Noel Ridge said...

It was fortunate that two things happened when Buter came 2 wide and tried to clear.
One, that Miller didn't let him go , as the horses on the cones would have been checked behind him.
Two, that Sears had enough room to move from two wide to one wide and then come back out when Buter's horse had dropped back.
I thought there was going to be an accident.
The flow of horses at the Meadowlands seems to come from competitors who are used to racing together, and can read what is happening. A new driver obviously is at a disadvantage.

posted at 9:59 AM on May 11th 2008

The Beav said...

If you watch the race with Buter the horse let go of the bit on the kid. He was getting after him well before his wheel got close to clearing, Miller saw this and drove on. Dont think the kid made a mistake as much as he was a victim of circumstance. That being said experience is everything at The Big M, with it comes respect from other drivers as well, ans usually the reason I wont play newbies or no-names there.

posted at 9:38 AM on May 11th 2008

john buonomo said...

Andrew: No comment on Holiday Credit going a blistering 56 and change at Freehold? Between In Focus already going 55, and this colt goling 56 in May on a half, he has two legit Hambo contenders.

From Andrew: Thanks, John. I didn't see the race but I will try to find it now. Wouldn't it be great if there were an ESPN Sportscenter dedicated only to harness racing?

posted at 6:57 AM on May 11th 2008

john buonomo said...

I made this comment to Dave Brower at the Meadowlands...that is why you can not bet or select Tyler Buter at the Meadowlands...he found a way to get in trouble. You have to make a decision, either drive on, or continue to float first over. He could not have thought that Andy Miller was going to give up the front. Thankfully the in-decision on Tyler's part did not cause an unfortunate mishap. What a steer by Sears to get back to the rail, check his horse, and still get enough out of him to get to the wire.

posted at 6:53 AM on May 11th 2008

Paul Siegel said...

OK...just saw a replay...Buter thought he was going to clear Andy Miller when he was 95% by him, but Andy said "No, you have to be 100% by me, I'm not letting you go."

Inexperience.

posted at 10:42 PM on May 10th 2008

Paul Siegel said...

Without even having seen the race, I'll give a one word answer...inexperience.

He's 22, and has no big race or Meadowlands experience.

Not that many years ago, a guy who trained for me was stabled at Colonial downs in Virginia for their meet. There was a young fella no one ever heard of named Tim Tetrick who was down there that year (As I recall his father, Tom, was also stabled there for the meet.) My former trainer, who would never be mistaken for John Campbell in the bike, would tell me how many misdtakes this kid Tetrick was making day after day. (OK...he wasn't that kind...he said Tetrick was terrible.) A couple of years later and Tetrick is harness racing's wunderkind, setting record after record. Amazing what a couple of years of experience can do. Only time will tell if Tyler Buter can similarly develop his skills.

posted at 10:32 PM on May 10th 2008