CtC,
i think there's more to shug than just not having any of the modern tricks up his sleeve. seems to me, many of his horses train themselves into shape on race day, while pletcher and frankel have their horses wound up and ready to go. not all of the blame can be put on shug however. he is in a way part of the huge phipps breeding operation, and they don't want a daughter of personal ensign wound up like a quarter horse in the morning......again, i think shug is in for a decent 2005 though. the phipps have done some nice breeding work with ap indy, unbridled, and danzig over the last few yars. those colts and fillies might be ready to pop in '05. look for at least a few graded wins from shug in '05, maybe even a few early in the season.