Horses in trouble must be watched in racing but it takes a keen eye to differentiate between a horse that encountered trouble or one that is trouble prone. Some horses are their own worst enemies because their running styles promote mishaps.
For many, when exiting a sporting event, one of the key concerns is how to beat the traffic but in racing traffic plays an integral part on outcomes. Players should aim to improve in evaluating what is perceived as trouble and what is not really a disturbing situation.
Horses in trouble are sometimes those with zero speed. They can tend to bear in or out, act up at the gate and that can make any horserace an adventure.
Sports enthusiasts have to watch races intently and not just glob on to what would be obvious to the blind Helen Kellers in the stands.
Everybody can see horses in trouble if they get left at the gate of if the racer runs up on horses’ heels. It’s the subtle, hidden things that, when identified, can pay big dividends at the windows.
Finding horses in trouble is more art than science but players can improve with hard work and the ability to delve into races.
In the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes on turf at Gulfstream Park on January 14, there were a few horses in trouble. The favorite and my selection Divisidero had a very unlucky journey. First off, he was washy going to the post. When horses are washy, when their coats are dripping wet and lathered up, it raises an immediate red flag. It can be similar to a human not feeling well and running a fever. Divisidero looked like a ‘spent’ horse before the Ft. Lauderdale even started. He was the tepid 5-2 favorite, was uninterested early and far back and then had to race five wide in the stretch. He still only was beaten a neck and three-quarters of a length for all the money and he will be solid next out.
Lukes Alley also ran into a road block. The son of Flower Alley had won 8 of his 15 starts before Saturday and had never been worse than second on the Gulfstream Park turf course. He was caught in the middle of the 11-horse field Saturday, tried to get through an opening on the rail but was forced to take up. He had to alter course and by that time, he had run out of gas.
Horses in trouble also materialized at Oaklawn Park last weekend. Older fillies were engaged in a battle in the $125,000 Pippen Stakes as six squared off in the mile and a sixteenth contest. Ruby Sioux was ambitiously placed but she lost her best chance at the start when she walked out of the gate and never got untracked. That was her first race since November, she generally shows positional speed, and she will be a major force next time in a slightly softer spot.
The Smarty Jones Stakes was renewed at Oaklawn on January 16 and a horse that will really improve out of that race is Warrior’s Club. He is trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas and was making his third start in a stakes. Since he is a speed type that needs the lead, when he didn’t get to the lead on Monday he was pretty much toast. The winner, Uncontested, ran like his name suggests. He made the lead, put away the horse that was chasing him and then drew off as the chalk. If Warrior’s Club returns in a sprint, say at the demanding distance of 7 furlongs, he will be extremely tough.
Horses in trouble can also be found in maiden races. On the same card as the Smarty Jones, Alvin’s Touch was making his second start. In his first attempt, the youngster lost his best chance when he bobbled at the start. On Monday, when guided by Kentucky Derby winning rider Calvin Borel, he settled from his 10 post but was forced to race wide. He showed determination to finish a solid second at 15-1 and seems to be coming up to a peak performance.
When evaluating horses in trouble, take in the entire picture and try to think out of the box.
Horses in Trouble Must Be Watched
