Is anybody else feeling their estimation and regard for the respective trainers changing?

So much data is available now with TGraph and some of the other concerns that keeping track of Trainer Stats is no longer a good investment of time. In the "new era" my views of trainers is changing. I don't like Frankel, because I think he's bad for the game, but he's top dog, you can't deny that. (The new Tom Smith of the post Seabisquit era...maybe just as eccentric.) Pletcher has moved way up. He may be the top ranked challenger. Dutrow is obviously a trainer with a future. He needs to get better horses and I think he could contend for the title. John Servis is suddenly on the national stage with one hit play after another. Zito seems to be on a roll, despite some client falling outs.

Wheres the icons? Baffert has been on a couple year drought. Lukas is not the Lukas of old. Shug can't find a colt to run in the Crown to save his life. Drysdale had Fupig and then disappeared. Mandella has been steady. (Pleasantly Perfect was a big part of that.) Theres top quality horsemen out there that we haven't heard of in years.

What happened to Patrick Byrne? Wheres Scotty Schulhofers son? What became of Stewart Elliot? Wheres Tiznow's trainer? Robbins isn't it?

Whats going on here?

CtC



Post Edited (11-30-04 14:54)