Is Bob Baffert being a ...............

[Skywalker]

You fill in the word. The guy wins 3 races for him Saturday and 9 stakes races for him this year and Baffert whines like a little .... because we wants to take mount for other stables.

For the record, Bob's biggest owner, Mike Pegram, has a brother who is Garcia's agent. Let's see how that goes over Mr. Horse racing is dead without Lasix.

Baffert told the Paulick Report website on Sunday that he no longer intends to ride Garcia because the rider did not appear for morning workouts last week and that Garcia said he wants to take mounts for other stables.

http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-pa...-mounts-garcia

[Psychotic Parakeet]

He is making the right decision. If you want business that badly and stay in-touch with a well-known stable and ride the good ones, YOU show up, no matter what. I'd be pissed too. I see how much of a headache my own trainer goes through when her horse(s) are all tacked up and ready to go and the rider does not show up. It's not fun scrambling around at the last minute looking for someone else to ride when you have a small window to do so in the mornings.

[dustino140]

What's the big deal? He can go primary with Bejarano and get a better rider, and keep guys like Smith and Talamo in the secondary position.

The thing with Garcia is that he was the secondary guy, making the trip to places like Prairie Meadows, Mountaineer, etc., but when that relationship started, he wasn't Baffert's go-to guy in So Cal. That kind of materialized over time as other relationships frayed and as guys got hurt, moved their tack, etc. But hey, relationships come and go...it's an ebb and flow of the game. For the longest time, you didn't see anyone not named Velazquez on a top Pletcher horse. Now Castellano gets that call often. Owners switch trainers, trainers switch riders. I'm sure this decision is based on more than one morning. But hey, when you're Baffert, you're in the power position. You get to make that call, because if Garcia trips up, there are dozens of guys begging to take his spot.

[Skywalker]

What's the big deal? He can go primary with Bejarano and get a better rider, and keep guys like Smith and Talamo in the secondary position.

The thing with Garcia is that he was the secondary guy, making the trip to places like Prairie Meadows, Mountaineer, etc., but when that relationship started, he wasn't Baffert's go-to guy in So Cal. That kind of materialized over time as other relationships frayed and as guys got hurt, moved their tack, etc. But hey, relationships come and go...it's an ebb and flow of the game. For the longest time, you didn't see anyone not named Velazquez on a top Pletcher horse. Now Castellano gets that call often. Owners switch trainers, trainers switch riders. I'm sure this decision is based on more than one morning. But hey, when you're Baffert, you're in the power position. You get to make that call, because if Garcia trips up, there are dozens of guys begging to take his spot.

Sure, but you would think there would be some loyalty to Pegram's brother. At the very least you don't air this in the media like a jerk. Garcia should be able to go out and find other trainers considering Baffert doesn't use him on his top horses. Do you think Pegram would just pull the plug on Baffert in the media.

Personally I think Garcia should have been on Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby. Not sure what that was all about. I get Bejarano going with Secret Circle, but have to think Baffert knew what type of horse Bode was and didn't send Garcia to ride him for some reason. I don't care where Garcia was riding that day.

[Somnambulist]

Dustin's right, who cares?

Garcia's only claim to fame is riding Baffert's horses. This only hurts him, if it will at all. Oh well. I'm sure Smith or whoever will be happy to pick the mount up.

[stuff]

If Garcia was spinning him in the morning, maybe it was time for an attitude adjustment. It's not funny when you have a horse scheduled to work and the rider doesn't show up. Not fair to the horse standing there tacked and ready and could seriously throw off a schedule if he's close to racing. Garcia was lucky to get the horses he did in Baffert's barn, but you get them by putting that work in in the morning. He wasn't showing up, he needs to go ride for trainers that don't care if he works a horse or not. I'm guessing he'll find those few and far between.

[RHIOT]

Dustin's right, who cares?

Garcia's only claim to fame is riding Baffert's horses. This only hurts him, if it will at all. Oh well. I'm sure Smith or whoever will be happy to pick the mount up.

Exactly, the guy is a complete mediocrity and should kiss Bafferts *** he's on his horses, on the other hand is Baffert being a dick? Of course he is, he is one of the biggest, but so is Garcia, and he stinks.

[Prairie Bayou]

Well, it is Bob's house and there are plenty of riders wanting to ride his horses.

[Starine]

A diva?

I think so.

[dustino140]

And for the record, from DRF -

Martin Garcia rode Liaison in the Derby. Though Garcia has had most of his success with Baffert – they won the Preakness two years ago with Lookin At Lucky – Baffert said Garcia has expressed a desire to not be committed to working horses for Baffert on a regular basis. Baffert believes they can work out their differences.


“He’s not completely out,” Baffert said.

[Epiphany]

Sure, but you would think there would be some loyalty to Pegram's brother. At the very least you don't air this in the media like a jerk. Garcia should be able to go out and find other trainers considering Baffert doesn't use him on his top horses. Do you think Pegram would just pull the plug on Baffert in the media.

Personally I think Garcia should have been on Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby. Not sure what that was all about. I get Bejarano going with Secret Circle, but have to think Baffert knew what type of horse Bode was and didn't send Garcia to ride him for some reason. I don't care where Garcia was riding that day.

Garcia hasn't been riding that well lately in general. He was first call much of the time the past two years, a tad more first call went to Bejarano this winter. Garcia is tired of Bob and has someone in his ear telling him he can do ok without putting all his eggs in Bob's basket, and I don't think he liked being the hired help flying red eyes to KY to work Bode so Mike could ride him in the Big Race.

As for Bode, that was Bejarano's mount and he was forced to ride Secret Circle by...Pegram via Baffert. That wasn't Bejarano's call. He got screwed but kept his mouth shut. But yes, I think Martin was pissed he didn't get the mount over Smith, and I think Zayat had a say in that, too.

Garcia is widely perceived to be boosted by Baffert and unable to crack to top echelon on his own. Let's find out, it will be good for everyone involved. FYI, Mike does not tell Bob what to do, nor did Bob air this in public - he answered Ray Paulick's direct questions after some guy tweeted the news.

[ddandelion723]

If Bob calls me then I am there...