I agree with you, no incentive. But I don't really think thats what Todd was getting at. reread his comments again, read between the lines, hes eluding to the spacing of the races and not coming out and saying it. Noone wants to be known as the guy who is knocking tradition. But I think thats what he was eluding to.

I read it two ways - the first was the spacing and the second was if you keep the spacing as it is, then offer some sort of incentive to run my horse back in two weeks and then 3 weeks.

Well I mean hes right. Noone is ever gonna tell you that they like taht spacing. If you maybe offered a bonus to a horse who runs in all three as long as he WINS at leats one leg, maybe you geta few extra horses in the Preakness.

the guy is 38 and his hair is totally gray, does he dye his hair, is he that vain, why would he want to look like he is 55.

LOL! That was funny Sec. Maybe its the grind every day. Tough business to be in.

I am not a huge fan of the spacing and I am not a hug fan of tradition. I think tradition gets in the way of progress (at times). But they need to do something to encourage not only larger fields but more talented fields for the Belmont and Preakness. I think the simple answer is to raise the purse to $3mm and to make it 3 weeks before the Preakness and 4 weeks before the Belmont. That is 3 races in 7 weeks which is doable. Plus add in the extra 3 weeks of rest before the Derby and you are looking at well rested and more mature horses.

0 for 49, huh. With an average like that he couldnt play for the KC Royals minor league team.

Pletcher is incredibly sharp and is clearly a superior manager of details. The guy is a superstar trainer like it or not and despite his Derby record. As long as his barn does become unmanageable. I think there is a limit to the quality you can give individual horses thru assistants.

Assmussen is seemingly at every stakes race in every state.

speaking of eye doctors, i should wear my glasses while wagering...... nothing worse than confusing the 7 with the 1 or the 3 with the 9. you have a tri 6/4/7 that you think hit......when you see the replay its 6/4/1 fuuuuckkk

Pat,
You hit the nail on the head.
If you go to Toga, you'll see that both Todd P and Keirahn M have 72. Both sides. Both of them have very deep stables.
Shug has 38, Linda Rice has 38, Jim Jerkens has 38. Same with Frank LaBocceta.
The stall space is very expensive, and if they don't produce...down the road they go.
Those big guys win their share, no question. But they have deeper resources available. More horses to sort through.
I like the trainers that connect with those that they've more carefully culled.
Just my opinion. More "hands on". Better attention.
You can always "dish the details" to your assistants.

As Kentness would say, "you don't know the pressure I'm under."

Sometimes, it does become unmanageable.
Just my two cents...
DTS