Eddie Plesa: a Forgotten Breed Worth Remembering
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SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2019 EDDIE PLESA: A STREET SENSE COLT ‘STRIKES’ LATE AT SANTA ANITA FORGOTTEN BREED Air Strike (Street Sense), dismissed at 12-1 while facing a tough enough bunch in the GII Triple Bend S., flew home to earn WORTH REMEMBERING a first graded tally Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita. Cutting back after finishing fourth following a very wide journey in Lone Star’s GIII Steve Sexton Mile Apr. 28, the bay colt dropped all the way back to last early as last-out GII Kona Gold S. romper Cistron (The Factor) showed the way. The frontrunner was still clear heading for home after a :44.53 half, but Air Strike began to slingshot past rivals while well widest. Cistron dug deep, but Air Strike had more left in the tank and collared that stubborn foe late to prevail by a head. Lightly raced Nero (Pioneerof the Nile) completed the trifecta. According to Trakus data, the winner covered 39 ft. (approx. 4 1/2 lengths) more than the runner-up. Cont. p8 IN TDN EUROPE TODAY Eddie and Laurie Plesa with Flay Mignon | Bill Denver THE PHOENIX RISES IN KILDARE by Chris McGrath Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) wins the G1 Irish He knows the business inside out, and a lot of it drives Eddie 2000 Guineas with a degree of authority. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN Europe. Plesa Jr. crazy. As we mount the golf buggy to see a couple of babies through the gate, his conversation freewheels from one exasperation to another. At one point he even admits relief that his children did not do as he did, in following his father into the game. "One of my sons is a police officer," Plesa says. "He goes to work every day with a gun, and I feel more comfortable, with him doing what he does, than if he was in the barn with me working." This, moreover, was before the Churchill stewards put every other irritation in the shade by throwing out a Kentucky Derby winner trained by his wife’s brother. Yet it would be all too easy to give the wrong impression. For while you're actually with Plesa, you don't sense the slightest negativity: just verve, insight, engagement. Things about the business vex him, for sure, but only because he cares; only because he loves horses. In fact, you soon develop a vexation of your own--on his behalf. How can a guy like this, with such pedigree and experience, closing on 2,400 winners, have barely 30 horses in his care? Happily, the support of people like Karl and Cathi Glassman means there is some quality there, too. Cont. p3 PUBLISHER & CEO Sue Morris Finley @suefinley [email protected] V.P., INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Gary King @garykingTDN [email protected] EDITORIAL [email protected] Editor-in-Chief Jessica Martini @JessMartiniTDN Managing Editor Sunday, May 26, 2019 Alan Carasso @EquinealTDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack @SteveSherackTDN Racing Editor Brian DiDonato @BDiDonatoTDN News and Features Editor Ben Massam @BMassamTDN Associate Editors Christie DeBernardis @CDeBernardisTDN Joe Bianca @JBiancaTDN ADVERTISING [email protected] Director of Advertising Alycia Borer Advertising Manager Lia Best Advertising Designer Amanda Crelin Advertising Assistants Alexa Reisfield Amie Morosco Advertising Assistant/Dir. Of Distribution Rachel McCaffrey Photographer/Photo Editor Sarah K. Andrew @SarahKAndrew [email protected] Social Media Strategist Decisions, decisions. 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In contrast with the "super-trainers," however, a guy like Plesa will still patiently preside in person over every single lesson absorbed by his charges. "My father had a saying: dynamite can go off in anyone's hands," he says. "Anybody can train a good horse. It's with the lesser horses that you need experience and knowledge and horsemanship. Allen Jerkens didn't have many horses. And I don't think anybody would say any super-trainer was better than him. He had gotten older, when he decided to stay here [in Florida]. But you don't forget this stuff. Plesa in the Monmouth paddock with Paco Lopez | Bill Denver "These horses, they have personalities just like people. Over-achievers, under-achievers. Not everyone has the chance to see that. I do. Everybody who works here does. It's no reflection on those trainers, and it's certainly not jealousy on my part. But with 300 horses in five different places, you're only as strong as your weakest link. I'd rather have the personal attention. "There was a time when the top trainers had 35, 40 horses. So that would be nine trainers with 35 horses, as opposed to one guy. And, of course, that one guy can only run two in a race." Plesa, as indicated, didn't raise the subject himself. But it seemed apposite to do so, as he reflected on changes in his professional environment since watching his father train Fred Hooper's "fourth string". "We're kind of a forgotten breed, to be honest," he says. "The game has changed in every aspect. Racing, at one time, was the only game in town. That's not the case anymore. I feel we made a deal with the devil when we became partners in these casinos." Cont. p4 TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 4 OF 14 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • MAY 26, 2019 Plesa cont. sport? How can we get its magic out to people?'" He is scathing about the behaviour of Churchill Downs at As it is, he wonders what on earth such minds must make of Calder, a track that meant a lot to him over the years. About the the current model. He dreams of a horse racing czar, sport's yield from wagering and simulcasting. About the lack of a empowered to coordinate calendars and programs, so that racing commission in Florida. About a labour market straining tracks might complement rather than undermine each other. under demographic and political change. And, above all, about "Some of this stuff's so basic, it's mind-boggling," he says. "If the "horrible job" the sport makes of self-promotion. you're a business person and look at the model we have, you'd Plesa acknowledges that some challenges are societal. But have to scratch your head and say: 'What the hell? It's like the could we get our own house in order, for instance, sufficiently to A.F.C. having different rules from the N.F.C.'” meet the crisis if the Stronach feud ended with the family But the horse itself, to Plesa, will never be a commodity. walking away? Or, a more immediate challenge, can we explain Where other barns resemble factories, processing claimers, he to government that you can only "give jobs to Americans" if loves to develop talent. "That's the part of the business I enjoy Americans are able and willing to do them? most," he says. "Some trainers just recycle horses. But horses, "Yes, some problems are beyond our means," Plesa says. "But again, are like people. You get earlier developers, late could we do things better? I think we could. Think of the people developers. The guy who was the athlete in junior high, by the that own horses, the vast majority very successful in what they time you graduate into college, he hasn't grown, hasn't gotten do. I trained for Barry Schwartz who was partners with Calvin any faster. He was number one, now he's middle of the pack. Klein. Great story, two kids become friends growing up, and the Same with horses. rest is history. "Working with 2-year olds, for me, is what it's all about. "So in this business you rub elbows with people who are super Claiming horses have their place, they get you from point A to wealthy, super bright, and enamoured by horse racing. People point B. But I wouldn't like to be a Florida-bred running for from Hollywood who produce shows, captains of industry. $16,000. With the 2-year-olds, you have an investment in time, Couldn't we get all these brilliant minds to sit down in the think and patience.