altho it is indeed 'something' to win the oaks, there is nowhere (imo) near the pressure to win that race, as there is in the derby, preakness or belmont--or on bc day for that matter. he went 0-17 last winter on bc day. 0-5 last saturday, 1/4th the field, and not even in the MONEY.
it is baffling that pletcher wins so many graded races, but can't win the 'big ones'. but then again, maybe not so much.. tons of stock, and of course graded races from coast to coast, with fields that we generally feel are woefully inadequate for a graded race. strength in numbers i guess.
so yes, he wins grade ones, but there is still only ONE derby, one preakness, one belmont.
he'll win eventually, his seconds with bluegrass cat and invisible ink show promise.
but as he himself admitted, you have to win the big ones. as yet, he hasn't.
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Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all.
Abraham Lincoln
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