Gilchrist isn't exactly a saint.
High Resolve, that undefeated Put It Back filly who won the Calder Stake today and is now 3-for-3.....she was in my stable-mail before she ever made her career debut.
Now, she worked an unblinkered quarter mile in 21 1/5 at OBS April - the outright fastest unblinkered work at a sale that features something like a 1,500 page catalog. High Resolve sells for 135K.
Prior to her eventual career debut, Gilchrist entered her in a 25K maiden claiming race - as part of an uncoupled entry. Was allowed to scratch her - so his other maiden could be favored in a four horse field.
It was pretty obvious he never had any intention of giving HR away for 25K - he just wanted that race to fill for his other horse.
Much like a Todd Beattie - Gilchrist is a guy who could probably be a dominant trainer on an elite circuit - but instead is Moss like in a small pond.
Although - the 40%+ win percentage is a little inflated....after all - Northern California is the home of the five horse field. Over the last 12 months, Russell Baze is winning at a brobdingnagian 32.5% clip from over 1,200 mounts. Beyond the obvious fact that he rides a lot of favorites, don't think riding in races with small fields on a consistant basis doesn't inflate that win percentage further.
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