- Todd Pletcher told the Form that he entered 18 horses in the Breeders Cup, including Go Deputy, who comes off his tough nose beat in the Woodbine International on Sunday. As you may know, this is contrary to standard Pletcher procedures, as he's be racing in the Turf just 13 days after his last race. Pletcher said:
“It’s obviously going to be determined on how he trains, but there are not a whole lot of other opportunities with the exception of Japan or Hong Kong, and we decided not to do that, so basically it was either run here or get a rest." [Daily Racing Form]It seems kinda radical nowadays, 13 days.
Go Deputy has come a long way in his sixth year of life. He was just an allowance horse until this year, and one with only nine lifetime races. He's 3-5-1 out of nine starts, and has a win and two close seconds in Grade 1's. Don't know yet what kind of fig he got for the race, but he hasn't been far below English Channel, who's considered to be Pletcher's top hope for the race and, indeed, one of the favorites. I think he could be an intriguing entry if he goes, and you figure that Pletcher won't run him unless he bounces back well from Woodbine. That was a winning effort he put in at Woodbine; he was unlucky to lose the head bob.
With Shirocco apparently out, David Junior and George Washington opting for the Classic, and Hurricane Run seemingly below his best form, you gotta think that the home team has a pretty decent shot this year. I like Cacique as of now, but I'm getting interested in Pletcher's horse, and not the one named English Channel.
2 Comments:
As much as I love Go Deputy I don't really think he was unlucky to lose a head bob in that race. It was tight but Collier Hill had repelled the challenge before they hit the wire and it looked unlikely that Go Deputy would get by once Collier Hill dug in. The BRIS speed figure on that race came back as a 120, which is absolutely huge even on that scale so the quality of both horses was certainly affirmed. Both Collier Hill's and Go Deputy's connections concurred that Go Deputy was simply beaten by a better effort (from Brisnet):
"It was a great race," Swinbank said via telephone from his base in North Yorkshire, England. "I could see as they turned into the straight, I thought we had every chance. He was headed about 50 meters out, and he got back to him again. He's a very, very brave horse."
John Velazquez aboard Go Deputy had a similar post-race reaction.
"Down the lane, I asked him, and he ran, and I actually thought I was going to go by the other horse, but the other horse beat us," Velazquez said.
OK Dave, that's a fair point, thanks. It certainly did look like Go Deputy was going to pass him. I only saw the race on the Cal Racing site, and I was distracted by the stoopid Trakus! :) Nonetheless, it was a top effort, and I like Go Deputy as an exotics possibility, hopefully at a decenty price.
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