![]() In post-race interviews, Repole called Forte the Jim Dandy champion. Anyone who claims they are trying to fix a broken game but only brings talking points to the table that will positively impact themselves, not bettors, horsemen, fans, etcetera, I’ve got to question that. Listen, Repole has some valid points, others where he is obviously trying to shape the narrative around his situation. What we thought was a horse race had become a jockey race. But no, his pilot takes matters into his own hands. There Forte was, the 2-year-old champion locked in but patiently waiting his time, knowing he is tough enough to get through, fast and smart enough to find a way. Forte was declared the winner of the Jim Dandy. An obvious takedown, but if they do, what does Repole do then? Well, they didn’t take him down. And they’re up there with this decision to make. These are complaints directed at many parties but definitely against the stewards. An obvious disqualification, right? Well, all week Repole has been out there on shows detailing his negative experience as an owner, how he will leave the game, and how he spends $20 million a year on the sport. Veering Forte toward Saudi yards away from the finish line, Irad steers into his last target, visibly knocking Saudi’s back haunches right before the wire as Forte puts his head down, a nose in front at the wire. If you’ve seen Irad get pissed at other jockeys on the race track then you know–Irad’s vengeance is volcanic. But having taken out one Cox horse, Irad is set on taking out the other. Saudi Crown is still in front, praying for the wire. Now Forte has room, but not enough so Irad whips him on the left, sending him out again, even leans into it, as Forte fights on. They could clip heels, they could knock each other off, it could be a disastrous spill across the mud, but he takes his big colt and tries to split the Cox team in half, asking Forte to throw his mighty weight against Angel of Empire. Irad grabs the reins and angles Forte out, diving between Saudi’s tail and Angel’s jaw as soon as they come out of the turn for home. So he’s either got to wait for some daylight or race for second, which is not an option for his jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr.Īggressive and reckless, it’s well-documented that Irad pushes the limits and does not get punished. He’s boxed in and has been the entire race. They’re turning for home in the Jim Dandy and Forte is blocked behind one Cox horse and pinned to the rail by another. A strong group but still, only a field of five. Steve Asmussen entered Disarm, who finished fourth in the Derby. Including the horse who finished third in the Derby as the favorite, Angel of Empire the fifth-place finisher Hit Show and an impressive newcomer to the scene, Saudi Crown. They were pissed about being scratched and ever since, Repole has been throwing bombastic fits on Twitter and to reporters threatening to leave the game.īrad Cox entered three horses in the race. He’s trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Mike Repole who made a fortune selling his flavored water company to Coca-Cola. The 2-year-old champion who would have been the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, but the day before the vets decided he couldn’t run because he had a bruised foot. This storyline coming into this year’s Jim Dandy was Forte. Every year a lot of the same horses from the Kentucky Derby run in it, along with other 3-year-olds who have gotten good after May’s Run for the Roses. Maybe you saw it, maybe you didn’t, but here’s how I’m telling the story of the Grade Two $500,000 Jim Dandy from Saturday, July 29 at Saratoga.Īlright, so the Jim Dandy is a major stakes race for 3-year-olds at Saratoga. Reckless driving, team tactics, suspicious stewardship, and a bombastic owner throwing his weight around– all across a muddy track at our sport’s most celebrated meet. Usually it takes twelve retellings or two bottles of bourbon to get truth like this.
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