Pletcher going to California

[Round Pen]

Pletcher to have California string
By DAVID GRENING
Having dominated racing on the East Coast for the last several years, two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher will try to make an impact on the West Coast this fall and winter.
Pletcher confirmed Monday that he will be sending a string of horses to Southern California beginning with the opening of the Hollywood Park meet, which begins Nov. 1. Pletcher will keep horses stabled at Hollywood Park through at least the winter/spring meet at Santa Anita.

Pletcher, who has more than 150 horses in training, said it is still unclear how many horses he will be sending to California, but it will likely be between 20 and 40.

"Depends how many owners are interested," he said.

Pletcher said the main reason for opening up a division in California is the state's decision to implement a synthetic surface at its three racetracks. Hollywood Park's fall meet will be the first to utilize such a surface.

"The main reason is Polytrack is out there," Pletcher said. "We thought about going out there before, but one of the concerns was always how safe the surfaces are out there. Obviously, the purses are good. Mr [Michael] Tabor wants his horses training on Polytrack when possible."



Interesting news

[Cannon Shell]

Pletcherism spreads.....first Ellis Park...now California....what's next? El Commandante?

[Seattleallstar]

Frankel and D Wayne did it now he is going to as well. Baffert attempted it but most of his good assistants went on their own like Tim Yakteen and John Good, Harty

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Pletcherism spreads.....first Ellis Park...now California....what's next? El Commandante?

I think it's actually pretty big news he's going to California and a big reason for doing so is Polytrack. When the leading money-won trainer makes a move like this, it's news.

As an aside, I've spent many a fine afternoon at El Commandante. Always an enjoyable visit.

[blackthroatedwind]

He is moving about 15% of his stock out there. Hardly a significant move.

Truth is it's better for everyone. Now he won't control 70% of the horses eligible for every non-claiming condition....only 50% of them.

[SentToStud]

15% of his ytd earnings would put him ahead of all but a handful of West coast trainers. It also affords him a new pool of potential clients. I can't imagine any of the West coast trainers are doing handstands in celebration that Pletcher's going west. Hardly insignificant.

[Cannon Shell]

Just speculation but I would believe that he has so many young horses that are maidens and nw1x he needs to find new places to expand to. I mean how many maiden special weight horses does he have that are within a work or 2 of racing. With full divisions at Belmont, Saratoga, Monmouth, Delaware, and Churchill, where else could he expand to?

[Round Pen]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

He is moving about 15% of his stock out there. Hardly a significant move.

Truth is it's better for everyone. Now he won't control 70% of the horses eligible for every non-claiming condition....only 50% of them.

Sure it is a significant move any time the leading trainer in the Country annouces he going to a new venue it doesn't matter if he takes only 10 horses out there.

[blackthroatedwind]

The guy trains hundreds of horses. He controls an unprecedented number of the most expensive and well bred yearlings every year. How can anyone be surprised that he eventually sent a string to California.

Sorry if I'm hardly shocked or bowled over by this news.

Stud,
Thats not the real reason. I told you this past summer I had spoken to more than one trainer(Todd wasnt one of them) who was fed up with the purses and lack of allowances and msw's at Gulf. There are more who will announce it in the future.
But none of em are gonna come out and bash Gulf. 1) because they all train for or want the opportunity to train for Stronach. 2) Because they don't want their stall space reduced.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Stud,
Thats not the real reason. I told you this past summer I had spoken to more than one trainer(Todd wasnt one of them) who was fed up with the purses and lack of allowances and msw's at Gulf. There are more who will announce it in the future.
But none of em are gonna come out and bash Gulf. 1) because they all train for or want the opportunity to train for Stronach. 2) Because they don't want their stall space reduced.

When Gulfstream starts, the Santa Anita meet will be going on. Pletcher did not say that he will run horses at Santa Anita. The track is terrible there. It will be interesting to see if he keep the horses out here once Santa Anita starts. The article only said that he will run them at Hollywood this Fall. It didn't say anything about running at Santa anita this winter.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

When Gulfstream starts, the Santa Anita meet will be going on. Pletcher did not say that he will run horses at Santa Anita. The track is terrible there. It will be interesting to see if he keep the horses out here once Santa Anita starts. The article only said that he will run them at Hollywood this Fall. It didn't say anything about running at Santa anita this winter.

You really think the track is terrible? How about Del Mar and Arlington , have you even been out to see what the track is like now after they revamped it this summer . For the 5 days I was there working horses on it I thought it was a great improvement, it feels softer , yet not "cuppy" and loose it even seems to be a diffirent color which means to me that they have added something to the texture of the surface.
Im all for Polytrack and the surfaces if it makes it kinder on the horses. My biggest comcern with the polytrack and such is that because its kinder that trainers are going to think they can train harder over it, and believe me they will if they think they can, and I just dont get it .

