A View from the Bottom #8: RT's lower-rung horses to watch from Fonner Park, Hawthorne, and Aqueduct
A VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM
19 April 2021 Edition 8
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We are going to start a new segment today called “How Low Can You Go.” Hopefully, you will see at least one per edition and today’s is the first race at Fonner on Sunday April 18.
It's bad enough that this race had an Equibase rating of 33, the jockey on the seven horse Bulls Eye Betty, Alberto Pusac, enjoyed a two length lead and widening, going into the stretch. What does this POS do? He starts whipping the horse like he’s some wife abuser sitting in the county jail wondering why me?
Alberto Pusac, you represent one of the ills of our sport.
The next race is the 3rd at Hawthorne on Sunday April 18. This was a $5K claiming race going five furlongs for fillies and mares. The horse of note is the winner, #1 Out Ona Limb, who shot out to the lead early and at the turn, was passed by two horses. It appeared that jockey Jareth Loveberry had zero clue that she wanted to turn on the afterburners. When they came around the turn, she started champing at the bit, so Jareth swung her out and she took off like a shot. She’s a good one and worth keeping an eye on.
The next race is the first from Aqueduct on Friday April 16. The horse we’re going to focus on is #2 Scott Alaia, stuck in the middle of those two horses in the second pack, with the yellow cap on. She is a filly out of Bodemeister and Medaglia d’Oro, who got off to a bad start, hesitating at the gate. She was then run up to the pack and while coming into the turn, Reylu Gutierrez checked her. Finally gaining some momentum coming off the turn, Gutierrez checked her again when encountering traffic and the race, after that, got away from her. She did manage to give excellent effort when she had an opening in the stretch. This ended up being one of those races where you will hear the term, “she finished a good fourth,” or, “it wasn't as bad as it looks on paper.”
The last over the weekend is far from a hooptie race. This was a $72K Allowance race for NY breds on the turf going six furlongs. Yes, I am still bitter about the way Pablo Morales rode #1 Dr. Blute. I certainly hope the connections gave this more than a cursory look and decide to switch jockeys. This horse was full of run and Pablo not only raced scared, but he just was also seemingly lost. Keep a look out for this gelding. He has the goods.
That’s it for this weekend.
Happy Hunting 😊