Tags ‘Todd Pletcher’

El Padrino and Gemologist Get Feel For Track at Churchill Downs

Michael Compton | 12 years ago
Todd Pletcher’s Florida-based Kentucky Derby entrants El Padrino and Gemologist arrived in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday and visited the track on Wednesday. “We’ve had a very successful winter training at Palm Meadows. We won 40 percent of our race... Read More...

Gemologist and El Padrino Work at Palm Meadows

Michael Compton | 12 years ago
Trainer Todd Pletcher worked out his Kentucky Derby contenders Gemologist and El Padrino at Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Fl., on Thursday. According to Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch, WinStar Farm’s Gemologist worked five furlongs in 1:00.84, ga... Read More...

Gemologist Ships Back to Florida

Undefeated Wood Memorial (G1) winner Gemologist departed Belmont Park first thing Sunday morning en route back to Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Fl. Trainer Todd Pletcher said that WinStar Farm’s  son of Tiznow would remain in the Sunshine State unt... Read More...

Hoop Dreams at Aqueduct

New Jersey Nets head coach Avery Johnson celebrated Gemologist’s Wood Memorial victory with the winning connections on Saturday at Aqueduct. Johnson, known as the “Little General” during his NBA playing days, is a close friend of Elliott Walden a... Read More...

Gemologist Remains Perfect in Wood Memorial

WinStar Farm’s Gemologist kept his perfect record intact on Saturday winning the 88th running of the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct. The son of Tiznow charged to the front at the head of the lane under Javier Castellano. Alpha made a serious r... Read More...

Broadway’s Alibi Rolls in Comely Stakes

Broadway’s Alibi, a romping winner in her last stakes start, proved she is the real deal on Saturday, wiring a competitive group in Saturday’s Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. Ridden by Javier Castellano, Broadway’s Alibi assumed command at the br... Read More...

Gemologist, Alpha Ready for Battle in Wood Memorial at Aqueduct

As of today, Todd Pletcher has one horse heading to the Kentucky Derby next month. El Padrino has $250,000 in graded earnings thanks mostly for his win in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on February 25. His 4th place performance in the... Read More...

Field Drawn for Wood Memorial

Alpha drew post position No. 1 in a field of eight for Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct, while undefeated Gemologist will break from post position No. 6. In post position order, the Wood field consists of: 1. Alpha; 2. Casual ... Read More...

2012 Florida Derby Preview – Union Rags and ??

For good reason, the overwhelming favorite in the 2012 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park this Saturday is Union Rags. He has raced 5 times, with 4 wins and a 2nd place effort which came in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Hansen). His one... Read More...

Awesome Maria to Defend Rampart Title

  Awesome Maria will be seeking her sixth consecutive stakes score on Saturday when she starts as the likely odds-on favorite in the Rampart Stakes (G3) on the Florida Derby card. Owned by Mrs. E. Paul Robsham, Awesome Maria got the best of Eclips... Read More...

Wood Memorial Next for Gemologist

WinStar Farm’s undefeated Gemologist is headed to Aqueduct for next month’s $1 million Wood Memorial (G1), trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed by phone to NYRA officials on Wednesday morning. Also targeting the Wood are: Hansen, Street Life, The Lumber... Read More...

Rebel Stakes recap

2012 Triple Crown | 12 years ago
Jon and Joel discuss three key races from the weekend, including the Rebel Stakes (G2). Which of the 3 winners – Secret Circle, Gemologist and Street Life – move up the TCI Top 10? You may be surprised. Read More...

El Padrino Drills for Florida Derby

Let’s Go Stable’s El Padrino worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 Sunday morning at Palm Meadows for trainer Todd Pletcher as he continues preparations for a start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, March 31. El Padrin... Read More...

Currency Swap and Gemologist meet at Gulfstream

Michael Compton | 12 years ago
Currency Swap and Gemologist, two 3-year-olds with designs on the classic races, are set to clash in an allowance test at Gulfstream Park on Friday. Both horses are making their seasonal bows in the $80,000 race. Read More...

Intriguing Field Set for Tampa Bay Derby

Battle Hardened and Prospective, one-two finishers in the Sam Davis Stakes, return and are joined by Take Charge Indy and Spring Hill Farm Saturday’s 32nd running of the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) attracted a competitive field of 12 3-year-olds at... Read More...

