Hooked On Speed
For
years now I’ve been bemoaning the fact that speed has become a forgotten factor
in American dirt races. With the advent of all-weather surfaces and more and
more grass racing — both of which stress late speed — the new modus operandi seems
to be: waltz out of the gate, gallop along at a glacial pace until the
quarter-pole and, then, start running like heck.
In his
2006 book “Jockey: The Rider's Life in American Thoroughbred Racing,” jockey
Ramon Dominguez describes this style beautifully.
“Once
we leave the gate, I want to get [my mount] relaxed and just take it as easy as
possible,” Dominguez related. “I try to be patient, listen to the horse and let
him go wherever he wants to go. If he wants to be last early, we’ll be last. If
the pace is very slow, I’ll try and stay in touch with the field without
rushing my horse.”
“Depending
on how the race is developing, I’ll start going after them at the half-mile or
three-eighths pole,” the champion rider added.
Of
course, some horses respond beautifully to this type of handling. As I noted earlier,
turf and all-weather specialists are famous for their ability to rate early and
motor late — even the frontrunners (see Little Mike below).
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However,
some horses perform better when allowed to stretch their legs early — and some simply
must be given their heads in the opening furlongs to have any chance at all. In
a previous column, Ichided jockey Chantal Sutherland for her ride aboard Game On Dude, one of
these headstrong types, in the Dubai World Cup. Despite a 25.72-second opening
quarter in that event, Sutherland attempted to rate Game On Dude and the horse responded
with one of the worst efforts of his career.
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But,
lately, there have been some encouraging signs that things may be changing — owners,
trainers and jockeys are realizing (once again) that speed can be a potent
weapon, particularly on dirt.
First,
there was Bodemeister’s catch-me-if-you-can run in the Kentucky Derby (I’ll
Have Another could); then, there was Shackleford’s catch-me-if-you can effort
in the Met Mile (Caleb’s Posse couldn’t).
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In
fact, few horses demonstrate the importance of letting a fast horse run fast
more than Shackleford. In the five races in which he’s recorded a -8 early speed
ration (ESR) or less, he’s won three times and finished second twice. In his
other races, he’s 11: 2-2-1.
To
paraphrase the great American philosopher, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, sometimes
horses feel the need… the need for speed.
Belmont
Bits
With
the Belmont Stakes and I’ll Have Another’s quest for eternal glory now a mere
week away, I thought I would share some interesting tidbits on the final leg of
the Triple Crown:
* Although
it’s called “The Test of Champions,” recent winners of the Belmont Stakes
haven’t exactly reminded racing fans of Nashua or Damascus. Since 1992, Belmont
victors have won just 24.3 percent of their subsequent starts (28-115) — after
having won 41.1 percent of their races beforehand (67-163).
* Since
2000, only five Belmont champs had previously won a stakes race. Four of them —
Summer Bird, Da’ Tara, Jazil and Commendable — had won just once prior to
scoring in the Belmont.
* A
few recent bombs notwithstanding, the Belmont Stakes has actually been
relatively formful, as the post time favorite has won 55 of 129 editions of the
race in which the odds were recorded (42.6 percent).
* Despite
all the talk about the benefits of rest, every Belmont winner since 1992 raced
within the past 36 days.
* Since
1999, only two horses that competed in the Preakness — Afleet Alex (2005) and
Point Given (2001) —were able to win in New York.
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