I see that the Curlin connections have somewhat stopped their crying and will suck it up for the Stephen Foster. Finally they appear to be ready to walk the walk instead of just talk the big game of wanting an American racing hero. <BR/><BR/>B*tching in public and to the media about 128-lbs as a handicap in a $1M Grade 1 race is downright insulting. He’s the number one ranked horse in the world and Steve sat on the fence and said 126-lbs was a more suitable assignment. Are these guys for real?<BR/><BR/>Forget about going far back into the archives for a Kelso, Dr. Fager, Exterminator, et al. Spectacular Bid twice set Track Records while carrying 130 pounds. Yet people rally around Curlin like he's the May Poll or Messiah for reflecting 'the way racing should be'. Yet this is the backroom reality of expecting deals to be cut.<BR/><BR/>Curlin - if he does race in the Arc - will have to tote 131-lbs in a maiden turf start. If they get cold sweats with just 128-lbs on dirt they'd better pack up shop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-49050413985772510832008-06-11T10:27:00.000-04:002008-06-11T10:27:00.000-04:00From Sunny Jim in New JerseyThat guy criticizing t...From Sunny Jim in New Jersey<BR/><BR/>That guy criticizing today's Belmont card must not have played too many Wednesday Aqueduct cards over the winter months. <BR/><BR/>And for years Monmouth Park has failed to present cards that will entice two-dollar bettors. I have more than once bitched at management that Monmouth is a nice place to visit but a lousy place to bet. The fields are too small and there are only three Pick 3's on the whole card. Off-the-turf days are pitiful - there was one day last week in which 6 of the 9 races had 6 horses or less, including one with three and another with four.<BR/><BR/>And if he really wants to see bad cards, let him bet the night simulcasting tracks with their racino inflated purses handed out to so many poor-win-percentage horses running at Penn National, Mountaineer and Charlestown.<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-57915863472834077002008-06-11T09:35:00.000-04:002008-06-11T09:35:00.000-04:00Winston - I do see this happen occasionally. In t...Winston - I do see this happen occasionally. In this case, I'm guessing that it has to do with the fact that the entries for today were taken early due to the Belmont and the lack of racing on Sunday. She was eligible at that time; but since she won on Friday, that's no longer the case. The only way she could have run here is if she was entered for the optional claiming tag. She's run - and won - on five days rest before, so I have little doubt she would have run had she not won on Friday.Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-90314624709935121212008-06-11T09:27:00.000-04:002008-06-11T09:27:00.000-04:00How does that work with Renyata Jet? If she is in...How does that work with Renyata Jet? If she is ineligible, how does she get on the program?Wind Gathererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374251665158760423noreply@blogger.com