Unstable times for top trainer
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Todd Pletcher, Kentucky Derby long shot.
Go figure.
A year after saddling a record-tying five horses in the Derby, the nation’s top trainer is likely down to his final two chances of running any 3-year-olds in America’s greatest race on May 3.
Pletcher’s hopes rest with 15-1 outsiders Cowboy Cal and Monba in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland today.
Leading Derby contender Pyro is the even-money favorite, with Cool Coal Man the second choice in a tough 12-horse field also featuring Big Truck and Visionaire.
The trainer’s colts not only need to run well, they must finish first or second to earn enough money to qualify for the Derby if more than 20 horses are entered. Currently, Cowboy Cal ranks 39th on the money list with $57,660 and Monba is 41st with $50,000. Bob Black Jack is 20th at $180,000.
The Blue Grass winner earns $450,000; the runner-up $150,000.
“They have a ways to go, and that’s why we’re here to find out,” Pletcher said on a rainy Friday morning in his office “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, my whole year doesn’t revolve around the Kentucky Derby. Never won it before, so it doesn’t change my life at this point.”
Pletcher is 0 for 19 in the Derby. So far, the Derby trail has been dry even though Pletcher led all trainers with 31 nominees to the Triple Crown races. A year after winning nearly every prep race, the trainer hasn’t won any.
Last week, he was shut out in the Wood Memorial, the Santa Anita Derby and Illinois Derby. His best finish with four starters was fourth by Atoned in the Illinois Derby. Atoned remains Pletcher’s highest-ranked prospect at No. 26 on the money list.
The difference, he said, is last year’s 2-year-old crop has not developed as quickly as his previous group.
“It’s affected us in the early stages of the 3-year-old season,” Pletcher said. “So far, we haven’t had anything I’d call surprises. Even last year, when we were doing really well in January and February, I said that doesn’t always mean success in May.”Any Given Saturday, Circular Quay, Cowtown Cat and Scat Daddy all won major preps for Pletcher last year. Sam P. ran second in the Santa Anita Derby. But when the Derby came around, the best his bunch could do was sixth by Circular Quay.
“Believe it or not, it’s not going to bother me one bit if I don’t have a horse that has a chance to be competitive in the Derby and I don’t go,” he said. “I’ll still get to the races at Aqueduct and Belmont.”