Pletcher to have no horses in the Travers

[Cannon Shell]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/mo..._eclipsed.html

[Cannon Shell]

"Running him back in the Travers and then keeping him at that level for another 60 days is unrealistic, as opposed to backing off and targeting it directly."

This quote from Steve Assmussen is frightening. Now races in August are too stressful for races in November? If I was just a fan, I would probably find a new sport because this attitude is not only wrong historically, it is destructive for the sport of our sport. Not only are top horses going to be retired early, they are not even going to be campaigned much while running, just spotted randomly every 60 days or so.

I thought that Nafzger did the right thing by skipping the Belmont because of the grind of 3 races in 5 weeks without a chance for the Triple Crown. But this is entirely different. These are well rested horses that are at a point in their lives where they are maturing and getting stronger. Not running them is not only unsporting, it is disgraceful. And don't place all the blame on the trainers. The owners are as much to blame by captiulating and allowing this to happen. There is very little evidence that this style of training is sucessful in winning Breeders Cup races and as such is disheartening to see so many going down this path.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

"Running him back in the Travers and then keeping him at that level for another 60 days is unrealistic, as opposed to backing off and targeting it directly."

This quote from Steve Assmussen is frightening. Now races in August are too stressful for races in November? If I was just a fan, I would probably find a new sport because this attitude is not only wrong historically, it is destructive for the sport of our sport. Not only are top horses going to be retired early, they are not even going to be campaigned much while running, just spotted randomly every 60 days or so.

I thought that Nafzger did the right thing by skipping the Belmont because of the grind of 3 races in 5 weeks without a chance for the Triple Crown. But this is entirely different. These are well rested horses that are at a point in their lives where they are maturing and getting stronger. Not running them is not only unsporting, it is disgraceful. And don't place all the blame on the trainers. The owners are as much to blame by captiulating and allowing this to happen. There is very little evidence that this style of training is sucessful in winning Breeders Cup races and as such is disheartening to see so many going down this path.

Chuck, I think you made excellent points, and I agree with you on them. However, don't we need to look at the other aspects here as well? While I am not a trainer, and you are, with regard to Curlin -- in this specific case -- here is a colt who showed tremendous natural ability, and very early on. He did what he did in his 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th lifetime starts (after not racing as a 2yo). I agree that this type of mindset is very damaging and it's rampant in the industry, and it's ruining aspects of our industry and sport.

But in this case, isn't there more going on? Yes, he was getting bigger and stronger (I guess), and maturing. But he was asked to do a lot, as much as other horses who had more experience and seasoning. Doesn't that play a role? In an individual case? I guess what I am asking is that in this case -- can you possibly see that for this horse, especially after the Haskell (being that he didn't perform up to some expectation), is it possible that maybe skipping the Travers -- maybe it's possibly the right thing to do . . . a) for this horse in this situation, and b) keeping in mind that there is more than a/the purse at stake. You have 3yo horse of the year, horse of the year, a stallion career, and so on.

Thanks for the insight Chuck. I'll buy a few beers for us tomorrow and we can talk about it (actually, you can talk and I can listen, LOL).

Eric

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ELA

Chuck, I think you made excellent points, and I agree with you on them. However, don't we need to look at the other aspects here as well? While I am not a trainer, and you are, with regard to Curlin -- in this specific case -- here is a colt who showed tremendous natural ability, and very early on. He did what he did in his 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th lifetime starts (after not racing as a 2yo). I agree that this type of mindset is very damaging and it's rampant in the industry, and it's ruining aspects of our industry and sport.

But in this case, isn't there more going on? Yes, he was getting bigger and stronger (I guess), and maturing. But he was asked to do a lot, as much as other horses who had more experience and seasoning. Doesn't that play a role? In an individual case? I guess what I am asking is that in this case -- can you possibly see that for this horse, especially after the Haskell (being that he didn't perform up to some expectation), is it possible that maybe skipping the Travers -- maybe it's possibly the right thing to do . . . a) for this horse in this situation, and b) keeping in mind that there is more than a/the purse at stake. You have 3yo horse of the year, horse of the year, a stallion career, and so on.

