Posted on
5/24/2007 6:25:17 PM
Bet on Horses – Past the Preakness to Hollypark
By Brian Mulligan
It seems that we have been on this Triple Crown forum for 6 months, and we have almost, so let’s take a break and look at Hollypark action.
The players for the Belmont Stakes have not been solidified but when they are we’ll explore the merits of each, but a word about the Preakness Stakes is due.
The race was sensational and it goes to show that this crop of sophomores could be solid. Of course, you can’t really judge a crop until the fall when they face older horses, but it’s clear Curlin, Street Sense and even Hard Spun have a right to go on and beat elders down the line.
As far as the next step is concerned, the connections of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness should make wise decisions. Face it, there is little to gain stud-wise to go on and win the Belmont. It will do very little in increasing stud value, so why not be kind to the horses. They have already been stressed to get this far and why squeeze the lemon dry when there is no Triple Crown for either.
Wouldn’t it be wiser to wrap up, let these runners rest a few weeks, then bring them back say in the Travers for an all-out assault on the game?
As far as California is concerned, there are some new faces that are becoming household names in Inglewood.
It’s not surprising that a Baze is dominating the jockey standings, but we are not talking about Russell, we are talking about his second cousin Michael.
Mike the Muscle is only a 12% rider in his career but he’s popping at a 21% clip this current Hollypark meeting and holding first through last Sunday by nine wins over the impressively hot apprentice, Joe Talamo.
Baze is getting into some solid barns in SoCal and that’s the key to longevity. He has had more mounts than anybody in the jock’s room and has more minor awards with 35 in the money placings.
This is just a story about a kid that worked hard, was finally recognized, and is getting the job done. Baze is coming off a 6th place finish in the Santa Anita jockey standings.
He also has surrounded himself with the right people. His booking agent, Nick Cosato, who formerly had Pat Valenzuela, Victor Espinoza, and Garrett Gomez among others, had nothing but good things to say about his employer.
Cosato as told to Art Wilson in the Whittier Daily News: “He’s young, he’s aggressive, he’s patient, he’s a hard worker and he’s light. There’s just a lot of upside with him. And he’s very cool. Nothing really rattles him.”
Born in Renton Washington, Baze was not weaned on the sport, despite the famous name. His mother got him away from the game early in his career and he really didn’t get the bug, sorry for the pun, until his cousin Tyler Baze starting succeeding.
He learned most of what he uses now racing in New Jersey and at Philly Park but this guy does not have some of the demons that fooled with Tyler and he’ll be around a long time.
In other rider news, David Flores, who rode his first winner at Caliente in 1984, won his 3,000th race last weekend when he won the Laz Barrera Stakes with 7-1 shot Time to Get Even.
Nobody was riding well in stakes this winter and Flores has nine, count ‘em, nine wins in million-dollar races. That means that when the money is down, connections come calling.
HE’S BACK
Don’t look now, but he’s back. Lava Man is starting to tune up for his third attempt at winning the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Only Native Diver has turned the Gold Cup hat trick and that was back in the day, from 1965-67. Doug O’Neill is still looking for the perfect prep for the Cup and that may come in the Whittingham on June 9.
Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2007 Belmont Stakes.