The road to the 2010 Kentucky Derby is now in full swing with the return of my weekly column on thoroughbred racing; At the Post. The long winter is coming to a close and the thoughts of the first Saturday in May are now getting more focused. As the year started out, I could see no clear cut horse as a definite favorite for this year’s “Run for the Roses”. But now after the first group of early prep races, a familiar face has come to the forefront and he has a “loaded” stable of three year old runners.
Todd Pletcher has been one of the top trainers of this decade. Winning many a race, there is STILL one certain race that has eluded him. That race has been the Kentucky Derby. Now, Todd has been at this level before going into the year’s biggest race. The past decade, he has had many bright prospects along the Derby trail. But, it always seems that he comes up a bit short. This year though, his group of runners seem a bit more ahead of the game than do his other three year old counterparts.
With this week’s listing of Kentucky Derby future pool #2, Todd has six runners included in it. Going past the entry of “all other 3 year olds”, he has four of his six runners in the upper part many top 10 Derby prospect lists. On top of those list is his recent Fountain of Youth Stakes winner ; ESKENDEREYA. This son of Giant’s Causeway out of a Seattle Slew mare was very impressive in victory and earned a 106 Beyer speed figure, by far the best of any three year old colt this spring. After taking charge on the back stretch, Eskendereya was dominated going the two turned mile and an eighth distance at Gulfstream. The next race for Eskendereya will either be the Florida Derby (Gulfstream) or Wood Memorial (Aqueduct).
Hot on the heels of Eskendereya is Pletcher’s other Florida based runner; RULE. He led from gate to wire as the odds-on favorite in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in mid-February. With his extreme front running speed, Pletcher wants to keep him and Eskenderya apart. But, he is also penciled in for either the Florida Derby or Wood Memorial as his next start. It is most likely; one horse will go in one race and the other elsewhere.
One horse that Plecther shipped out of Florida to contest elsewhere and was successful is; DISCREETLY MINE. This half brother to grade I winner; Discreet Cat, made his seasonal return to Gulfstream sprinting and then was shipped to Louisiana for the recently run Risen Star Stakes. There stretching out to a route distance, he went wire to wire. Another Pletcher runner with keen speed, he’ll remain there and contest the Louisana Derby next on March 27th.
The last of Plecther’s top “4”, could be his best yet for the garland of roses on May 1st. SUPER SAVER is a son of Maria’s Mon out of an AP Indy mare. He has yet to race as a three year old, but was highly regarded last year as a two year old. His last start was a very convincing win at Churchill Downs going a route distance in a grade stake. He’ll most likely make his three year old debut in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park or the Tampa Bay Derby. If he races at Oaklawn , he may meet up with last year’s two year old champion; Looking at Lucky.
Two other Pletcher runners are also listed in the Derby future pool #2, but have the look of longshots at this point. Both AIKENITE and CONNEMARA have shown they belong, but the latter Connemara may just be a better runner on synthetic surfaces with all his races over polytrack. He’ll continue to race on that surface, most likely in the Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park. Polytrack will also be the next start for Aikenite in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland.
So this year with six runners currently on many top lists, Todd Pletcher should have NO excuse in getting his first Kentucky Derby victory. He has the best hand of runners and can spot them anywhere across the country to race. It probably won’t be better than this and this year is the year to strike!
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