Sierra Leone's new bit

[mysaladdays]

I knew what kind of bit he was going to wear well over a week ago.  I didn't want to call it by name, even though I knew what it was, because it seemed like everyone was going out of their way not to actually call it by name.      

(I knew the name of it by asking a few horse friends, who are not in the racing universe, who just keep and train horses).  I was just telling them about the drifting, and that it was something designed for "better steering" and they told me it was most likely called a caged bit.   So, of course, being the curious person I am, I set about google searching on the term.  I was somewhat concerned as one person I asked did mention that this particular bit was "harsh".  (not the exact word they used however.) 


I mean, bits do have a name. I just thought that not mentioning what kind of bit it was, as they do have names, was rather odd.  What is left out of conversations always attracts my attention. 

Interestingly, I still have the search on my google account, showing I looked it up last week.  And what is more odd, is that the ONE HIT I got was from a blog from a horsewoman/photographer.  (because Ray's article had not been published yet.)  I should have screenshot the entire post, it was on a forum,  but I didn't think to do it.   It is still in my google search history though.    Interestingly, today, I go back to that link and it it now "404", so either it was scrubbed by the forum she posted on or it was deleted by herself.   I still have a Paint photo of the link as I did screenshoot THAT.   


I myself have no experience with this bit myself, not being a race horse trainer.   Which is why I was doing the research myself last week. But had never heard of it.    I am however, always interested in how equipment may affect a horse, if it's kind, etc. though. 

 Now that Ray Paulick has actually done us the service of NAMING the bit, and bringing some transparency to the issue.  Seems that it must be used quite judiciously in order not to tear up a horse's mouth. 
  paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/whats-a-cage-bit-a-look-at-the-new-equipment-sierra-leone-may-have-at-the-belmont


I don't really care what anyone thinks when I ferret out information in the name of transparency.  Interestingly, this new bit was talked about and mentioned though, and the reason I went looking for what a caged bit was (which my horse friends noted it probably was) is because I was curious why it was not being NAMED in any references to it.   If nobody else thinks that is strange, I certainly did.


As uusual, it takes someone like Ray Paulick to finally lend some transparency  (about stuff we should already know about in the first place, IMHO)  


I trust  the jockey has plenty of experience riding a horse with this kind of bit.  And has a very gentle set of hands and is experienced in using it judiciously. 

[mysaladdays]

I "get" that not everyone is as annoyed by lack of transparency as I am. However, since I am a fan of keeping the sport alive for the near and far future, I don't want to hear that more transparency will hurt racing.

Japanese handle in 2023 was 3.28 trillion yen. That is 20.866 billion USD.

US handle was 11.66 billion USD in 2023


Faith and trust in the racing product actually will bring more money into racing.  Looks pretty simple to me. 


All I'm asking is why we couldn't have just received a simple statement:  "Sierra Leone will be wearing a caged bit for the Belmont" back when his equipment changes were first announced?  It it that hard?

[Deleted]

i think all bits
are evil
so it's just
a matter
of
degree

[mysaladdays]

Well I'm not saying it is a bad bit, a harsh bit or makiing any judgements on it at all.  I wouldn't know since I don't train horses.  

I just kept hearing "new bit"  new bit, new bit.   So, I became curious about what it was.   So I started asking around to horse people friends, what actual bit it *might be*.  

Until June 1 and subsequently on June 3, when Ray reported Brown said:  "It’s a natural and normal equipment change for a horse who might be having some steering issues. I tried it over the winter and didn’t like it as much, as I prefer just a blinker and a left stick — and he ran great twice that way — but I think it’s time to re-examine it a bit”--------  the name and style of the bit was entirely left out of the conversation though the "new bit" kept being mentioned.  

[mysaladdays]

Not to mention Pratt had to get a stay of his suspension thru the courts in order to ride Sierra Leone on Saturday.  (Pratt had been suspended June 7 through 9 by Santa Anita stewards for interference in the G2 Hollywood Gold Cup). 

Why even trouble doing suspensions at all, if they aren't going to be honored. This just makes more work for somebody.
Why make rules that don't stick? Why make suspensions that mean nothing and are not punishment in any manner?  Heck, why even have stewards handing out suspensions at all?  



paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/sierra-leone-jockey-flavien-prat-gets-stay-of-suspension-able-to-ride-belmont-stakes


Imagine if the "topsy turvy not really" wink: wink:  no follow thru rules  of U.S. racing were applied to any other sphere of real life.   