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Stud,
Thats not the real reason. I told you this past summer I had spoken to more than one trainer(Todd wasnt one of them) who was fed up with the purses and lack of allowances and msw's at Gulf. There are more who will announce it in the future.
But none of em are gonna come out and bash Gulf. 1) because they all train for or want the opportunity to train for Stronach. 2) Because they don't want their stall space reduced.

I follow. But why California? Why not Oaklawn or Fair Grounds?

[Nostradamus]

By 2010, every track in america will be poly. They just have to tweak it but it is safer and lets horses run more frequently. Pletcher is smart to go out there. He may hit $30M next year.

Originally Posted by SentToStud

I follow. But why California? Why not Oaklawn or Fair Grounds?

Guys the stakes schedule at SA is heavily loaded with grass stakes, that actually have decent purses.
Pletcher is known for his fast and early two year olds but if you really look at his stable these days hes amassed a slew of grass horses and he simply doesnt have the venue at Gulf to run them all.
The purses there are very good as well. The polytrack thing just sounds like an excuse to me as Santa Anita will not be conducting racing on polytrack.
Gulfstreams racing has been woeful, especially the last two years.
They have a few Saturdays with a bunch of stakes races but the weekday and even Sunday cards are just disastrous. Dominated by cheap claimers and maiden claimers.
Makes no sense to race everything there that has to go on grass.
He will have a full division at Aqueduct and a full division at Gulf and the group at SA, which I will bet will be heavily loaded with grass horses.

[georgewashington]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Stud,
Thats not the real reason. I told you this past summer I had spoken to more than one trainer(Todd wasnt one of them) who was fed up with the purses and lack of allowances and msw's at Gulf. There are more who will announce it in the future.
But none of em are gonna come out and bash Gulf. 1) because they all train for or want the opportunity to train for Stronach. 2) Because they don't want their stall space reduced.

This is absolutely wrong.

1) I am sure very few think they are going to train for Frank. He isn't exactly holding auditions for trainers. Give me a break.

2) If the racing is so bad and they hate it so much, why are they so concerned with stall space reductions, which would not happen anyway.

Where do you think up these ridiculous things?

Where are all the announcements that you are talking about leaving for California. You know that is an outright lie. What are they waiting on. Pletcher plans to have some out there by Nov. 1.

Pletchers decision to go West was based on numerous things (track safety) and Michael McCarthy (KY Based) will be running the show. He will have just as many horses at Gulfstream as he always has and his top 2yr olds are headed to gulfstream.

Pletcher's parents live in Ocala and the Gulfstream winters are instrumental to his operation.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by georgewashington

.

Hmmmm, George Washington, the horse, was sold by Lael Stables.

Where have we seen this before? Gets a little tiresome.

[georgewashington]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Stud,
Thats not the real reason. I told you this past summer I had spoken to more than one trainer(Todd wasnt one of them) who was fed up with the purses and lack of allowances and msw's at Gulf. There are more who will announce it in the future.
But none of em are gonna come out and bash Gulf. 1) because they all train for or want the opportunity to train for Stronach. 2) Because they don't want their stall space reduced.

So Todd is a liar. Interesting coming from you. Todd doesn't even know who you are. If you talk with Seth, I doubt he told you this.

Originally Posted by oracle80

Stud,
Thats not the real reason. I told you this past summer I had spoken to more than one trainer(Todd wasnt one of them) who was fed up with the purses and lack of allowances and msw's at Gulf. There are more who will announce it in the future.
But none of em are gonna come out and bash Gulf. 1) because they all train for or want the opportunity to train for Stronach. 2) Because they don't want their stall space reduced.

Besides Pletcher, East Coast trainers Richard Dutrow Jr. and Lisa Lewis are making plans to send horses to Hollywood Park. Patrick Biancone, who has stabled at Santa Anita Park when returning from the East in recent years, will base his horses at Hollywood Park when returning for the winter next month.


Ahem, cough cough cough

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Besides Pletcher, East Coast trainers Richard Dutrow Jr. and Lisa Lewis are making plans to send horses to Hollywood Park. Patrick Biancone, who has stabled at Santa Anita Park when returning from the East in recent years, will base his horses at Hollywood Park when returning for the winter next month.


Ahem, cough cough cough

Other than Pletcher (whose owner wants them out there), I don't see anything different here. Biancone always went out there, he is just switching tracks. Lisa Lewis? Who cares. I want to see how many Dutrow is sending. If he sends all his broken down horses hoping poly will help it will not help CA racing. How many good horses is he sending? Fairgrounds is where these people should send their horses.