Pletcher to have no horses in the Travers

[ArlJim78]

its not about which race is more important than another, or being somehow afraid of Street Sense. I'm pretty sure he is simply looking for the best timing to lead up to the BC. AGS ran with Street Sense way back at Tampa, and has improved a bunch since that time. my guess is that right at this moment Pletcher feels confident he has the better horse.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

So wouldn't the time to strike be now then?

no, not if you think the timing of the race if wrong, and/or if AGS has not bounced back fully from the last race. perhaps he feels that another big effort right now will leave AGS out of position to recover and peak on the day he wants, BC day. getting a win in the travers would be great but if it comes at the expense of having his horse ready for the classic maybe thats not a risk he wants to take.

i don't know, I'm just trying to put myself in his shoes and try to imagine why he is skipping the travers. if the travers was the endgame he would run.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

no, not if you think the timing of the race if wrong, and/or if AGS has not bounced back fully from the last race. perhaps he feels that another big effort right now will leave AGS out of position to recover and peak on the day he wants, BC day. getting a win in the travers would be great but if it comes at the expense of having his horse ready for the classic maybe thats not a risk he wants to take.

i don't know, I'm just trying to put myself in his shoes and try to imagine why he is skipping the travers. if the travers was the endgame he would run.

The problem is too many people are taking the attitude that running 2nd in the Travers is worse than skipping the Travers altogether. Everyone is way too afraid to lose with their stallion prospects.

[Sightseek]

Just a month or so ago, it looked like the Travers could be loaded...now it's the Jim Dandy all over again.

I like Street Sense, but there are just too many options for horses to be able to duck one another now.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Just a month or so ago, it looked like the Travers could be loaded...now it's the Jim Dandy all over again.

I like Street Sense, but there are just too many options for horses to be able to duck one another now.

The options are the same but nowdays the elite choose not to participate. Though the "he may bleed" excuse was original. It is funny how the media portrayed the Curlin connections to be such sportsmen for running in the Belmont. Now we dont want to overrace him has led to conceding the Travers to Street Sense. Pipe up now Bill Finley. Or are you too busy spending your blood money from the TRF?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The options are the same but nowdays the elite choose not to participate. Though the "he may bleed" excuse was original. It is funny how the media portrayed the Curlin connections to be such sportsmen for running in the Belmont. Now we dont want to overrace him has led to conceding the Travers to Street Sense. Pipe up now Bill Finley. Or are you too busy spending your blood money from the TRF?

I was thinking the same about their 'sporting' behavior...I guess since half the ownership isn't available for bail anyway they don't need the money.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

It is pretty humorous that all of the people who criticized the Street Sense team for skipping the Belmont has been pretty quiet in regards to Pletcher skipping, Curlin not going and Hard Spun looking like he is going in the King's Bishop. I know we are some time off still, but it seems hypocritical to me.

Great point. My take was that most would be outspoken critics of Street Sense and his connections, most would jump to criticize Curlin and his connections, but Pletcher would get a pass on being criticized here.

Personally, I thought it was BS and ludicrous to criticize Nafzger and Taffel for passing on the Belmont, but that's neither here nor there. I also think Curlin didn't throw anywhere near his best in NJ and passing on the Travers is a call Assmusen should and did make. As far as Pletcher passing, OK, I don't have a problem with it. He can and will manage his horses the way he thinks is best, and he is more qualified than me to do so. I think he is also more qualified than anyone else when it comes to his horses, but that too is neither here nor there as well.

Eric

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Cardus

After the great "should Street Sense run in the Belmont Stakes" debate, I've tried to get out of the "(fill-in-the-blank)" should run in such and such a race. Question for you: has there been an instance in which you thought it was BS for a trainer to skip a race?

Great question -- very thought provoking, just in me having to think about giving you an answer. I really tend not to "worry" about other people's business, decisions, etc. -- I concentrate and have enough of my own, LOL. You make an excellent point with regard to the Street Sense debate; although I never viewed it has a debate. I didn't have a problem with the Nafzger/Tafel decision. Sure, like everyone, I would have loved to see him run. However, as I mentioned, I thought it was ludicrous to call them names or to say they don't care about the game, business or sport. I tought it nonsense to criticize them and their decision and say they are not "sporstmen" or anything of the like.

Be that as it may, although I can't think of the specific instance, I am sure there has been a case where my initial thought might have been that it was BS for a trainer to skip a race. But it's their decision. And if I did feel that way, it would have been myopic as well, due to the fact that it's his/her decision and I would have been completely unaware of the facts, circumstances, etc. Am I qualified to make such a decision? No, and I don't think many others are qualified as well.

I make my decisions based upon the input, advice, guidance, etc. from my own advisors -- primarily the trainer in question. If I don't trust that trainer, or his recommendation, then I have a much bigger problem.

Eric

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

It is pretty humorous that all of the people who criticized the Street Sense team for skipping the Belmont has been pretty quiet in regards to Pletcher skipping, Curlin not going and Hard Spun looking like he is going in the King's Bishop. I know we are some time off still, but it seems hypocritical to me.

I don't criticize horses or trainers on here since I got in trouble for the Strong Pretender debacle but believe me, in other places of cyberspace I've been all over Pletcher and now Asmussen. I've never liked Hard Spun but really think they are doing the right thing, they ran him in all three TC races plus the Haskell and he couldn't get it done so now it is time to try and get him a G1.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I agree in regards to Hard Spun. Although with the way the race is shaping up, he might be the only legit speed horse in the race.

Honestly, whenever I am criticizing, it's usually the fan in me speaking out. I realize that the trainers are doing what they feel is right. But it does come off as ducking and dodging. Hopefully a mystery contender comes in late and maybe we'll get a race like the Belmont. Although, I'd be just as happy watching Street Sense win a walkover.

No, the current situation of putting the BC over these prestigious races like the Alabama and Travers is driving me absolutely nuts. Like both aren't possible. The Euros still run in the Arc and then worry about the BC and that is like two weeks out and requires shipping. I hope the trainers that are so concerned with getting a "fresh" horse to the BC rather than a well campaigned and fit one get burnt. Invasor won the BC despite the layoff last year, not because of it. With the training decisions this year you'd feel like trainers don't feel that way.