Thanks for the insight Chuck. I'll buy a few beers for us tomorrow and we can talk about it (actually, you can talk and I can listen, LOL).

Eric

Individual horses and their problems are not the real problem. It is the attitude that horses, 3 year olds especially, need to be handled with kid gloves especially when they are a race or 2 away from retiring. Assmussen's quote is crazy. You cant keep a horse at the top of his game for 60 days if you race them? The irony is that the end of the year awards are fairly meaningless in the breeding business. Invasor was won the horse of the year last year but wanna bet Bernardini stands for a heck of a lot more money? (Not that either owner needs the bucks) Sure maybe Brndni stands for a lot more if he wins but only one horse wins the damn race. The rest of them lose anyway. The problem with these carefully managed "campaigns" is that we never really find out how good any of these horses are. There are no more great horses because greatness requires passing tests. Sure it is not our business what a man does with his horse. But it makes me sick when billionaires protect their horses reputations with brief campaigns and early retirements. For what? So they can make a couple of million more? Whatever happened to the pride of having the fastest horse?

One thing that Assmussen was correct about in the Daily News article is that guys are getting rewarded for not running. There really needs to be a closer look taken at the credentials of those who are doing the voting for these awards. Just being a card carrying member of the turf writers association shoul not cut it. A lot of the guys who vote dont pay much attention to the sport outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup anyway.

Racing always screws up when we try to be more like other sports. The "win and your in" concept is so flawed I wont even say anymore about it. The making of the Breeders Cup into a "championship" day demeans the entire racing schedule. We aren't Nascar or Ncaa Basketball and letting outside interests try to make us into that hurts the sport's creditability.

[Danzig]

it used to be that the horses who showed they were the best on the track were the top draws in the breeding shed. that is now distorted by running a horse sparingly so that he can't do much to tarnish his image, while at the same time keeping many in the dark about how hardy of a horse he could be--or not be...
you have ghostzapper, who showed that most don't care how unsound or lightly raced a horse is, they are still willing to shell out tremendous money to breed to a horse made of glass, because once every other blue moon he accomplished something--and there's money to be made.

these horses, rushed to the shed before they can really PROVE their worth, their true value, are nothing more than illusions, and aren't what a breeds future should be built upon.
but money sure does talk, doesn't it?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Individual horses and their problems are not the real problem. It is the attitude that horses, 3 year olds especially, need to be handled with kid gloves especially when they are a race or 2 away from retiring. Assmussen's quote is crazy. You cant keep a horse at the top of his game for 60 days if you race them? The irony is that the end of the year awards are fairly meaningless in the breeding business. Invasor was won the horse of the year last year but wanna bet Bernardini stands for a heck of a lot more money? (Not that either owner needs the bucks) Sure maybe Brndni stands for a lot more if he wins but only one horse wins the damn race. The rest of them lose anyway. The problem with these carefully managed "campaigns" is that we never really find out how good any of these horses are. There are no more great horses because greatness requires passing tests. Sure it is not our business what a man does with his horse. But it makes me sick when billionaires protect their horses reputations with brief campaigns and early retirements. For what? So they can make a couple of million more? Whatever happened to the pride of having the fastest horse?

One thing that Assmussen was correct about in the Daily News article is that guys are getting rewarded for not running. There really needs to be a closer look taken at the credentials of those who are doing the voting for these awards. Just being a card carrying member of the turf writers association shoul not cut it. A lot of the guys who vote dont pay much attention to the sport outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup anyway.

Racing always screws up when we try to be more like other sports. The "win and your in" concept is so flawed I wont even say anymore about it. The making of the Breeders Cup into a "championship" day demeans the entire racing schedule. We aren't Nascar or Ncaa Basketball and letting outside interests try to make us into that hurts the sport's creditability.

