Aaron Merriman

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Is it so difficult when you get the choice of drives by the best (gas) trainers at Northfield!!  Take away the (gas) powered victories and where would he be?  The same can be said about quite a few other drivers in North America today.
I’ll add my list of of names after others list theirs and we can see if any of us share common opinions!!

On one hand, some might say he gets these drives because of what's he's accomplished. Others may say no. Cause and effect. Chicken and egg. On the other hand, your question is unanswerable. Nothing more than speculation. So how many of the 16,000 wins are undeserved? How many of the 4000 drives a year are from a stacked deck? Because he's winning 800 of them. Did people say the same thing about Billy Parker Jr.? Dave Palone? If somebody really thinks he'd be a nobody without the drives he's getting, I disagree. Take away his # 1 barn, and he'll get the next two. Take away the top 2 barns, and he'll still get his choice. It's because of what he's accomplished. You don't get to that level by luck or simply by a stacked deck. But, that's what makes the world go 'round...different opinions.

People say similar things about Gingras. Listen, I knew the guy before he came to the US. I never thought he was the best or most talented driver to come out of Quebec, but he's gone further and accomplished more than the others who left before and after him. Does it all come from Takter? Burke? Maybe a lot of the #'s and money do, but how did he get there? I don't think he's a well-rounded, versatile driver, I don't think he's a very strategic driver, but he would not be nobody if you pulled Takter from him. Sure, his numbers might fall off a bit, but not his business. Did all of Jackie Mo's success come from Pelling and Robinson? People who say yes, have zero knowledge of the sport/business. I think Jack is light years, exponentially, a far greater, more talented driver than Gingras, and Jack did well driving for others. People just see what they want to see. I am not a Gingras fan, but he's not filling out an application at Home Depot if he loses Takter and Burke. Thanks!

[rainman2]

On one hand, some might say he gets these drives because of what's he's accomplished. Others may say no. Cause and effect. Chicken and egg. On the other hand, your question is unanswerable. Nothing more than speculation. So how many of the 16,000 wins are undeserved? How many of the 4000 drives a year are from a stacked deck? Because he's winning 800 of them. Did people say the same thing about Billy Parker Jr.? Dave Palone? If somebody really thinks he'd be a nobody without the drives he's getting, I disagree. Take away his # 1 barn, and he'll get the next two. Take away the top 2 barns, and he'll still get his choice. It's because of what he's accomplished. You don't get to that level by luck or simply by a stacked deck. But, that's what makes the world go 'round...different opinions.

People say similar things about Gingras. Listen, I knew the guy before he came to the US. I never thought he was the best or most talented driver to come out of Quebec, but he's gone further and accomplished more than the others who left before and after him. Does it all come from Takter? Burke? Maybe a lot of the #'s and money do, but how did he get there? I don't think he's a well-rounded, versatile driver, I don't think he's a very strategic driver, but he would not be nobody if you pulled Takter from him. Sure, his numbers might fall off a bit, but not his business. Did all of Jackie Mo's success come from Pelling and Robinson? People who say yes, have zero knowledge of the sport/business. I think Jack is light years, exponentially, a far greater, more talented driver than Gingras, and Jack did well driving for others. People just see what they want to see. I am not a Gingras fan, but he's not filling out an application at Home Depot if he loses Takter and Burke. Thanks!

Thank you for a few names I was looking for.  I'm hoping others will add a few more.

[Mrpick5]

Merriman is awful. He just got beat at 1/9. Instant front. No pressure. No attempt to rate. And stopped like a 8 day clock. The red headed stepchild is the most overrated driver ever. Can’t even get a gassed up horse home.

[Dingus]

Merriman is awful. He just got beat at 1/9. Instant front. No pressure. No attempt to rate. And stopped like a 8 day clock. The red headed stepchild is the most overrated driver ever. Can’t even get a gassed up horse home.

If you’re talking about the 4th at northfield, that horse ran 8th 4 races in a row at Batavia, showing very little speed in any of them. 
Tonight:  27:1, 56:1- no way he was going to last, even against that bottom class.

[NOTHING BUT TRUTHS]

there is so much more that goes into horses racing good and or bad. the horse could be having a bad day. maybe a stone got in the horses eye. its not easy to win a horse race. all people can do is make sure the work is done during the week and hope the driver puts them in a good position. even doped up horses lose everyday.

with that said it doesnt hurt to drive for power on the regular.

[Dingus]

If you’re talking about the 4th at northfield, that horse ran 8th 4 races in a row at Batavia, showing very little speed in any of them. 
Tonight:  27:1, 56:1- no way he was going to last, even against that bottom class.

Correction: 3rd race

[rainman2]

there is so much more that goes into horses racing good and or bad. the horse could be having a bad day. maybe a stone got in the horses eye. its not easy to win a horse race. all people can do is make sure the work is done during the week and hope the driver puts them in a good position. even doped up horses lose everyday.

with that said it doesnt hurt to drive for power on the regular.

I believe there is something called form cycles.  when a horse is good, it is very very good and when a horse goes bad, it is very very bad. Sometimes this an indicator of 'better feed and oats'---LOL