Quote from
NiekH on July 11, 2026, 11:29 AM
IT was strange. He tried sneaking up the rail from a outside post then caught the outer flow which looked to be moving pretty well. But midstretch? Empty.
Does he really need to be driving at the Meadowlands? The class of horses over the years is pretty crappy now at the Big M. BUT the driving colony still pretty solid. HE could have used Beckwith on Exquis and the better driving A. Mac on Super Way. His point with the babies is he knows them best and they have idiosyncrasies where he feels he needs to be on them. The problem with that is he stays on the the entire season going forward. And if they develop and face the best of the best you're giving up lengths facing Dexter, his brother, any of the top drivers. Seems like a double edged sword.
I have no issue with him driving the Ohio circuit. Although the Looooooooooooooooooooooou drive still pisses me off and cost the owners going forward. His next start is now in the BSS 20k instead of the OSS 40k. Because he burned Loooooooooooooou out so bad in the Next Generation.
He's put his time in and I'm sure would love to drive a Breeders Crown winner, Hambo, Jug, whatever. But where do you draw the line? He isn't getting any younger. I heard a story about Lawmaker when he made the Hambo it kind of got ugly getting him off the horse for the Hambo and Purple Jesus driving. Heard the story third person but pretty certain it's true. When Lawmaker broke a few steps out of the gate may have stirred his inner resolve to not give up the reins. Who's driving Jailbird Jog in the Oaks? Hopefully James stays in the family. We will see.
James is driving JBJ for the Oaks and most likely any stake James can be available for.
IT was strange. He tried sneaking up the rail from a outside post then caught the outer flow which looked to be moving pretty well. But midstretch? Empty.
Does he really need to be driving at the Meadowlands? The class of horses over the years is pretty crappy now at the Big M. BUT the driving colony still pretty solid. HE could have used Beckwith on Exquis and the better driving A. Mac on Super Way. His point with the babies is he knows them best and they have idiosyncrasies where he feels he needs to be on them. The problem with that is he stays on the the entire season going forward. And if they develop and face the best of the best you're giving up lengths facing Dexter, his brother, any of the top drivers. Seems like a double edged sword.
I have no issue with him driving the Ohio circuit. Although the Looooooooooooooooooooooou drive still pisses me off and cost the owners going forward. His next start is now in the BSS 20k instead of the OSS 40k. Because he burned Loooooooooooooou out so bad in the Next Generation.
He's put his time in and I'm sure would love to drive a Breeders Crown winner, Hambo, Jug, whatever. But where do you draw the line? He isn't getting any younger. I heard a story about Lawmaker when he made the Hambo it kind of got ugly getting him off the horse for the Hambo and Purple Jesus driving. Heard the story third person but pretty certain it's true. When Lawmaker broke a few steps out of the gate may have stirred his inner resolve to not give up the reins. Who's driving Jailbird Jog in the Oaks? Hopefully James stays in the family. We will see.
James is driving JBJ for the Oaks and most likely any stake James can be available for.
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