Calvin Borel v. Mike Smith - style? expectation?

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:29 pm

Mike smith just did an interview with becky whitzman on HRTV and you can hear him setting the stage already, she asked him would he take the rail like calvin did, he said "I don't think it was nececcearily the rail, he can go around and win, he can hit the rail and win, so we will just see how it goes"

tanslation=no.

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:52 pm

I just thought of something, what if both Ra and MTB do well in tommarrows race. Choc Candy is training to run in the Belmont. What is smith going to do?
Karen

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:55 pm

choclate candy is very overrated. he'll stick with MTB

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:02 pm

Should be interesting to watch Mike Smith weaving through on the rail. Anybody notice an inside bias at Pimlico today.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:09 pm

Mike smith just did an interview with becky whitzman on HRTV and you can hear him setting the stage already, she asked him would he take the rail like calvin did, he said "I don't think it was nececcearily the rail, he can go around and win, he can hit the rail and win, so we will just see how it goes"

The main thing is not to stop your horse. If you can save ground that's a good thing.

Borel undoubtedly has a knack for going inside. I've seen enough big money rides from him inside. He's fearless and transfers that lack of fear to his mount. Few riders will skim the rail without hesitating like Borel. His ride on MTB was fearless and textbook.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sat May 16, 2009 6:49 am

mikes mith said he's going to have him alot closer to the lead than calvin is

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Sat May 16, 2009 8:20 am

Ah and MTB's task just got a little more difficult, though the way this wet track plays might not be a bad idea, and yet with the speed in the race, is might be sheer stupidity.
Chocolate Candy is a non issue for Smith IF MTB and RA both run well in the race. Calvin and his agent have both said they ride the filly till they are fired and Smith would be stupid to hop off of the Derby winner who show's well or wins the Preakness. CC wasn't closing with enthusiasm in the KD. It was Smith's first time aboard the horse. I don't see a dilemma.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Sat May 16, 2009 9:52 am

bdw0617 wrote:mikes mith said he's going to have him alot closer to the lead than calvin is

Closer than Chocolate Candy, let's hope.

Matchemforever · Postby **Matchemforever** » Sat May 16, 2009 12:54 pm

Just as an aside, I think something that gets lost is that Calvin Borel has had a lot more rides on RA and I think there is a kind of bond between them. Not knocking Mine That Bird, but RA and Calvin go a lot further back.

As for strategy, although the Preakness is shorter, if either can get the distance, does running on the outside really matter? It seems to me that Big Brown kinda ran the long way around in some of his races.

Stay out of trouble, have a clear run, and set yourself up for the longer Belmont?

Possible?

On edit:

Wondering why Jones sticks with Saez. Looking at the first part of the Kentucky Derby, aside from the bumping at the gate, Saez was hauling Friesan Fire all over the place. Besides the injury, I can't see that that didn't finish the race for FF right there.

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:14 pm

When I was in Montana watching HRTV in the mornings, FF didnt look like he was physically ready for the Derby. My family and I watched him do a ( I Believe) a five furlong drill and as he hit the turn he konked out. He was tired. He had to be asked to get to the wire and then into the turn just gave up.
Unless FF has better stamina today Im not betting on him. Even if Saez is riding him. Plus it was a pretty big field ( the derby)
Karen

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:24 pm

that is one of my only gripes with HRTV and also with TVG.

not everyone that watches HRTV is an astute horseman. to be frank, I can't really tell when a horse looks good or when a horse doesn't look good in a workout.

and HRTV is too political to tell you what they really think. they will always go to millie ball and she will say every horse looks supurb and worked like he was sitting on a real big race, even if he only had 3 legs. AFTER the race I heard alot of people who I know know horses said that fresien fire looked like com plete shit all week and that dunkirk didn't look anything like he looked when he first hit the track. Well thanks HRTV.

they like larry jones. he gives them interviews, he gives them access and in turn they don't crap all on his horses on derby week.

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Sat May 16, 2009 2:09 pm

That part I agree with HRTV. I think they do the same with Frank Lyons and Tom Amoss.
Karen

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sat May 16, 2009 3:24 pm

and there is your difference between mike and calvin. mike with 7 wide and cost the win

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Sat May 16, 2009 3:40 pm

too far back for a race shorter than the derby

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Sat May 16, 2009 7:02 pm

What a great race. Watched it at GGF right after one of mine ran. The crowd was going nuts. Lots of support for the filly but when the Bird rallied they were yelling "here comes the Bird!"