2006 Eclipse And Year In Review

Stevie Belmont · Postby **Stevie Belmont** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:59 pm

You seem to be thriving for an agrument for some reason. I do know he was in fact pre-entered for the BC Sprint and Classic. On that note, I shoul have indicated he was. This was strictly in case something happened to one of the other horses. Nothing did, so he did not run. And that still would not insure he would run.

Simply pre-entering a horse in a particular race does not always signal intent. They certainly had no intention of running with both his son's horse in the sprint, and his own and brothers in the Classic. It was sort of an insurance policy "Just in Case Scenario".

I stated in my post what his plans were, you keep going after something? You said he was ducking opponents. I'm stating that is simply not the case at all.

FOS · Postby **FOS** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:14 am

hi Stevie Belmont

Stevie Belmont wrote:You seem to be thriving for an agrument for some reason.

Nope...not looking for an argument...

...but if/when I perceive that opinion is being offered as fact (as I sometimes sense from your posts), don't be surprised if I raise questions and/or challenge comments/positions etc. Sometimes the debate might become spirited, but (speaking for myself) the communication is well-intended.

I appreciate your knowledge and passion for the game, and suggest that sharing honest opinions, insights, thoughts etc (re thoroughbred related topics) can be valuable...and in that spirit they are appreciated.

Best to you...
and Happy New Year.

Respectfully

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:40 am

I just love how a differing opinion is considered to be either "flaming" or "inflamatory." There are some people that wish this were "1984" - we could all think alike, act alike, do alike.

Respectfully...how in the world can Todd Pletcher be considered for the Eclipse Award? Do Oonagh MacCool, Keyed Entry, Bluegrass Cat, Sunriver, Fleet Indian, and countless others in the infirmary lead us to conclude that horses have a very short lifespan in that barn? My God...you want to give the Eclipse Award to a trainer that ran Lawyer Ron in the BC Classic??? Don't hand me earnings...he's got 210 horses in training, and is given ready made horses in many cases (Oonagh MacCool, Lawyer Ron, Fleet Indian...). Going 0-17 in the BC and now serving 45 days on a positive makes me think others are much more worthy.

Year in, year out, I think Bill Mott is the finest "high profile, multi-circuit" trainer in the game, even though he's a very quiet and humble guy. I defy anyone to name me a horse that Bill Mott did a poor job with in 2006.

Stevie Belmont · Postby **Stevie Belmont** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:21 pm

I would have to agree with all that you have said. Debate is good, that we know. I certianly can't say I know for sure what someone else is going to do with thier horse, even though I might say I have an good idea of what they might do. It's all an opinion.

It's part of the passion you mention. No harm, no foul. I appreciated the exchange. Thats what horse racing is all about.

FOS wrote:hi Stevie Belmont

Stevie Belmont wrote:You seem to be thriving for an agrument for some reason.

Nope...not looking for an argument...

...but if/when I perceive that opinion is being offered as fact (as I sometimes sense from your posts), don't be surprised if I raise questions and/or challenge comments/positions etc. Sometimes the debate might become spirited, but (speaking for myself) the communication is well-intended.

I appreciate your knowledge and passion for the game, and suggest that sharing honest opinions, insights, thoughts etc (re thoroughbred related topics) can be valuable...and in that spirit they are appreciated.

Best to you...
and Happy New Year.

Respectfully

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:34 pm

Who do you think is going to win for apprentice jockey? We have Anna (Rosie) Napravnik in the running from here in Maryland. She is an awesome rider, but I wonder if they are going to hold it against her that her riding titles were at Laurel and Pimlico solely. She went to Delaware Park to try her luck in the jockey colony there and she had a hard time. Where did Leparoux ride over his time as an apprentice? That also might make a big difference. I know he rode at Keeneland and is riding out in southern California now.

Stevie Belmont · Postby **Stevie Belmont** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:40 pm

Leparoux led the nation in wins and is a very talented young rider. He also won over 12 million in purse money. I can say with confidence he wins easily.

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:06 pm

I would say that Leparoux is pretty much a shoo-in
The guy (kid) is 8th on the leading money earners list, and 1st for wins-I mean seriously I actually choked on my soda when I saw that-

As for the critters

3 Year old Male:I do hope that Barbaro gets 3 year old of the year-I don't know how plausible that is-but Charismatic did win it in 99' (as well as Horse of the Year) we can hope cannot we? Barbaro does so deserve both honors, as his heart was proven on and off the track-it is his misfortune (our good fortune) to be blessed with such a great crop this year, and was stated before-Even without an Eclipse he will be remembered above all others when the memories fade.

3 year old Filly: Wait a While-I think...

Horse of the Year: Invasor-most likely a no brainer there

Steeplechase: McDynamo-another no brainer-no offense to the other worthy horses, but why nominate anyone else?

Older Female: Fleet Indian

Older Male: Invasor-Duh

2 year old Colt: Street Sense-maybe Circular Quay-Hopefully

2 year old Filly: Dreaming of Anna

The Jacksons deserve Owner(s) of the year for the whole Barbaro thing

other than that I really don't have any opinions

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:10 pm

Respectfully...how in the world can Todd Pletcher be considered for the Eclipse Award? Do Oonagh MacCool, Keyed Entry, Bluegrass Cat, Sunriver, Fleet Indian, and countless others in the infirmary lead us to conclude that horses have a very short lifespan in that barn? My God...you want to give the Eclipse Award to a trainer that ran Lawyer Ron in the BC Classic??? Don't hand me earnings...he's got 210 horses in training, and is given ready made horses in many cases (Oonagh MacCool, Lawyer Ron, Fleet Indian...). Going 0-17 in the BC and now serving 45 days on a positive makes me think others are much more worthy.

Thank you.....I am sure he is a great guy, but you hit on all of the points with that statement-many points that many people complain about on a regular basis....Just usually not about Pletcher

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:27 pm

Julien Laparoux is no "kid"...he's been riding for 7 or 8 years. He came out of the Jockey School in France and rode over there before coming here.

Pat Biancone started him at Saratoga as a 10 pound rider...in one day, he won 2 turf races. Now, I'm scratching my head to remember when a 10 pound rider ever won a race at Saratoga...and he won 2 in one day!

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:29 pm

And...Todd Pletcher is hired to win the KY Derby and at least one BC race. That's his job and he failed this year. Michael Matz did both with much lesser stock and many fewer horses. He's my vote-getter.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:14 am

Nominations are out. No real surprises, although along with others I thought that Michael Matz should have been recognised for training a Derby winner and B.C. winner in the same year from a relatively small barn.

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:56 pm

Julien Laparoux is no "kid"...he's been riding for 7 or 8 years

Oh your right-he's 23-I guess that makes him "aged"

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:59 pm

And...Todd Pletcher is hired to win the KY Derby and at least one BC race. That's his job and he failed this year.

And your point is?

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:41 pm

My points?

1. Julien Laparoux isn't a 16 year old wonder...he was about as old as a bug rider could be.

2. Pletcher failed at his job this year. No Eclipse. Period.

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:44 am

1. Julien Laparoux isn't a 16 year old wonder...he was about as old as a bug rider could be.

So the fact that he is (was) an apprentice-and ended up on the top of all lists this year, Hmm. So what you are saying is that he's an old man of 23-almost to old to be an apprentice (I was unaware that there is an age limit-my bad) he does'nt deserve the Eclipse for outstanding Apprentice?

2. Pletcher failed at his job this year. No Eclipse. Period.

Um....yeah....This was my point as well....Thank you for understanding

Have a great day