The figure-based trainer statistics are new and they will take getting use to. They are meant to illuminate to a greater degree a trainer's proficiency in the specific categories listed.

But there are caveats one has to bear in mind when using them. Chris mentions one--age. Obviously trainers with younger horses in their barn are going to get higher percentages of tops and pairs, and conversely lower percentages of off and X races. Young horses are constanting developing therefore are apt to run many more new tops, etc.

Another factor to keep in mind is the type of stable a trainer keeps. Furlong, you mention Lake, LaBoccetta and Levine. These guys train claimers for the most part, and lots of them. Sedlacek, Aquilino and Hertler
also oversee claiming stables but not nearing as large as Levine and especially Lake. (We'll get to LaBoccetta in a moment.)
The point is that Lake and the like run many older horses, claimers, and the older horses are far less likely to run tops or pairs than their younger counterparts. But that doesn't mean Lake can't win in this spot. He can and does often but that's a function of the competition, the performance level, figure, needed to win given the conditions.

Laboccetta is tricky. But as a New York player, Furlong, when you see a Laboccetta entry, isn't your first query--is this first off the claim? And how many Laboccetta trainees do you see develop over a period of time? Not many, right? Laboccetta obviously has his strengths, mostly getting a new trainee to run 1st or 2nd off the claim, which means, generally, a horse doesn't run back to the big initial effort. That's not too surprising.

Chris cites a good example using these new profiles and others will present themselves as you continue to look at them. But unfortunately, they're not necessarily transparent. It's not like looking at a 5 when others are running 8s.

I make reference to both profile sets in the rotw and will continue to do so.

This is after the fact, redboarding, but didn't New York Rudy look a little better factoring in McGaughey's prowess after new tops?



TGAB