Florida Derby thoughts...& Pletcher
 

With Johnny V and Mr. Pletcher half way around the world yesterday it makes one wonder if Scat is at the top of their list of horses that have a legitimate shot of winning the Derby. No doubt he will go to the Derby but feeling here is Johnny V will ride Circular Quay in May.

The Florida Derby field was just ok in my book.. no world beaters and horses like Johansburg Star do not get blood flowing? The time was just ok at 1:49 and change for what everyone knows that Gulfstream is always made to be very fast on big race days.. or is that Churchill??

On a final note as one knows..your only as good as the supporting staff around you.. and Mr Pletcher should be very thankful for that. But just as the bunch of them did to Lukas.. one day his assistants will take off one by one on their own.. and when that happens it will be interesting to see how good Mr. Pletcher really is.

Java OUT

You're assuming that AGS gets in the Derby. I think at this point he has to finish either first or second in his next race to have enough graded earnings to even get in the Derby.

That's one hell of a race to need to finish first or second in considering who's going there.

that race is shaping up to be the toughest of the preps. looking forward to it!

pletcher is good enough to have assembled a team that fits well together, and does a fantastic job. if some leave, you have to replace with other like-minded individuals. when something works well, it's amazing!

if he wants to prove he belongs in the derby field, i don't think finishing 1 or 2 is too much to ask...if he doesn't 'belong' in the bluegrass, then he certainly doesn't belong at churchill!

AGS can definitley handle keenland's surface, so I expect a big performance.
Still have no idea how Pletcher will handle the jockey mounts in the derby.
Gomez doesn't have a mount now that Ravel is out, so maybe he goes back to ride CQ in the derby, if Johnny is on Any Given Saturday?
Still not sure where Bejarano winds up, but he's ridden both CQ and AGS in the past.

Here what I think of Scat Daddy from a previous post (see comment #2)

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...light=Pletcher

"Scat Daddy - will become the "best overall" of this group by end of year"

Pletchers staff does a good job but they are not the reason that he is winning. Lukas does not have the owners that he once did and most of the ones still in the business have gone to his former assistants. It wasn't the assistants leaving that hurt near as much as the owners they took with them.

A 3rd should be enough for Any Given Saturday on earnings ($75,000)..

Here's what I've got speculatively and based on upcoming assignments...

Any Given Saturday: Velasquez
Circular Quay: Gomez
Scat Daddy: Prado
King of the Roxy: Migliore
Cowtown Cat: DeCarlo
Sam P.: R. Dominguez
Deadly Dealer: A. Cordero (!)

He can do 126

Cannon, I agree with you . . . and I'd stand with you, 1000% if it were possible. I'd also venture to add, I don't think it has anything to do with getting the best stock either. This industry has been in existence far too long for one man's horsemanship to shine with a level of brilliance-- above that of all others.

Getting the best stock is about 92% of it. Todd is a very good trainer who would do good with cheap claimers or anytype of horses if he had them. But the truth is that it is not so much of what we do to or with horse than keep them healthy and point them in the right direction. If we all had the same amount of similar quality horses and he consistently kicked everyones ass I would agree with you.

Must be nice to have such tough decisions.
Some high profile trainers have no decisions that involve the Kentucky Derby.
Or maybe they have pretend decisions.

You're a horseman, and yes, I certainly listen to what you are saying. Still, there are trainers that have fine stock in their barns. And on any given stakes day, with a great degree of consistency, this man is able to run by trainers like Billy Mott, Allen Jerkens, and others as if their horses are simply toiling, be it running on dirt or grass.

And to me, that's a shame. So, maybe we don't agree on Pletcher's skill level.