Pletcher Thus Far Poor on Polytrack

- Todd Pletcher is a very un-Todd Pletcher-like 2 for 23 at the Keeneland meeting; 2 for 17 on the main track. Maybe he doesn't like the Polyturf. After all, you have trainers who may specialize in turf races and do not quite as well on dirt; so why not Polytrack as a new category on which trainers can specialize, or not? He was also just 1 for 12 at the last Turfway meeting. Hmmm, seems to be a pattern here. It's far too early to say for sure, but this is just a blog, so....perhaps the all great and powerful Pletcher has met his match?

As you might imagine, a fair amount of money has been burned on Pletcher's losers at Keeneland, including two, Circular Quay and Maizelle, who were defeated at 2-5. Five others went off at less than 3-1. The latest favorite to go down was Yes Yes Yes, who ran third at 8-5 in a Sunday allowance. The winner, Connections, was winning his second race on Polytrack in as many tries; he had won by almost ten against cheaper at Turfway last year. You wouldn't have known that if you were reading the Form, as that race was 15 races back; if you use BRIS, you would have seen his all weather track race record of 1-for-1 listed next to 'AW.'

Pletcher also has cooled off with his two-year old first time starters; he's just one for his last 17 with them. And once again, it's not hard to surmise that some of those losers were bet. One was 4-5, three were under 2-1, and four more 7-2 or less. You also may recall the first timers that won on the grass for Pletcher at Saratoga. The fact is that he's been enjoying far more success with first-time juveniles on the grass. He's just three for his last 31 with those making their debut on the dirt.

One of those was on Saturday, with Point of Reason, at odds of 7-2 at Keeneland. Point of Reason is another one of those two-year olds making their debut after selling for way above his sire's stud fee at a two-year old in training sale. While his sire, Forest Camp, stands for $25,000, this colt sold to WinStar for $825,000 after working an eighth in 10 2/5 seconds.