OCTAVE-the-RAVE

"The King of Saratoga, Angel Cordero, Jr., and the Queen of Racing, Rags to Riches, joined forces yesterday for a 5/8 work over the main track at Saratoga.  As the Hall of Famer said, "She worked very well.  She was happy and relaxed, has a nice, long stride and changed leads on cue."

Team Pletcher's  NYRA Blog  -  August 13, 2007

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What more need any horse player know about how profoundly elemental "changing leads" is to a thoroughbred's performance than to hear it from one of the greatest race riders ever?  Not that Cordero's pronouncement is remotely unique.  Taking careful note of how fluidly a race horse changes leads in the morning is something every quality trainer has done religiously with every charge under his care since the dawn of time.

That its importance in the afternoon has exceeded the intellectual capacity of America's collective turf authorities for more than 100 years lends huge credence to the tens of millions who view our sport as nothing more than a haven for nitwits and degenerate gamblers.

Remember that the next time some flaming nitwit touts a horse in print on the basis of his 8-pound weight advantage!

Rave