You broke rules at your corporation?  Oh, you're on leave with no pay.   No, Wait.  You can come back tomorrow, we need you for a special assignment.  As soon as you're done with that though, we're gonna put you back on unpaid leave.   I can't even imagine raising a dog with this kind of lack of follow thru and consistency, let alone a human being.  The real world as we know it would be running on the edge of chaos.  



P.S. no shade on Sierra Leone the horse.  I love this horse a lot.  I hope he does well.  

[docd]

Never bet a favorite doing something it's never done,

[1hooper]

There are 8 videos of Sierra Leone posted on xbtv since December, all with a workmate. Not once did the trainer have SL work on the outside. Would love to hear that reasoning.

[eye123]

Jun 5, 2024 12:59:40 GMT -5 docd said:

Never bet a favorite doing something it's never done,

Actually from what I understand Brown tried this before. (the cage bit ) (In December at some point) Didn't work. Going back to the well...maybe hoping for a different result.

Paulick Report:(Brown Quote)

"With horses, sometimes you try something when they’re younger and it doesn’t seem to move the needle much, but you try something when they’re more mature—it could be equipment or the ground they run on or a track they don’t like—and it does.”

[mysaladdays]

Does anyone know if SL has actually RACED in it? Brown only mentioned he had "tried it over the winter".

He wasn't clear if that was just in workouts/training, or in actual races.

Experimenting with a harsh on the mouth bit only while working out and insinuating this might "fix" SL from lugging in (which he often does when tiring) during a high pressure race could seem reckless.

(I can barely stand seeing any Gun Runner even receive lasix, so I get nervous when they start messing around too much.)

[Badactor]

From the Google Machine:

bearing in (or out): : Deviating from a straight course.
Weariness, infirmity, inexperience or the rider overusing
the whip or reins can make a horse alter its course.

[vagrant]

Sierra Leone will be closer to 6-5 than 9-5 -- and he's a galactic underlay either way. He could win, sure, but 6-5 on a paddler who always lugs in toward his paddling leg? And an unpleasant new bit is going to solve that? Doubtful.

Sierra Leone doesn't have a steering problem. He's got a bent axle problem. I don't want 6-5 on a horse with a bent axle, especially when it so clearly affects his racing ability.

Sierra Leone is a gorgeous animal and honest as the day is long. But he's not only a short-odds paddler, he's a one-paced grinder -- and those kinds win at 10 f. in the U.S. only when the race falls apart. Seriously doubt that's gonna happen Saturday.

He's a great bet for 2nd or 3rd though ... unless he resents the new bit.

[cherokeescot]

I’m so confident that Sierra Leone will win the Belmont that if he doesn’t I will more than likely spit the bit.

[vagrant]

I respect your opinion, Bev, and won't be surprised if you're right. One word though:

Backwheel.

[cherokeescot]

Cheers Mark. Duly noted. The only horse that concerns me slightly is Mindframe.

[vagrant]

I'm tossing Mindframe and fading Sierra Leone. This is why I love parimutuel wagering. Either I'll win Bev's money or he'll win mine. The dough stays in the family, so to speak.

[spiderjohn]

SL has done very well for being as crooked as he is--can't see him being around long and surprised that he has made it through the tc trail. Sounds like CB is reaching with the new bit and switch to Prat. Still has one strong finish left in him probably

It's not like this is a high level classic group of 3yos entered.......DWL runner probably won't win 3 graded stakes in 5 weeks.... Dan is a decent plodder--Tuscany is not what many had hoped....

I see the current 2 Pletchers as possibly the "now" runners

Good to read everyone here all over the field in this race---should be a nice weekend of racing if the weather cooperates

[mysaladdays]

I went to doctor yesterday, there was one seat available and had a magazine sitting on it, that I had to remove in order to sit down. One side had the Spanish version: 
ibb.co/CbHLT1T

If you don't know spanish, here is the translation:

The other side had the English version:
ibb.co/KXcnnKD


These kinds of uncanny "nudges" are not things I ignore.   I mean, what are the chances of something like this happening where you are "sitting" (literally) on a possible winner?  

I won the trifecta in 2010 with Drosselmeyer. This is The Saratoga though, not The Belmont, so I can't really use my angles from past Belmonts,  but I'll go with it anyway.  I like the Mr. P / RAN sirelines for the Belmont.  

1 wager on Resilience across the board.  (and possibly Protective, a pedigree play, see below). Then, will exacta box Resilience, Sierra Leone, Dornoch, Protective.  


Seems like a good mix of pressers, midpacks, and closers.  Leaving SL off ticket would be foolishness, but can't play as a single so I opted for a box. 