Hansen Back on Track with Gotham Win

It only took one race for the reigning two year old champ to get back to the winner’s circle. After posting three straight wins as a two year old including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Hansen started his three year old campaign with a distant 2nd... Read More...

Caleb’s Posse Tops Today’s Tom Fool

Photo of Caleb’s Posse courtesy of NYRA/Coglianese photo Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner makes seasonal bow on Gotham card at Aqueduct Caleb’s Posse gets his 2012 campaign underway this afternoon in New York when he headlines a compact field of si... Read More...

Gotham Stakes preview

2012 Triple Crown | 12 years ago
Jon & Joel talk about the recent attrition on the Kentucky Derby trial, and bring in Brisnet’s Ed DeRosa to help break down Saturday’s Gotham Stakes. Read More...

Eclipse Champion Hansen Tops Gotham

Photo of Hansen courtesy of Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo Flashy colt seeks to rebound from a loss in the Holy Bull Stakes Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and Eclipse Award champion Hansen headlines Saturday’s Gotham Stakes (G3)... Read More...

Algorithms Officially Off Kentucky Derby Trail

Photo of Algorithms courtesy of Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo Undefeated son of Bernardini heading to Ocala for surgery X-rays taken on Tuesday morning revealed that Starlight Stables’ Algorithms has a fractured splint in his right front leg. The ... Read More...

Union Rags Dominates Fountain of Youth Foes

Union Rags photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo In a sparkling performance, Union Rags establishes himself as a clear Kentucky Derby favorite Union Rags’ reputation may have taken a hit when he lost last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenil... Read More...

Awesome Maria Storms to Sabin Score

Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo The striking gray daughter of Maria’s Mon makes a successful return in Sabin Stakes to remain undefeated at Gulfstream Park What was expected to be a showdown between returning stakes stars Royal Del... Read More...

Breeders’ Cup Winners in Gulfstream Spotlight

Royal Delta/McCue photo Royal Delta and Perfect Shirl return today in South Florida Racing fans at Gulfstream Park this afternoon will be treated to three graded stakes races, two of which feature returning Breeders’ Cup winners Royal Delta and Perfe... Read More...

Let’s Get Serious

2012 Triple Crown | 12 years ago
Jon & Joel preview a serious weekend of Kentucky Derby preps, headlined by Sunday’s Fountain of Youth. The guys discuss what to expect from early Derby fave Union Rags in his seasonal debut, along with the Pletcher duo – Algorithms and Discreet Dancer. They talk El Padrino, the rest of the Risen Star cast and […] Read More...

Fountain of Youth Stakes attracts compact, competitive field

By MICHAEL COMPTON As the Kentucky Derby trail kicks into high gear this weekend, Sunday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park should go a long way in helping sort out the 3-year-old picture, at least in South Florida. With a field that includes the undefeated Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Algorithms and Florida-bred Discreet […] Read More...

Pletcher Pair to Clash With Union Rags

Photo of Algorithms courtesy of Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo Sunday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park promises answers in sorting out contentious 3-year-old division. As the Kentucky Derby trail kicks into high gear this weekend, Sund... Read More...

Maiden Madness

2012 Triple Crown | 12 years ago
Jon & Joel talk about the continuation of new shooters onto the Kentucky Derby trail, and interview the owner that potentially holds the strongest hand in this year’s Kentucky Derby picture. Read More...

Union Rags Works at Palm Meadows

Coglianese photo “He did it easy and galloped out fine. He’s ready to go.” –Trainer Michael Matz Union Rags continued his preparation on Sunday for his seasonal bow in next weekend’s $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at ... Read More...

Animal Kingdom Returns at Gulfstream Park

Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo “I hope he gets a chance this year to show what a super horse he is.” –Trainer Graham Motion on Animal Kingdom Last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and Eclipse Award champion Animal Kingd... Read More...

Price is Paramount

NYRA Photo Performance and persistence key to success in Kentucky Derby Future Wager “Past results are no guarantee of future success,” they say in the investment world. When it comes to the Kentucky Derby Future wager, at least in my case, I hope ... Read More...

More Young Guns

2012 Triple Crown | 12 years ago
Quick recap of the Hutcheson S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park and several other races that produced more Young Guns on the Kentucky Derby Trail. Is it too late for a maiden winner to make it to the Kentucky Derby? Wait till you see what Bob Baffert thinks. Read More...

