Velazquez an anchor on National Treasure?

[damascus]

Never thought i would think or say this but J. Velazquez might be more of a hindrance than a help for National Treasure's chances today.  Hard to believe but coming into today he is winning at 4% in his last 2 weeks with a .14 ROI.  13% over last 30 days.  Sure jocks go through ups and downs but 1 for 26 is really pretty weak considering the quality of horses he rides.  Just strikes me that maybe he is in one of those Joel Rosario phases where he really is mediocre.

That is not what you need when NT is already up against it against Mage.  As much as i wanted to find a higher price alternative to Mage i just dont think this is one of those magic Baffy horses who can pull off the upset.  He was an also ran in the SA derby and the one horse who came out of it and ran in the Derby, Mandarin Hero did not show up.

I think NT goes out to the lead pestered by Coffee with Chris and fades down the stretch to be passed by Mage for the win, Blazing 7s, Red and Chris clunks up to be in top 4

[damascus]

JV must have taken umbrage......he rode winners in two straight races now.

[mysaladdays]

With such a short field and the scratches, NT could pull something off but it won't be on his own merits. Because e has never won a race since his 6F in maiden, and since then has been passed by 7 other horses in 4 route races.

So they must have some kinda "plan" for him.    He is very lucky for the tiny field size. 


I like to see a horse do something more than once, i.e. consistency.  

Wrong running style for this race but Red Route One is such a horse, hardly ever loses ground in the stretch, once he gets there.  Preakness isn't the race to be so far back though.

Otherwise, stick with Graham Motion in MD

[turffan]

Does anyone find it odd that Mage is currently 2-1? I thought he’d be odds on.

[damascus]

just saw that. Wtf is Mattress Mack betting this race!

Most curious to see Chase the Chaos at 7-1!!! on Tgraph it appears he should be running against claimers not in this stakes race.

[cherokeescot]

Very odd with Mage but maybe reaction to him getting stitches after banging his head in his stall.

[spiderjohn]

I vote “not an anchor”

[mysaladdays]

Preakness future wager ALL OTHERS paid out at 13-1 which turned out to be my best wager for the day; $28.80 for each $2 wagered. paid about the same as the trifecta or more? 

[damascus]

As it turned out JV rode lights out on the day. I think i have to take some degree of credit for that with this post..... much like i kept the snowfall seasonal totals to a minimum here in Chicago as a result of having bought my first snow blower in my life. I never got to use it at all this season!

One thing that pissed me off about Velazquez is why the heck couldn't/didn't he ride Verfiying like that in the derby instead of burning that horse out on the front end!