Todd Pletcher and Balto Star

[JustRalph]

Balto Star paid $14 winning at the Meadowlands last night. The race was the "Meadowlands Cup"

see below:
http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=24730

I think this is one of the most skillfully managed horses that I have seen. I have only been following this game about 3 years, but I think Pletcher has done a great job for the owners of this one. This is a gelding that is now in the area of 2.3 mil in earnings. I think there are some races in his pp's where he didn't really belong (distance?) but there are others where he was placed very nicely. Including this latest win.

I think taking him to Texas might be a mistake though. There were some good horses in this latest race (see chart below) but I don't know about the Breeders Cup Classic? Any thoughts?

Here is the race video: http://www.homehorseplayer.com/balto.asx

http://www.homehorseplayer.com/balto.jpg

[cj]

Pletcher spots this guy where he can win, usually. He is always dangerous in turf marathons where he can crawl early. On dirt, 9f is just about his limit. It was interesting that he was able to rate last night, I thought he was doomed when he didn't go right to the front.

I do think this was a case where lifetime PPs really came in handy. You had Dynever, who has won a grand total of two G3 races in his career, against a horse with multiple G2s on turf and dirt, and a G1 on turf. Also, his last two races were on yielding turf, so Balto Star was surely dead fit for this. The first is even money, the latter is 6-1. What was the public thinking? Its not even like Dynever was coming off of a good race. He is now 0-6 in G1s and G2s, most at very short prices.

[JustRalph]

CJ

I think you are dead on on this one. I didn't even know he was running up there. I wish I had. The shorten up in distance would have been the real reason I would have unloaded on him.

I still don't think the Breeder's Cup is where he belongs.........but Pletcher is Pletcher and I like the way he handles his horses. I just think that if he runs in the classic he will be backing up down the stretch...........but then again.......hanging on and just making the board puts him in the 2.75 mil range easy........

I think I might look for the richest non breeders cup race on that same weekend.........and maybe take him to that..........

[Derek2U]

That was a great race & he's back on the Dirt again. He seems
to show some rating ability sitting behind UN Max --- and that's
a very + step. But I think he'd have to be > than 8:1 for me
to try him in the BC --- mostly because I think he's still too
IN-FrontSpeedy for me & also because I think he's a notch minus
the very top ones. But the Classic is weird as Volponi showed;
so, if Pletcher has turned him into a pace prompter-closer than
maybe, but only if high odds.
PS: Just Ralph ... I'm surprised you've been at racing for only
3 years. What turned you on?

[Bubbles]

D2U...

As is the norm, we disagree. I personally cannot see Balto being a factor in the Classic. Think about this. Who did he beat last night? An eternal bridesmaid (Dynever), a miler (Gygistar), and nobody else. He may very well be headed in the right direction, but that right direction isn't October 30th at Lone Star.

[JustRalph]

Mute Points Now...........

http://bc.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=24973

Balto Star Out of Breeders' Cup Due to Tendon Injury
by Ron Mitchell
Date Posted: 10/22/2004 2:42:31 PM
Last Updated: 10/22/2004 2:58:09 PM

Balto Star, winning the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/content/BaltoStarMeadowlandsAP.jpg

In the first defection of a top contender for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30, Balto Star was taken out of consideration for two turf races Friday due to a strained right tendon.

The winner of the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup (gr. II), Balto Star had been pre-entered in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Truf (gr. IT) and the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I), for which he was among the horses on the preference list.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said the gelded son of Glitterman will miss up to 90 days of training.

Owned by Anstu Stables, Balto Star has been a versatile runner, with a record of 12 wins from 38 starts with earnings of $2,363,700. The 6-year-old has a record of five wins from 17 starts, with purses of $1,048,134, in grass races.

[hurrikane]

Well, too bad he's injured.

I dont' believe he belongs anywhere near the BC Classic but I do like the pony....