Amen!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Amen!

hell, just look at Songster for example. eight lifetime starts. absolutely ridiculous!

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

"Running him back in the Travers and then keeping him at that level for another 60 days is unrealistic, as opposed to backing off and targeting it directly."

This quote from Steve Assmussen is frightening. Now races in August are too stressful for races in November? If I was just a fan, I would probably find a new sport because this attitude is not only wrong historically, it is destructive for the sport of our sport. Not only are top horses going to be retired early, they are not even going to be campaigned much while running, just spotted randomly every 60 days or so.

I thought that Nafzger did the right thing by skipping the Belmont because of the grind of 3 races in 5 weeks without a chance for the Triple Crown. But this is entirely different. These are well rested horses that are at a point in their lives where they are maturing and getting stronger. Not running them is not only unsporting, it is disgraceful. And don't place all the blame on the trainers. The owners are as much to blame by captiulating and allowing this to happen. There is very little evidence that this style of training is sucessful in winning Breeders Cup races and as such is disheartening to see so many going down this path.

Chuck....After huddling with my people...T-Pletch and C-Ass...I am advising against running Top Royelle at Saratoga Thursday. I know she's in great shape and I know you think the race fits, but if we are truly aiming for that 52k Alw NW 1 in Feb at The Fairgrounds, this race makes no sense.
Regards,
Bob

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Chuck....After huddling with my people...T-Pletch and C-Ass...I am advising against running Top Royelle at Saratoga Thursday. I know she's in great shape and I know you think the race fits, but if we are truly aiming for that 52k Alw NW 1 in Feb at The Fairgrounds, this race makes no sense.
Regards,
Bob

lol

i love it!

[Riot]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Chuck....After huddling with my people...T-Pletch and C-Ass...I am advising against running Top Royelle at Saratoga Thursday. I know she's in great shape and I know you think the race fits, but if we are truly aiming for that 52k Alw NW 1 in Feb at The Fairgrounds, this race makes no sense.
Regards,
Bob

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Chuck....After huddling with my people...T-Pletch and C-Ass...I am advising against running Top Royelle at Saratoga Thursday. I know she's in great shape and I know you think the race fits, but if we are truly aiming for that 52k Alw NW 1 in Feb at The Fairgrounds, this race makes no sense.
Regards,
Bob

You know I am not that happy with the post position...so lets just retire her. I'll see if we can get a cheap season to Curlin if he is unable to recover from his strenous Haskell effort and is retired with his one Grade 1.



She has done enough

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

You know I am not that happy with the post position...so lets just retire her. I'll see if we can get a cheap season to Curlin if he is unable to recover from his strenous Haskell effort and is retired with his one Grade 1.



She has done enough

As soon as she wins a race in North America, I agree

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by GBBob

As soon as she wins a race in North America, I agree

lololololololloll...thursday..good luck.tell that little frenchman to get over...asap

[Danzig]

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007...1207165719.txt

current article, linked on equidaily and a fitting part of this thread.


as an aside...how many times did bluegrass cat run??

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Here is my question about the portion that I highlighted: if Street Sense had been a head better in the Preakness, he would have run in the Belmont Stakes, no questions asked.

Is it your contention that a trainer risks ruining or wearing out a horse for the summer by running him in the third leg of the crown only if he hasn't a chance to win the Triple Crown? Is it acceptable to subject a horse to that grind -- with the chance of ruining him -- if he has won the first two legs?

I never said that he would be ruined. But it is most certainly a risk vs reward thing. If you have the chance for the Triple Crown then you have to go for it unless there is a grave danger of the horse being incapicitated. My contention is that the Belmont is not that important unless you win the other legs and because of the timing of it there is risk that you may knock your horse out for the rest of the year. If you win the Triple Crown, do you really think the horse would continue to run anyway?