Pletcher going to California
 

Pletcher to have California string
By DAVID GRENING
Having dominated racing on the East Coast for the last several years, two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher will try to make an impact on the West Coast this fall and winter.
Pletcher confirmed Monday that he will be sending a string of horses to Southern California beginning with the opening of the Hollywood Park meet, which begins Nov. 1. Pletcher will keep horses stabled at Hollywood Park through at least the winter/spring meet at Santa Anita.

Pletcher, who has more than 150 horses in training, said it is still unclear how many horses he will be sending to California, but it will likely be between 20 and 40.

"Depends how many owners are interested," he said.

Pletcher said the main reason for opening up a division in California is the state's decision to implement a synthetic surface at its three racetracks. Hollywood Park's fall meet will be the first to utilize such a surface.

"The main reason is Polytrack is out there," Pletcher said. "We thought about going out there before, but one of the concerns was always how safe the surfaces are out there. Obviously, the purses are good. Mr [Michael] Tabor wants his horses training on Polytrack when possible."



Interesting news

Pletcherism spreads.....first Ellis Park...now California....what's next? El Commandante?

Frankel and D Wayne did it now he is going to as well. Baffert attempted it but most of his good assistants went on their own like Tim Yakteen and John Good, Harty

I think it's actually pretty big news he's going to California and a big reason for doing so is Polytrack. When the leading money-won trainer makes a move like this, it's news.

As an aside, I've spent many a fine afternoon at El Commandante. Always an enjoyable visit.

He is moving about 15% of his stock out there. Hardly a significant move.

Truth is it's better for everyone. Now he won't control 70% of the horses eligible for every non-claiming condition....only 50% of them.

Stud,
Thats not the real reason. I told you this past summer I had spoken to more than one trainer(Todd wasnt one of them) who was fed up with the purses and lack of allowances and msw's at Gulf. There are more who will announce it in the future.
But none of em are gonna come out and bash Gulf. 1) because they all train for or want the opportunity to train for Stronach. 2) Because they don't want their stall space reduced.

15% of his ytd earnings would put him ahead of all but a handful of West coast trainers. It also affords him a new pool of potential clients. I can't imagine any of the West coast trainers are doing handstands in celebration that Pletcher's going west. Hardly insignificant.

Sure it is a significant move any time the leading trainer in the Country annouces he going to a new venue it doesn't matter if he takes only 10 horses out there.

The guy trains hundreds of horses. He controls an unprecedented number of the most expensive and well bred yearlings every year. How can anyone be surprised that he eventually sent a string to California.

Sorry if I'm hardly shocked or bowled over by this news.

Just speculation but I would believe that he has so many young horses that are maidens and nw1x he needs to find new places to expand to. I mean how many maiden special weight horses does he have that are within a work or 2 of racing. With full divisions at Belmont, Saratoga, Monmouth, Delaware, and Churchill, where else could he expand to?

When Gulfstream starts, the Santa Anita meet will be going on. Pletcher did not say that he will run horses at Santa Anita. The track is terrible there. It will be interesting to see if he keep the horses out here once Santa Anita starts. The article only said that he will run them at Hollywood this Fall. It didn't say anything about running at Santa anita this winter.

I follow. But why California? Why not Oaklawn or Fair Grounds?

That's pretty much what I was trying to say ( obviously not that well ).

By 2010, every track in america will be poly. They just have to tweak it but it is safer and lets horses run more frequently. Pletcher is smart to go out there. He may hit $30M next year.

It is far more likely that in 2010 Todd Pletcher will train every horse in America than every surface will be Polytrack.

Not sure which is a scarier thought.

I must be reading this differently than some of you guys the only reason he is expanding to California is on account of the polytrack. More than likely it is to keep Michael Tabor happy too. He wants all of his horses training on it when ever possible.

I don't know if every track will switch. There are some places where I don't think they need it. I think the tracks in New York are very good. I don't think they need it in New York.

It will be interesting to see how the fans and bettors embrace polytrack in California. Some people like Oracle say that a lot of big bettors say that they won't bet on California racing once polytrack is installed. If Oracle is right and the handle goes way down, I don't think that you will be seeing polytrack at too many other tracks. I don't know if Oracle is right or not. My guess is that the fans will be fine with it. It make take them a little while to get used to it but I think they will embrace it within a relatively short period of time. I could be wrong.

I think you are right.

Then why do his KY horses train at Churchill Downs instead of Turfway? What do you think he going to say? "I have so many freaking maidens that I cant possibly run them all. Please dont send me anymore!" Business expand when they are growing and no business in racing is growing more than Todd Pletchers.

Guys the stakes schedule at SA is heavily loaded with grass stakes, that actually have decent purses.
Pletcher is known for his fast and early two year olds but if you really look at his stable these days hes amassed a slew of grass horses and he simply doesnt have the venue at Gulf to run them all.
The purses there are very good as well. The polytrack thing just sounds like an excuse to me as Santa Anita will not be conducting racing on polytrack.
Gulfstreams racing has been woeful, especially the last two years.
They have a few Saturdays with a bunch of stakes races but the weekday and even Sunday cards are just disastrous. Dominated by cheap claimers and maiden claimers.
Makes no sense to race everything there that has to go on grass.
He will have a full division at Aqueduct and a full division at Gulf and the group at SA, which I will bet will be heavily loaded with grass horses.

