Atlee Bender

[Bitter Truth]

 Opinions on him?  .206%...A couple years back, looked like he had some promise. Now not so much. Pretty low % for a guy who gets to drive the kinda stock he does. I think it says alot about the Hoosier driving colony. Many chances tonite. Sure oughta get something there.

[LAW AND ORDER]

Opinions on him?  .206%...A couple years back, looked like he had some promise. Now not so much. Pretty low % for a guy who gets to drive the kinda stock he does. I think it says alot about the Hoosier driving colony. Many chances tonite. Sure oughta get something there.

HORRIBLE! BUT THE PROBLEM IS,,,,,,,, IF YOU WANT TO BE IN ERV MILLERS BARN, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT EOTHER ATLEE OR MARCUS ARE GOING TO DRIVE YOUR HORSES AND COST YOU MONEY. ERV DOESNT CARE BECAUSE ITS HIS FAMILY AND ANY OWNER WHO COMPLAINS IS TOLD TO GO ELSEWHERE. ONLY REASON WHY ERV LOSES SO MANY RACES WHERE HE IS MUCH THE BEST. NEITHER ONE OF THOSE TWO COULD DRIVE A HOT NAIL INTO A SNOWBANK. JUST SAYING FOR A FRIEND.

[seriously]

I completely agree with you.  A few years after he started I thought I noticed an uptick and figured that might continue.  However, just like so many people with no one in line for their job, no improvement is necessary and Atlee has certainly lived up to that (regressed actually). 

Cordarius Stewart is much better.  MUCH!

[Bitter Truth]

  Nice call, that dude is comin on. Looks comfortable, not panicked, not bouncin around and lashing out like Joey.

[Fuguzzi]

I've watched him, admittedly fewer than 20 times. I don't like how he sits a bike and he has "slow hands"

[Kirby's Ace]

I completely agree with you.  A few years after he started I thought I noticed an uptick and figured that might continue.  However, just like so many people with no one in line for their job, no improvement is necessary and Atlee has certainly lived up to that (regressed actually). 

Cordarius Stewart is much better.  MUCH!

No Amish trainer that has that kind of money(mainly Overhiser) behind him is going to use a  to sit behind their steeds and take a chance of him out driving his Amish family kin.

[Fuguzzi]

I get your point, but being only mildly familiar with the whole situation, how does Erv allow the family driver's to continue along, year after year, getting very mediocre results and still sell that to an owner/owners? It is business ultimately. i mean for a .206 UDRS, you might as well have Kyle Dibenedetto driving. In fact, Kyle is prolly better than Bender.

[horses first]

Behind the scenes some owners get irritated having Bender or Marcus up when other choices or better choices to drive the stock they purchase for big dollars or smaller dollars while those high monthly bills get paid and results don't trickle in drive after drive. They will defend in public or on forums to have their words not used against them but behind the scenes I've seen and hear quite the opposite. But hey that Overhiser reload with deep pockets didn't happen at Lexington. Bought some but far less than the past two years. Message sent???

[Kirby's Ace]

Thing is when you hire Erv as your trainer you kind of know who's going to drive mostly ahead of time. Best is to pass on him if that's not OK.

[seriously]

I've watched him, admittedly fewer than 20 times. I don't like how he sits a bike and he has "slow hands"

His hands fit him perfectly.   Small and slow.   

[hoosierboy]

I actually think Bender is better than Marcus.  Either way neither is a top driver

[seriously]

At least he hasn't put one on the lead tonight where speed is dead.  I'll give him that.

[Larry Bird Boy]

Behind the scenes some owners get irritated having Bender or Marcus up when other choices or better choices to drive the stock they purchase for big dollars or smaller dollars while those high monthly bills get paid and results don't trickle in drive after drive. They will defend in public or on forums to have their words not used against them but behind the scenes I've seen and hear quite the opposite. But hey that Overhiser reload with deep pockets didn't happen at Lexington. Bought some but far less than the past two years. Message sent???

Thank you. Overhiser is fed up and finally realized that he’s in over his head. He likes Erv as a person but he shouldn’t have to put up with nonsense like atlee and Marcus driving his stock. And I also agree with the guys on this thread saying atlee is a tad better than Marcus but neither could drive one of my horses. I mean cordsrius can outdrive them both and it’s sad that he took him off all of those big races tomorrow at Hawthorne. I mean can you imagine what Erv says to overhiser? Hey we have to pay $5k because Marcus is flying in to drive all of the stakes horses at Hawthorne because I don’t think cordarius is ready yet.  but like you said, overhiser is slowing down in Ervs barn and spreading out a little bit.

[horses first]

Erv parlayed a good 2022 as his owners piled in at Hoosier yearling sale with 1.3mln in horse flesh. 165k on two 2 Swans from Lex. I think the only sire stake check for 2yr old races was a 3rd. Throw in a couple 1st and 2nd checks in the 25k consolation but hey they don't drug test in IL so maybe some $$$ at Hawthorne night of Champions tomorrow.

[Locked in with pace]

it's a family affair, Attlee is married to Irv's daughter, Hannah. She actually drives well