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Trainers

Astounding

Nick Kling delves into trainer Rudy Rodriguez’s first-year numbers:

Because of this lucrative pipeline, Rudy has compiled one of the most phenomenal statistics Iâ€™ve ever seen. Horses making their first start for the Rodriguez barn after a straight trainer change have won 15 of 29 starts, a celestial 52 percent. In addition, Rudy has hit first-time out with 8 of 22 claimed horses. That is a 36 percent strike rate.

And his ROI is excellent.

Rodriguez’s win rate is 30% for the year, 35.7% at Belmont since the start of the fall meet. He’s in the money 65% for the year, 69% at Belmont.

Posted in Racing on October 15, 2010 / Tagged Belmont Park, Incredible Feats, New York, Rudy Rodriguez, Statistics, Trainers, Training

It’s the Same All Over*

Greg Wood on Sir Michael Stoute’s post-Arc reticence:

It was a reminder that for all the good intentions at Racing For Change, the attitude that the punters do not really matter will always have the upper hand until the Stoute generation makes way for younger, less-blinkered trainers.

My only quibble is that it’s about mindset, not age.

*Borrowed from Equidaily.

Posted in Racing on October 6, 2010 / Tagged Media, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Sir Michael Stoute, The Uncommunicative, Trainers, Why Won't You Talk?

Talking with Todd

Tim Wilkin interviews trainer Todd Pletcher:

Q: When you won the Kentucky Derby in May — your first — how much of a relief was that to you, especially with all the scrutiny people put on you [he had started 28 horses in the Derby, four of them this year, before getting a win]?

A: I don’t know. I didn’t really feel like I thought I would feel. It didn’t feel like a big relief. It was exciting, it was great to have done it. Maybe I looked at the Derby a little differently than most people maybe perceived it. I have an appreciation for how hard it is to win, how many factors have to go right and there are so many things out of your control that have a say in the outcome of the race. I never just assumed it would happen. People kept saying, ‘you are going to win the Derby, you are going to win the Derby eventually.’ I was certainly happy when it happened.

Understated, as always.

See also, response re: trainer Derek Ryan’s post-Whitney comments.

Weekend Review and Blind Luck over on BC360.

Posted in Racing on August 23, 2010 / Tagged Interviews, Kentucky Derby, Saratoga, Todd Pletcher, Trainers

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