Thunder Moccasin Wins Stakes Debut

Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo Starlight Racing runner is a son of Stonewall Farm Ocala sire A.P. Warrior Thunder Moccasin stormed alongside pacesetter Il Villano around the far turn of Saturday’s $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (G2) at... Read More...

Fast-Paced Derby Snapshot

2012 Triple Crown | 12 years ago
The TCI boys quickly catch you up on the progress of major Triple Crown contenders yet to make their 3-year-old debuts, and tell you where they will likely surface. They also discuss a couple of races this weekend that could have an impact on the Triple Crown Trail. Read More...

Season Premiere

2012 Triple Crown | 12 years ago
Jon & Joel kick off the third year of TCI – aka Triple Crown Insider – and catch up on the three-year-old picture through the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. Read More...

Weekend Stakes: Where to Watch brought to you by West Point Thoroughbreds

The racing year is winding down, but the holiday weekend is the setting for 17 graded stakes races, three of them already having been run on Thanksgiving Day.  On Friday, a pair of Grade 1s will be run—the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs a... Read More...

Paulick Report Forum brought to you by Breeders’ Cup: Repole – Mo Responsibility for Owners

By Ray Paulick To say Mike Repole is competitive would be a massive understatement. To say he’s a successful entrepreneur and businessman doesn’t do justice to his track record of building brands like Vitaminwater, Smartwater and Pirate&#82... Read More...

Moss and Bailey Talk Life At Ten

By Ray Paulick ESPN racing analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss — whose comments and pre-race interview with John Velazquez, the rider of Candy DeBartolo’s Life At Ten in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, revealed someth... Read More...

LIFE AT TEN: Kentucky Stewards to Take No Action

By Ray Paulick John Veitch, chief steward for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, told Thoroughbred Times that stewards plan to take no action against jockey John Velazquez or trainer Todd Pletcher in the matter of Life At Ten, who was eased in Frida... Read More...

Wrapping Up the Cup

By Ray Paulick Things I know now that I didn’t know then… The power of Zenyatta was measurable, particularly on television. The 3.1 overnight rating for the 6-7 p.m. time slot for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic was nearly trip... Read More...

Life At Ten: Did Stewards Ignore ESPN Interview?

By Ray Paulick The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is nearing completion of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Life At Ten, who was eased as the 7-2 second betting choice in Friday’s $2-million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ ... Read More...

Uncle Mo emerges as clear leader in early Derby buzz

While there is a large amount of ground to cover before the 2011 edition of the Kentucky Derby, it is clear after Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile that Uncle Mo is the early favorite for the Derby. His resounding 4 1/4 length victory even ... Read More...

Uncle Mo Blows Away Juvenile Field

Uncle Mo put on perhaps the most dominating performance of the Breeders’ Cup, winning the Juvenile by open lengths at Churchill Downs Saturday, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his third win at this Breeders’ Cup. With John Velazquez aboard, Un... Read More...

Pluck Takes Juvenile Turf, Gives Pletcher the Juvenile Turf Double

By Scott Jagow Pluck overcame the widest post position in a field of 13 and stormed home to win the Juvenile Turf Saturday at Churchill Downs.  Under Garrett Gomez, Pluck shot past his rivals in mid-stretch to win the one mile race... Read More...

Life at Ten: Will Not Be Sold

Life at Ten has been withdrawn from the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale after an unknown problem caused her to run far back in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Life at Ten was fine Saturday morning, and... Read More...

PLETCHER: I told him (John Velazquez) when we left the paddock that I was concerned about the way she saddled

Todd Pletcher (trainer, Life At Ten, DNF) – “I told him (jockey John Velazquez) when we left the paddock that I was concerned about the way she saddled. She was abnormally quiet; almost sedated-like. I told him to make sure and warm her up ... Read More...

Ladies’ Classic: An Update on All Contenders

PRESS RELEASE An update on the contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (post time 7:30 pm Friday, November 5th): Acoma The Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic contender Acoma walked the shedrow Monday after working Sunday in preparation for the upcoming 1 1/8m event. Trainer David Carroll said the 5yo daughter of Empire Maker came out of that [...] Read More...

Eskendereya breaks out in Fountain of Youth

Performance of the Week | 14 years ago
The Todd Pletcher-trained Eskendereya had a break-out performance in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on Feb. 20, romping by 8 1/2 lengths and instantly becoming a Kentucky Derby front-runner. Read More...