Pletcher going to California

Originally Posted by SentToStud

Agree, except #3.

What's so precious about being able to run 1 1/16 2-turn races at Gulfstream? There are several 9F dirt tracks as you know. They cant run 8.5F there either. It's obviously a negative for the 3 yo's but how can they really build a rack for, what, 5-10 races? People (me, at least) like 1-turn mile races and they must think they can card far more of those than they can at 1 1/16. And of course turf racing on a 1 mile track is far superior to that on a 7/8 course.

As an aside, I'd bet dollars to dimes there will not be slots at the '07 GP meet. Jeb Bush will continue his legal challenges as long as he is in office.

I agree wholeheartedly on your #1 and #2. What they put up last year (and will again this year) is a joke.

Stud last year several trainers were forced into bad situations because they wanted a two turn race off the layoff and had horses who werent ready to go a mile and an eigth. Zito and Pletcher were two of those guys.
As revolution pointed out by stating the Tri Crown race winning horses whowere stabled there, Gulf has always been known as the preparation grounds for derby trail horses. A mile and an eighth oval may be ok at some venues, but at a place synonymous with three year olds, do you really think it was the greatest idea to eliminate that distance? It forces trainers with derby trail horses to send em farther than they wanna go, or a one turn mile which doesnt help em get ready for two turn races.
Why do you think Oaklawn has has such an influx of tri crown candidates in the last few years? They have two turn races which get longer in progression and build a horse up to a fitness level.
In addition its incredibly hard to win from any post outside number 6, and even that isn't easy, when you go a mile and an eigth there.
I find it abslutely incredible that that much money could be spent putting in a fantastic racing surface and that those issues weren't addressed beforehand.
The trainers obviously agree based on the comments made over the last two years since it has been in place. How many three year olds ar ready to a mile and eigth in January? How do you adequately prep for the derby preps and even in February most guys don't wanna be sending three year olds that far in stakes races. Its too much too soon.