TGJB - Letters to the Editor

[colt]

Well done JB.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/106994.html

Several regular posters have posted on this board that they typically check the day\'s weather before selecting PPs that they will download, which is still a regiment of mine as well, but I now find myself selecting track(s)/race(s) with the most compressive drug testing, which only leaves SoCal in the running.  

There are no objections to the fact that synthetic tracks are an issue by themselves, which I suspect will become a distant memory on the SoCal circuit starting with the Spring 2010 meet at Hollywood, but the better races are now in SoCal thanks to the most advanced testing.

Keep up the good work JB.

[smalltimer]

TGBJ,

Why don\'t you just quit pussy-footing around and tell them what you really think?  Just kidding, its a good, aggressive article and should be applauded by all the horseplayers. As Reagan said, \"trust...but verify.\"

The next step should be if the DRF would be willing to post the Top Ten Biggest move-ups of the week, or month, or some defined period of time.  It could be by certain track or circuit.  We all know, many of the same character\'s horses would dominate the list.  If those animals were listed by trainer and vet, that would highlight the situation.  That type of negative, national exposure could put some pressure on these cowboys to either play by the rules, or face some real scrutiny.

[Silver Charm]

Well Put.

[miff]

JB,

Why don\'t you ask Dr Arthur how it was remotely possible for Mike Mitchell to take Raiding Party(7th DM 9/4) who was 0-4 on grass and only 9 days after claim, move up a couple of classes, and run a hole in the wind off absolutely horrible form.This horse should have been 20-1, was bet to like 6-1 and blew up the pick six for all.

Since I was involved for serious money and it cost me the pick six, please pass along my concerns that between that race and what Sadler is doing, what has changed in the \"cleanest\" venue in racing.

You\'re both kidding yourselves!


Mike

[bellsbendboy]

Mike

Let me first say that I am sorry, since I too, singled the runnerup and lost out.  With that said Raiding Party had more than a license to win.

First the field was very bad, TG settled on a horse making her 59th start!  Secondly, you point out that the grass on grass pedigree was zero for four on the sod and that is true......... but three of those efforts were off layoffs of 60 days, 40 days and some 210 days.  The other grass race Raiding Party chased the super quick frontrunner Tuscan Evening in a two other than.  RP was wide thruout, with a big rail and made two solid moves against the stakes winning front runner before tiring late.

After a poor effort on June 7th, Cassidy did not work this 4yo filly for some seven weeks,then a series of maintenance works leading up to the five eights move August 18th.  In this work, this filly exploded in some :58 and change with a big gallop out.  Mitchell is half past tremendous with the condition book, watches the work and claims RP for his main man for 20K CLEARLY, with this race in mind!  

He puts the bug up, claims for 28K knowing he will get a huge weight concession and what chance did you and I really have spotting this one a few lengths at the half mile pole and giving up NINE big pounds.

I am sorry you lost, hell I am sorry I lost but I would opine that Cassidy ran this one too low, rather than the crafty Mitchell moved it up.  bbb

[miff]

bell, the work was only ok according to my source, Andy H, and she ran afterwards and did not raise a hoof. Worse surface for her was turf,before yesterday, an impossible move up and huge grass top.

Mike

[P-Dub]

Because you said so. And Andy H said so. Just impossible, your quote. BBB made several valid points. These things happen and they aren\'t necessarily because of drugs.

You\'ve mentioned that horses move up for a variety of different reasons that have nothing to do with drugs. But you lose a race, can\'t figure out why....must be something crooked.

Can\'t have it both ways Miff.

[miff]

Paul,

Get real, check the facts, read the pp\'s, check his TG figs, use any method.This particular horse has no license to step up in class 8 days later and run that big unless he was helped by drugs or maybe a tapped joint or something like that.

Has zero to do with losing a bet but rather challanges the bs offered here about how clean CALI racing is vs other venues.

Mike

[P.Eckhart]

What did the Mr Mitchell tell the Del Mar stewards when called in to shed light on his charge\'s abnormal improvement?

[P-Dub]

Mike,

Step up in class?? Its 1 rung up the CLAIMING ladder. I would hardly call that a huge jump in class. She has raced in ALW races her entire career up until her last.  As BBB stated, perhaps Cassidy ran her too low.

She runs well so it must have been drugs, a tap, etc...  Don\'t you criticize others for making these assumptions??

I have a friend that uses a software program, had this horse amongst its contenders.  Not going into detail as to other factors (Its a TG board) but he hit the race. He hits lots of races. The horse wasn\'t impossible. Apparently a lot of other people didn\'t think so either.  Not every wagering dollar is traced back to TG users.

So because of this race, we conclude Cal racing is no better than other jurisdictions when it comes to drugs?  Is that what you\'re saying??

[miff]

Paul,

If it wasn\'t a tap or something illegal,how did this slug, empty against lesser 8 days ago manage to power home a last quarter in 23 and change, this slug from 8 days ago.The field contained 4 droppers,she was up and faced MUCH lesser in her last where she ran her worst race of the year.

Give me some hard-racing fact,Paul in explaining the move up.Wanna bet she ran a substantial top?


Mike

[Cangamble]

Great letter.  Racing just doesn\'t go out of its way sharing \"dirty little secrets.\"

This is a huge problem.  It seems every track is allowed to regulate themselves disclosing only what they want to.

Try finding track takeouts at any track web site.  That kind of stuff should be mandatory.  So should any drug or jockey violation.

We seemed to have more information in the 70\'s than we do now regarding most wrong doings that go on at the track.

[TGJB]

Mike-- I haven\'t looked at the horse in question, no opinion.

On the larger issue-- I agree something has happened in California recently with one trainer in particular, who looks to be resuming his evil ways. But my comments stand-- they had the situation completely under control for 6 months, and will work hard to get it under control again. That\'s the difference.

Arthur wants me to give him heads-ups on move-ups, I\'ll take a look at the one in question. And your point about the betting is key-- people are benefitting from inside information in the market.

[miff]

JB,

When you do the work, take a look at your stuff going in, drf pp\'s lines and the race replay. Let me know what you think.

Mike

[TGJB]

I\'ll look at figures only for this.

When Arthur had me run sheets for 10 trainers for the first 3 months of this year, the only one with any suspicious move-ups (3) was Mitchell. Then he went quiet for a long time.

About 3-4 weeks ago Sadler stated to get some jumps (a lot of them), and cost me cashing at least 5 times.