US Racing: Big stables are doing backers a disservice by over-hyping horses

US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 14 December 2007 / Leave a Comment

Nick Shiambouros laments the tendency of US trainers to overplay the chances of their charges

Over the years I have seen plenty of horses that have been hyped out of all proportion but this year there has been an abundance of candidates that fit that category notably Discreet Cat who I have mentioned in detail on numerous occasions. This weeks instalment is Ravel who finished unplaced in The Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park. Plenty was available to lay at [2.5] and I hope regular readers took full advantage of this opportunity. Is it my imagination or is it just the big stables that are guilty of over hyping a horses chances. To suggest that Ravel was being aimed at next years Breeders Cup Classic was staggering to say the least. The race was won in good style by Heatseeker who will be kept busy this Winter at Santa Anita.

Earlier in the day Sunriver put up the performance of the weekend when destroying a quality field in the Grade1 Hollywood Turf Cup. This one went to script as the brilliant Garrett Gomez made all and held on well from Champs Elysees inside the final furlong. I am afraid there was no [4.0] available but [3.0] which was the SP was. Rather than crack heads in The Breeder's Cup he was saved for this event and quite frankly I have run out of superlatives for his trainer Todd Pletcher who once again proved that he is one of the best in the World

Our good fortune continued over in Louisiana at The Fairgrounds when Costa Rising won by a country mile in The Louisiana Champions Day Classic. The field was cut up to just five runners so only odds on was available on the exchange. The official winning distance was 15 lengths but favourite backers never had a anxious moment.

Up in New York our selection Hunting had no excuse behind veteran Evening Attire in The Queens County Handicap with the front running Barcola back in second. Hunting was gaining at the finish but frankly this was disappointing.

This Saturday Hollywood Park hosts the Grade1 The Hollywood Starlet for two year old fillies run over one mile and one sixteenth on the Cushion Track.I think this one is between Spritely who is unbeaten over two starts and Foxy Danseur who has more of a exposed profile. I just favour the latter at around [6.0] win and place but I will have a saver on Spritely who should be around [4.5].

On Sunday in The Grade2 Dahlia Handicap look out for Citronnade if she takes her chance. This daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid made Nashoba's Key fight all the way to the line in The Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita and I will be backing her if she shows up. Carla Gaines is still mulling over weather or not to run Nashoba's Key but I am hoping she will wait because she had a really hard race in The Breeder's Cup. I will be looking for around [3.5] for Citronnade in this warm contest.

Up at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday the great Patrick Valenzuela makes a rare trip to Northern California to ride El Gato Malo in The Gold Rush Stakes and I will be taking the hint and backing him. This is a warm event so I hope [3.5] will be available as he faces winners for the first time.

I am so glad to see Patrick Valenzuela back in the saddle after coming back from surgery. Patrick has fought his demons throughout his career and many have written him off in the past. For my money he is still one of the best riders in the World and has silenced his critics time after time. America is known as a country that believes in giving people a second chance and as I have previously reported I believe Patrick wont let anyone down and I hope to see him riding for many years to come .Perhaps on occasion all of us should be a little more forgiving, don't you think?