I am writing in response to the second part of Bill Finley's series regarding “Super Trainers” (Part I and Part II). Mr. Finley states that these so-called super trainers rarely participate in the claiming races that make up the bread and butter of our sport, therefore creating short fields and barren race cards. Among these super trainers, he counts Mark Casse, Bill Mott, Chad Brown, Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher. In just the past five days, Mark Casse has run in a $10,000 claimer; Bill Mott has run in a $10,000 claimer; Chad Brown has run in a $12,500 claimer and Steve Asmussen has run in a $5,000 claimer, $7,500 claimer and a $10,000 claimer.
As far as Todd Pletcher goes (the same Todd Pletcher who is the subject of Mr. Finley's statement, “There have to be middle-class trainers to fill the $12,500 claimers on a Thursday afternoon. Pletcher just doesn't run in those races.”), he is running in a $12,500 claimer at Gulfstream today, which just happens to be a Thursday.
In his article, Mr. Finley makes some valid points that are worthy of discussion, but his argument is greatly weakened when he fails to adhere to the facts.
Sincerely,
Maggie Sweet
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