TAP at Gulfstream

[Fairmount1]

I rarely play Gulfstream anymore so I\'m happy to share this recent trend.  We all know how Todd fares at GP.  He is 18 for 61 at the current meet for a solid 29.5%.  

However, over the past 30 days or so, an interesting stat for the trainer has emerged.  I wonder if the TG numbers reflect this trend also (possibly suggesting that the medication rules are different in stakes races?  Just a theory.)

In stakes (both graded and nongraded) races over that time period, he is 1 for 15 with the 1 win at 2.30-1 on a sloppy track.  10 of those 15 stakes starters were 3-1 or less including his one winner.  6 of those 15 stakes starters were the favorite and none of those won.

By comparison, in Dec. 2016 Pletcher won 7 stakes races at Gulfstream Park (5 nongraded stakes and 2 graded stakes races).  Often when I spot these dry spells for Pletcher, he will break out of it.  But if you are looking for an angle against some heavily bet horses, here is one for the Rainbow players as FrankD\'s and FrankieStronach\'s pot of gold continues to grow.

[Tavasco]

I took a quick look back at some of the detail you summarized in your 15 race sample. Thinking that something simple might help explain.

My review is incomplete but I do notice that fully nine (9) of his stakes entries occurred in the  first week of the GP meet.

Two (2) entries in the Pulpit Stakes
Three (3) entries in the Smooth Air Stakes (which he won)
Tap entered 5 horses but won one of the two races i.e. 50%

Later in Dec
Two (2) entries in the Tropical Park Oaks.

I also noticed more than one half dozen trainers striking @ 20% or better. Some large outfits Mike Maker, TAP, Chad Brown and some mid sized local stables such as Navarro, Barbosa, De La Cerda as well as some recognizabe trainers with a lesser number of entries to date Ziadie and McGaughey,

My take is that to date competition amongst trainers is stiff. TAP probably has a well planned scheme to extract maximum $\'s from from the meets Stakes & Allowance races.

I love a good conspiracy theory, thinking January will add clarity of course that could be too late.

Hoping that weather in the N.E. is not as bad as it looks on the news while suspecting it\'s actually worse!