Watching video replays often leads to confusion. Either three or four horses have trouble to varying degrees and under disparate conditions, or there’s not a single trip that can explain recent defeats. But this is not the case with Navy Armed Guard’s (7-2) last placing.
Counting the legitimate excuses, he was four wide on the first turn vs. quality rivals, many with plenty of back class. He stalked outside another mid-pack rival three wide all the way down the backside.
When the real running began, he made his move at exactly the wrong time, his momentum carrying him four wide from mid-turn, 5-wide + into the stretch.
Despite all that ‘Navy’ battled rivals on both sides and would have been victorious save for the wake-up effort of Ian Wilkes’ Big Dollar Bill, who made the last, well timed run to swallow up embattled contenders. ‘Navy’ was well clear of the third horse. See what you think.
Check out the Tampa Bay Today Video on the HRI homepage, FEB 7, RACE 5.
We’re making a straight wager, no price restrictions and, at reasonable odds, will key-box multiples with Flor de la Mar (3-1) on the barn change from SoCal, and Brasstown (5-2), shipping north for 3-for-8 Joe Saffie.
