Will Desormeaux undermine Casino Drive's performance?

Question

Will K. Desormeaux undermine Casino Drive's preformance in the Peter Pan at Belmont this weekend?

He could be Big Browns opposition in the Belmont.

Answer 1

I don't think so.  Kent Desormeaux is a hall of fame rider, his connections must be stoked to have him.  The whole Belmont notion is silly.  How many of Barbaro's rivals did Prado ride in 2006 before the Derby?  He had to know he was going to stick with Barbaro after the Florida Derby if not sooner, but I don't think he was throwing any races the rest of the way.  I think Rick Dutrow and Kent D are so confident of Big Brown that it doesn't matter.

Answer 2

No, I don't think Desormeaux will do anything unethical.  If Casino Drive's human connections were even slightly suspicious that he would do anything to undermine the horse, then I'm guessing they wouldn't let him ride in the Peter Pan.

Answer 3

No...he don't get paid to lose and won't have any mounts if he throws a race. Furthermore it doesn't matter where he runs - even if Casino Drive loses (or wins) the only thing he can control on Belmont day is Big Brown.

Answer 4

I agree that he's not going to throw a race, regardless of his mount in the Belmont.  If Casino Drive's jockey can't win the Belmont without tips from Desormeaux then he shouldn't be riding.

Answer 5

Well I don't know that he'll intentionally ride poorly in the Peter Pan... however i don't know who made the decision to ride Kent on Casino Drive, but I think it was a stupid decision!  I was so mad when I read that.  Casino Drive has a great chance in the Belmont (I love how I say that without ever seeing the horse run... and it's only broken it maiden and done nothing else, but I have that much confidence in his breeding...)...  It would make sense and be a good decision to have the jock who's going to ride the hrose in the belmont ride it in its prep for the belmont.  If Kent rides Casino Drive in the Peter Pan and he realizes that the horse is really good, you know he's not going to give any tips to whoever gets the mount in the Belmont.  In fact, he could give the rider wrong tips for the belmont.  It was an awful decision to put Kent up for the Peter Pan.  I almost hope he can't ride for some reason... maybe I need to go to Belmont and lock Kent in a closet during that race so they have to get a new rider.

Racing Fan...  about the tips... that's not my point...  I'm saying that it would have been a much better decision to put a jock up who was going to be able to ride the horse in its future race.  It's smarter to have a jock who knows the horse.  Choosing Kent for the Peter Pan was a stupid decision because we all know that he's not going to ride Casino Drive in the Belmont.  They should have gotten a jock who would ride both in the Peter Pan and the Belmont.  No, Kent's not going to sacrifice Casino Drive's chances in the Peter Pan, but CD would have a better chance in the Belmont if he got the same rider in 2 races.  It was just a dumb decision all around.