John R. Velazquez

[ELA]

That's one of the downsides in riding first call for a barn like Pletcher -- although there has never truly been a barn like his before. You get so caught up, committed, etc. in working with this barn, when the barn doesn't fire (that bar is set pretty high) you don't have a lot else lined up, to fall back on, etc. Now, it hasn't been an issue for a very long time -- time after time Pletcher fires on all cylinders, meet after meet, year after year.

But what most people don't understand is that when your first call barn doesn't fire -- it's too late to go find other spots. You've already lined up your calls. In some cases, people don't call on you because they know you are committed, and in other cases, you've already said you've taken a call so they have gone elsewhere. Every single horse that races back (everyone excluding the winner) is a tough mount to get because someone else already got the call and wants to ride back.

Johnny is a talented rider. He will always be at or near the top.

Eric