Still haven't figured out who game on dude, uptowncharliebrown, and stay put are. If I play past an exacta I guess I'll inlcude Mystik Dan. 

I don't think Mindframe is all that fast, despite he appears on paper to be lone speed, but not playing a maiden to win over graded stakes winners. If pace is fast I think he will suffer. 
Seize the Grey beat tired horses, is over-raced and on short rest between races like most of Lukas horses these days, and has speed horses to his outside. 
Mystik Dan is trying to accomplish something that only Afleet Alex managed to do in 2005 but he's fit and has at least proved himself in graded stakes company at a high level.  

If this was "the real" Belmont I"d double down some singles on Protective, too.  Looks like one of the best Belmont pedigrees in the race, sire won the BELMONT and BCC; Broodmare sire won the BELMONT.   I may still do that.  But his sire's BMS has a CD over 0.90 and that isn't something I like to see. 



I meant to post this under Early Belmont thoughts.  I have a little more research to do and want to see the weather.  Will repost later if anything changes. 

[vagrant]

As much as I love him, Medaglia d'Oro was really Medaglia d'Argento. Silver medals galore, including the Belmont (by 1/2 length to Sarava), the BCC (twice), the Pacific Classic, the Dubai World Cup and the Wood.

That said, he ran excellent speed figs in every defeat and was one of the best-looking colts you ever saw. He's obviously been a top-shelf sire, but he's never begotten a male who's won a dirt classic. I'd love to see that change Saturday, but it seems unlikely.

[mysaladdays]

Many of you know I like to play around with pedigrees.

In the KY Derby, I posted the horse who failed every meaningful pedigree angle for me, and that was Just A Touch.  Interestingly, he did run last. (I did not think he would do as poorly as he did.) Unfortunately, I did not have the winner Mystik Dan (he would not have been a *pedigree play for the win*  due to Goldencents and Colonel John), but got the 4 horses in the superfecta and super high five correctly after him. 

Only certain races where using pedigree as a tool (in addition to track performance) works though.  Maidens, horses doing something they've never done before, and classic distances where it really does need to be somewhere in a horse's pedigreee to win at 12F in my belief system. 

But it also shows that horse's track performance does not always match pedigree theoreticals  (as Vagrance pointed out about about a horse I like.)  I believe that all figures and data are theoreticals anyway----IF that were not true, we'd all probably be a lot wealthier just from playing horse races.     See Siskany today.  No horse is a lock for a race like that.  

For this year's Belmont I would have to use past stats for 1-1/2 miles at the Big Sandy.  So I can't really use it so I actually didn't play that way with my early picks.  


EDIT:  I decided to delete the whole post since the race isn't 12F this year, therefore there may be some "glorified milers" in here.    That won't fit the stats I have at all.    

[mysaladdays]

Here is a kitchen view of SLs bit. Up close and personal.. Thanks Christina

www.instagram.com/reel/C74Onabpwl7/?igsh=MTFoNDNkdG03Mmtseg%3D%3D

[Deleted]

i agree that is a pretty awesome kitchen
sum1 likes 2 cook!
(and drink wine)

[mysaladdays]

I'm gonna stick with my picks above and play them in a few different combos.

I just have trouble warming up to StG on a dry track and cannot use Mindframe due to Pletcher's dismal record with horses coming off lasix into graded stakes races. Maybe will include StG as a key on ONE ticket. I usually play 2-3 cheap exotic tickets in races like this, esp. if I've won money on the day to bet with.

[Deleted]

i win thousands if 1,4,7,9 or 10 win. with the last 13 cents in my account i did a 3/9/10/1 super

[1hooper]

I'll be very surprised if SL does not have something physical bothering him. Shows up under full exertion.
It is not the bit.

[vagrant]

He paddles his left front. No bit can change that. No surgery either, I’m told. 

[mysaladdays]

Jun 9, 2024 7:01:02 GMT -5 1hooper said:

I'll be very surprised if SL does not have something physical bothering him. Shows up under full exertion.
It is not the bit.

I often go back to other years' classic races and read what (imho) are good learning articles from trainers I respect.  I had already mentioned some things that Art Sherman said about horses that bear in or out, esp after changing leads.  What can cause it, etc.

He said pretty much what you just said.  

[spiderjohn]

The colt is both very talented and very crooked.
Hard to hold him together for long, and probably the tc trail finally took its toll.

Very frustrating tc races for me
Needed FY or SL in the derby
Mindframe yesterday
Bad luck both races
Had no clue in the preakness