hey str..going to ask you something that at the end of the day the conclusions will be speculation..that being said I'd like your opinion if my thinking could be right or at least make sense given the things that are known..
todd pletcher had a first time starter ..4yo gelding that was a 550k purchase at auction as a yearling ..todd owned the horse in partnership with his dad jake pletcher ..jake a lifelong career in the racing as a trainer and many ventures off the the track ..he currently is the off track trainer for a major racing stable if I read it right on the website..helps break young horses I think. .
I know todd and probably his father do well but somehow don't think they'd spend that much on a yearling..you think
the fact that he debuted late and is a gelding could possibly suggest this is a horse they bought later on for a much smaller amount from one of his real well to do clients ?? Have to think you're not looking to geld a horse you spend that much on before his first start..If that is a possible scenario would have to think he and his father thought a lot of the horse to buy him..He ran a big race vs msw at a mile at GP today..got creamed at the break and finished a solid second in spite of that..more interested if my thinking makes sense rather than if it actually is the case or not
here's a link to the place his father works for and who todd trains the horses on track for
http://starlightracing.com/staff.aspx