Bingo. And I personally know two other guys considering a Cali division this winter because of disgust with Gulf's lack of purses and lack of maiden races and allowance races.
As one guy said "That place is HORRIBLE! Its the only place in the world where you get to a run a horse against Bandini for a 30 grand purse." That pretty much sums it up.

HAHAHArrrr...i'm sure a lot of east coast trainers are saying Brilliant !! Pletch, take more with ya, LOL.

Oracle I understand what you are saying but here is why I think Your arguement holds no Water.

SLOTS

Here is the latest update I could find concerning slots this winter at Gulfstream

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...s/15494613.htm

Round Pen I'm not making any argument. I'm giving you a direct quote from a guy who trains there.
And have they announced purse raises yet?
Furthermore, have they announced more msw's and allowance races?

Makes sense. Can't stand Gulfstream, I won't bet a penny on it anymore. ANything to help field sizes in Cal is a good thing.

[quote=Round Pen]Oracle I understand what you are saying but here is why I think Your arguement holds no Water.

SLOTS

Here is the latest update I could find concerning slots this winter at Gulfstream

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...s/15494613.htm[/QUOTE
I just read the article, and Round Pen? Could please show me the part where it shows how much the purses are being raised this year and the part where management promises to write more maiden special weights and allowance races?
I'm a pretty good with reading, and I just can't find those parts.

I has said in the past that Tabor loves PolyTrack. Pletcher also loves PolyTrack in the terms of training. He doesn't mind racing on the surface. But he would rather have his horses train over the surface than race over it. Hollywood/Santa Anita has some great races for horses in Cali in the fall and winter. You have the Moccasin Stakes, Hollywood Prevue, Sharp Cat, Citation, Miesque, Hollywood Derby, Hollywood Futurity, etc etc etc. No other place has the Nov/Dec stakes schedule like Hollywood/Santa Anita has. Only makes sense to follow the money.

Randall I'm stunned!! You mean you don't like field after field of 8 claimers and maiden claimers? LOL!
Horsemen were up in arms last year over the lack of places to run quality horses. They wouldnt even write allowance preps for 3Yo's and trid to force everyone into stakes which angered Zito and Pletcher to name just two.
California at least attempts to fill allowance races and they are vital to horse developmentand plotting to get to stakes races.
The cards at Gulf last year were awful, for horseman and for betting fans.
They should call it the cheap claiming festival of the sun.

Todd Pletcher wont help field size, eventually he'll hurt it.

Well Mike, they'd have more horses in Cal if they didn't break down so many horses every day at Del Mar. Disgraceful.

I'm surprised it has taken this long to field a string out west given the size and scope of his stable. He may be looking for a fresh path to the Triple Crown since he has not fared too well out east in that regard.

First off I did not say there was anything in the article about purse increases I simply stated that here is the latest article on slots at GP. but I have read were it will increase purse distribution by 100,000 a day the 1st year. I will have to do a little search but I will find the article.

They can complain all they want. Gulfstream is the place to go for the winter. Their purses may not be what Cals are but they are better than Tampa or Fairgrounds and Oaklawn has no turf racing. Do you really think Pletcher will have a full string at Aqueduct ??
Gulfstream will have full fields and the usual "suspects"..er..I mean trainers, including Zito.
Not many trainers nor owners who are based in the East are going to be willing to send their horses 3,000 miles away.
You will still see most of the better horses coming through south Florida this Spring.

So if you were a trainer with hundreds of horses and owners upset over a lack of spots to run a horse with good purse money at Gulf, would you take that article to the owners and say we are all set?

George stick to what you know. Pletcher will have a FULL STRING at NY this winter, just like he did last year.
George guess who has higher purses for allowance and MSW's? Gulf or Aqueduct? Care to make a wager George?
Not to mention the fact that they write three times as many at Aqueduct. Wake up george, noone cares about the weather in this game anymore, its all about the money, every bit of it.

absolutely-- they will duck him the way many do on the east coast.

Near as I can tell from listening to jealous rivals, Pletcher is also responsible for the Kennedy asassination and the kidnapping of the Lindenburgh baby.

Boy O boy you sure get a little defensive when someone does not agree with you. GP is going in the right direction as far as slots are conerned and yes they will help increase the purse structure in the future.

I dont know when this will actually take place but it will happen.

What the f**k is that supposed to mean? You love to come across as the end-all; be-all in thoroughbred racing. You KNOW everyone; all the trainers talk to you. What I DO know is you are a pompous a-hole.
Duh, Aqueduct has bigger purses than Gulf. Did I say otherwise? Does Aqueduct have turf racing in Dec; Jan; Feb; March?? Where do you think Pletcher's owners may have winter homes? Where do you think they would rather have their horse training? Racing?...at Aqueduct with the wind-driven snow and the 10 deg wind-chill and, of course, the fantastic Inner Track. Do you think his owners care that much about a 10% difference in purses that they would rather their horses prep for the Spring races at balmy Long Island??
I know I dont know as much as you, your highness, but try to bear with us neophytes if just for the cause of bringing new members to this austere bastion of Racing knowledge, for your haughtiness just accomplishes the opposite affect.

the misinformation and attacks on gulfstream border on incompetence. the track is headed in the right direction. the training facility at palm meadows is excellent. i don't see how anyone can judge a track based on one season where they were going through growing pains. remember the kentucky derby winner, the preakness winner, and the belmont winner were all based out of gulfstream.