Todd Pletcher Trainer
Wednesday January 18, 2006
At age 38, Todd Pletcher has ascended to the top of the trainer ranks in a short period of time. Using some of the same business acumen and training regimen he learned while serving as an assistant to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Pletcher won an Eclipse Award in 2004 and appears on track for a second Eclipse as outstanding trainer in 2005.
With more than 200 horses in his stable that is spread along the East Coast and Midwest, Pletcher set a season earnings record in 2005 with his horses winning more than $20.8 million in purses, surpassing the previous record of $19.1 million set by Bobby Frankel. Along the way, Pletcher was listed as the trainer for 257 winners from 1,039 starters, for a win rate of 25%. And he achieved this feat at the upper reaches of the horse racing food chain, with 47 individual stakes winners accounting for 76 stakes victories. Of his stakes wins, 38 were in graded races, including 10 grade I stakes.
Among his top runners of 2005 were Ashado, the 2004 champion who is all but assured of another Eclipse Award, and top 3-year-old Flower Alley. Pletchers stable is once again well-stocked and prepped for 2006, and he will likely have a large contingent of 3-year-olds being prepped for the spring classics.
MODERATOR:
Today, we are pleased to have the opportunity to spend some time with one of the most successful trainers active in racing today. Let's get right into it...
Batavia, OH:
Do you miss Ashado being at your barn; what was it like the last day she was there?
Pletcher:
Of course I miss her, but am happy she has gone to such a good home and think she will make a wonderful broodmare.
Toronto, ON:
Congratulations on another great year. Hall of fame bound no doubt, make room, Mr. Lukas. The question I have has to do with the most Underrated "Horse of the Year" Flower Alley, (there should be an award for this) he may be the only top 2005 3YO horse still racing. What are your plans for him this year?.
Pletcher:
Ideally, we hope to run well in the major handicap races in the summer and fall and finish the season with a win in the BC Classic.
To read the complete transcript of this chat, along with many others, check out Best of Talkin’ Horses.
Best of Talkin’ Horses features provocative “chats” with some of Thoroughbred racing’s most prominent names. Adapted from “Talkin’ Horses,” the popular weekly online chat series hosted by Bloodhorse.com, this edited collection provides additional insights by Ron Mitchell, editor and moderator of “Talkin’ Horses."
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