Rachel vs. Zenyatta: Which run the better race?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Those not out to expose Wolfson (or Dutrow) every chance they get are in the minority in not considering Pletcher a great trainer. Great cheat, yes; great trainer, now. I mean, his stuff was so strong that his horses not only survived those Johnny V WIDE trip specials but thrived under them. Now, that's potent ****.

Pletcher had his share of suspicious streaks when his barn consisting of the choiciest of homebreds, most expensive of yearlings in this country, and most athletic of 2yo sale horses out there - would jump up and get red hot.

Mostly in the winter at Gulfstream - though also during the first half of a Saratoga meet or three.

He had his Mepivacaine moment - and pulled off a hat trick with Freedom's Daughter, Warners, and Left Bank once .. a trio of big moveups in a short period who all took a dirt nap shortly after.

However, Pletcher is a poster boy for hay, oats, and water from a numbers standpoint. Just because his machine comes out smoking at the start of every new year going into the major 2yo sales ... dies off till late July ... and sometimes stages a summer rally into the Spa Select yearling sale and Keeneland's Sept sale ... before dying again there after ... that's more about being streaky than year long magic like you get from some of the other guys.

I don't know though ... maybe Pletcher just gets his shoes right and cleans the teeth real nice at certain key points on the calender.

Pletcher has started almost a thousand horses at Belmont Park since the start of 2004 .. his ROI is a laughable $1.39 and if you eliminate the early season 2yo dashes less than 6 furlongs where he's over 30% (25-for-82) - he's even worse. He becomes a joke.