3/12 (TAM): Pletcher enters Mo and Brethren; field of 10 for Derby

[Kasept]

Tampa Bay Derby rides on Pletcher decision
By Doug McCoy

OLDSMAR, Fla. – ”What’s Todd going to do?” That simple question has trainers and owners of a number of 3-year-olds in a state of flux as they ponder the status of trainer Todd Pletcher’s 2-year-old champion, Uncle Mo, and his undefeated stablemate, Sam Davis Stakes winner Brethren, for this Saturday’s Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby...

Bretheren
Uncle Mo*
Too Experience
Watch Me Go
Beamer
Free Entry

Economic Summit
Moonhanger
Striding Ahead
Symphonic Hero
Neil Howard (Close Ally, Machen, Prime Cut, Sports Day, Wilkinson)


Hillsborough

Askbut I Won’ttell
Zagora
War Tigress
Box Office Queen
Denomination
General Consensus
It’s Tea Time
Kiss Mine

Belle Watling
C.S. Silk
Keertana
Ruling Class

[Sightseek]

Wouldn't it be nice if trainers started taking the attitude who cares what Pletcher does, I'm going to run my horse!

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Wouldn't it be nice if trainers started taking the attitude who cares what Pletcher does, I'm going to run my horse!

If the premise is that Uncle Mo running at Tampa means everyone else is running for 2nd and below, trainers that have only two shots to gain graded earnings for Derby would be irresponsible to not consider every alternative available.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Kasept

If the premise is that Uncle Mo running at Tampa means everyone else is running for 2nd and below, trainers that have only two shots to gain graded earnings for Derby would be irresponsible to not consider every alternative available.

Well duh, but sorry I don't feel sorry for them and do you really think all of these extra races being written and holding off until late in the season to scoop-up your horses Graded earnings are really good for the game? It is not like there hasn't been plenty of options from their 2 year old season up to now.

It's tiring as a racing fan and part of what I see as the problem for building popularity of the sport.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Well duh, but sorry I don't feel sorry for them and do you really think all of these extra races being written and holding off until late in the season to scoop-up your horses Graded earnings are really good for the game? It is not like there hasn't been plenty of options from their 2 year old season up to now.

It's tiring as a racing fan and part of what I see as the problem for building popularity of the sport.

Don't know what to tell you. There's as many racing fans taking the opposite view from you that the 2yo earnings shouldn't be weighted as heavily toward the Derby gate as 3yo earnings. I don't like the racing office accomodation trend at all, as I said to Mike Welsch Friday, but you chided trainers that are considering every opportunity to build earnings for their horse. You make it out like every trainer that's waiting and watching had a horse as ready for stakes as a 2yo as they may be now.

Those trainers who you don't feel sorry for generally have exactly ONE horse and ONE chance to get to the Derby, as opposed to 'Team Todd'. Pletcher, not 'those trainers', is more the root cause of the scenario at hand. But don't worry... one year soon Pletcher will have every single 3yo in the country and we won't have to feel sorry for the trainers trying to get their one horse to the Derby. Because there won't be any.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Don't know what to tell you. There's as many racing fans taking the opposite view from you that the 2yo earnings shouldn't be weighted as heavily toward the Derby gate as 3yo earnings. I don't like the racing office accomodation trend at all, as I said to Mike Welsch Friday, but you chided trainers that are considering every opportunity to build earnings for their horse. You make it out like every trainer that's waiting and watching had a horse as ready for stakes as a 2yo as they may be now.

Those trainers who you don't feel sorry for generally have exactly ONE horse and ONE chance to get to the Derby, as opposed to 'Team Todd'. Pletcher, not 'those trainers', is more the root cause of the scenario at hand. But don't worry... one year soon Pletcher will have every single 3yo in the country and we won't have to feel sorry for the trainers trying to get their one horse to the Derby. Because there won't be any.

Actually I'm on-board for having 2yo earnings count less since it probably would cut down on the "he's got his Graded earnings" so we'll just race once or twice prior to the Derby.

I'm not making excuses for Pletcher. Uncle Mo is a fantastic horse, but you really have to hope a Gourmet Dinner or Mucho Macho Man wins the Derby and horses like Mo and others being campaigned similiarly come up short in the stretch at the Derby.

[PeteMugg]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Don't know what to tell you. There's as many racing fans taking the opposite view from you that the 2yo earnings shouldn't be weighted as heavily toward the Derby gate as 3yo earnings. I don't like the racing office accomodation trend at all, as I said to Mike Welsch Friday, but you chided trainers that are considering every opportunity to build earnings for their horse. You make it out like every trainer that's waiting and watching had a horse as ready for stakes as a 2yo as they may be now.

Those trainers who you don't feel sorry for generally have exactly ONE horse and ONE chance to get to the Derby, as opposed to 'Team Todd'. Pletcher, not 'those trainers', is more the root cause of the scenario at hand. But don't worry... one year soon Pletcher will have every single 3yo in the country and we won't have to feel sorry for the trainers trying to get their one horse to the Derby. Because there won't be any.

Maybe they need fifteen slots determined by graded earnings and a handfull by invite only. A good second to UM is now a feather in your cap but still not a sure thing. Might be just the ticket to get more horses to the starting gate.