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Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher has won four Eclipse Award training titles. He operates one of the largest stables in North America, and routinely is among the top trainers in the country in money and stakes won. Pletcher has trained champions, Ashado, English Channel, Fleet Indian, Lawyer Ron, Rags to Riches, Speightstown, and Wait a While. Rags to Riches became the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes in 2007 when she narrowly defeated eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.
Pletcher will start Dunkirk, who is owned by Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith in the 2009 Belmont Stakes. The $3.7 million yearling has won two of four starts, and was second in the Florida Derby and 11th in the Kentucky Derby.
Pletcher shares his thoughts as he prepares Dunkirk for the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 6 with author and racing journalist Karen M. Johnson. In upcoming blogs, Pletcher will discuss his magical moment with Rags to Riches two years ago, and assess his chances with Dunkirk in this year’s running.
Click here for Todd's bio, stats, video and more
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| Posted: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 |
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MORE FROM TODD PLETCHER...
Getting Ready For The CCA OaksOn Sunday morning, we were the first ones to go on the main track at Belmont after the break. The track was fresh and had just been harrowed which is just how Rags to Riches likes it. She was more fiesty than usual on Sunday and was trying to bite the pony and play around the whole way from the barn to the main track. She was feeling good and wanted to be in charge.
We went on the gap we always use and jogged backed to the 7 furlong pole. There was no standing out today because she was ready to roll as soon as we got to the backstretch. She was released from the pony (named Bandit, she loves him but always likes to tease him to see how much she can get away with. Maybe she's flirting ...) and did her usual jumping around and up in the air before she focused in on her workout. Lauren breezed her a very easy 5/8ths of a mile in 1:04 and she galloped out nice and strong. She met back up with the pony at about the mile and quarter pole and wasn't even breathing that heavy.
It was an easy work for her as always and she walked back to the barn with a lot of energy. She cooled out for about and hour and then went outside to graze in the yard with her hotwalker, Isabel. She has finally started to trust Isabel and is much more patient with her and her groom Martin than anyone else. It took time for them to gain her trust but now she is more comfortable with both of them in the stall and outside on the grass and she let's them handle her without biting and kicking as much.
Monday she walked in the barn and Tuesday she will go back to the track to continue galloping in preparation for the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 21st.
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