Rags to Riches considered possible (barely) for travers
 

I read on the bris bloodstock journal that she's being considered now for the travers, though pletcher says she's 'very unlikely' for the race.

that would make the race a whole lot more interesting!

would love to see her go, but I assume the "timing" isn't right in pointing her towards the BC distaff. I would much rather see her run here than in the Ruffian against a small field.

It's hard to argue with Pletcher on how he's handled her thus far, though.

She already beat Curlin and Hard Spun. If she could beat Street Sense here then she could go in the Distaff and still be HOY.

he also said cordero would be riding her...

I've read that too. I wouldn't even start getting my hopes up. She had a very sharp workout of 5f in 1:00 2/5 and simply said , she could be ready for The Travers if we wanter her. All that means is if Street Sense for whatever reason has to skip between now and Wednesday, he would enter her. But he is just keeping her sharp for the Ruffian.

But boy wouldn't it be great and by that workout she is obviously dying to get back on the Track. I think Pletcher is crazy for not running her. It has Street Sense and a bunch of mules. She could run here and then get about 5 weeks rest and run in The Beldame.

she has no chance if she goes. street sense will crush her.

The part about the article that bothered me the most was where Pletcher said she could be ready to run and that she might not be ready for Street Sense but she might be ready for the rest of them.

This is what I hate about guys like Pletcher and Frankel. When they don't have the leading horse or can't control the race with multiple entries, they don't want to run. Don't tell me anything about being sporting when u duck a race because of one horse. U have to take a chance. There's a chance that Street Sense doesn't run his best race and viola, u could have a Travers win on your resume. This is the biggest problem with racing today. All of the ducking and dodging of competition. There are very few matchups anymore that get people excited outside of the BC. It's pathetic.

I don't understand why Pletcher doesn't just race for second. That's a whole lot of money.

Yeah, why the heck is beating up on a bunch of fillies and mares at Belmont better for the resume than second in the Travers to the Derby winner. And who knows, maybe she wins and moves into Elite status.

And she would still have about 36 days to race in the Beldame. I don't get it.

And if she gets her butt kicked and winds up 6th she is still the champion 3yo filly and can still win the Distaff.

Why only point out 2 trainers, they all do it.

Not on as national of a scale as these two. Street Sense and Hard Spun have been put on schedules and are sticking with them. None of this "we may go here or we may go here stuff." I could understand if an injury altars a schedule but this waiting to see who's entered stuff and which races will be the easiest is sickening when it happens all the time with these guys.

Very true

Pletcher is the worst offender but Frankel hates to run if he is not 4/5.

The striking thing about the meet that Pletcher is having is that he only has 4 seconds and 11 thirds, with an ITM% less than 37%. Not only are his horses not winning, most of them aren't running at all.

I would think that pointing your horse to a softer spot, is what trainers are suppose to do. Don't they get paid to think too??

Winning is everything. Or should be.

and if he's carrying more than 115...

With inferior horses maybe but top horses should run in top races. If they consistently lose then they are not a top horse, just a reputation horse. But the problem is that Pletcher just keeps all of his horses apart, the owners accept it and instead of having quality grade 1 and 2 races at places like Saratoga we are left with mismatches like the upcoming Travers . Even the Alabama, while entertaining, was a staggerfest which Rags to Riches would have won 75% ready. But instead we are going to have her win a procession at Belmont in fron of an enthuistiac crowd of 4827. It is easy to say that you should spot the horses in the weakest spots possible but you can also say that these guys have no imagination or for the lack of a better word, balls.