Hawthornes rail has been like that for weeks.

Jesustapdancingchrist.

Denis of Cork has no shot in the derby. NONE. I'M SICK OF READING ABOUT THIS GODDAMNED HORSE!!!

A cyclical game isn't it, no Baffert or Lukas either. Maybe a sign of the times.

Yeah me too. Enough already!!

Thought one of the days biggest surprises was the disappointing efforts of both On the Virg and Texas Wildcatter. Can write off Atoned's situation because of the ridiculous Hawthorne surface, but I really expected forward moves for Virg and Wildcatter in equally manageable spots.

The absense of Pletcher from last year's premier late season 2yo races told the story, but I was willing to believe he had a few solid late developers that would come around. Lean year overall and particularly for TAP...

I think another sign was he lost horses from an owner he had alot of success with, Eugene Melnyk. Coincidence?

Just as with his hockey team The Senators if you do not win he is not shy making changes.

Wonder if Pletcher's business management team insisting on getting paid by owners affected that scenario...?

And Melnyk is just one owner... Another behind the scenes element to this could have to do with the falling out of sharp bloodstock man Ed Rosen with long time client Jim Scatourchio.. I believe these 'Scatman' 3yo's are the first set of non-Rosen tabbed runners.

One more thing.. I know some owners insisted on Pletcher bringing horses out west to suppprt the Cal synthetic movement (read: WinStar)... That could also be having a negative impact on the development curve(s) for Pletcher's young horses as his team learns their way around the surface.

Pletcher has horses for almost every big outfit in the game. Melynk is on the lam from the SEC and it is not like his horses are winning everything in sight. I hardly think the loss of one owner from a operation of that size can matter so much. He was quoted last year as saying that this would be a down year as he retired a lot of top runners and the replacements didnt look nearly as good. Seems like he was right.