Pletcher Stallions Light Up Weekend Stakes Results

Although trainer Todd Pletcher had a few quiet days with his graded stakes starters over the holiday weekend, the noise generated by stallions he trained to racetrack success rang loud and clear, most noticeably in the 3-year-old divisions.

Four of the five stakes races over the weekend that served as points qualifiers toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) were won by the progeny of Pletcher trainees. Mr. Monomoy, a son of Palace Malice , took the first division of the Risen Star Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2); Modernist, by Uncle Mo , captured the second Risen Star Division; Azul Coast, a son of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver , triumphed in the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby; and Finite, a daughter of Munnings , upset champion British Idiom in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2).

Even for a future Hall of Famer represented by a vast number of stallions across North America, this was unique.

"That was fun to watch," he said Feb. 18.

It would have been even more fun if he trained some of those winners, he quipped. Instead, Chase Tracker ran eighth for him in the Southwest, and Farmington Road finished fourth in the Risen Star first division.

Still, the results of his racehorses turned stallions generated a sense of pride.

"It says a lot about the quality of the program and to see those horses go on and have a second successful career," he said. "It gives owners confidence in our program and also stallion buyers confidence the horses we train here are going on to reproduce themselves, or in some cases, even get better than them.

"I remember when More Than Ready  first retired. I was so excited about getting his first babies. It seemed like it just took forever after he went to stud and then for them to be born, then yearlings and 2-year-olds. I remember the anticipation. He was really the first quality stallion that we retired as a stallion prospect. And then to see him have the career that he's had, the success he's had, and the longevity he's had. The success he's had has been phenomenal. He kind of got things rolling from a number of perspectives."

Now, the trainer's racehorses turned stallions in North American total more than 60, ranging from prominent Kentucky-based ones to those in smaller, regional markets. Others have moved to foreign countries, such as Super Saver, who now stands in Turkey.

Pletcher will often be compensated with stallion seasons when his trainees go to stud, as do other trainers, though he has utilized these seasons to support causes. He regularly donates seasons to auctions to benefit Thoroughbred Charities of America, New Vocations, The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

"Those guys do a lot of stuff for a lot of people that work on the backside, a lot of stuff that goes unnoticed that is very appreciated by our team and our staff," he said.

Lest one think Pletcher's success might only apply to stallions in the breeding world, think again. It was Pletcher who trained Authenticity, the dam of Charlatan, the Bob Baffert youngster who sizzled six furlongs in 1:08.85 at Santa Anita Park Feb. 16. Authenticity won two graded stakes for owner Padua Stables under Pletcher's direction, which came over the final nine races of her 12-race career.

Pletcher could be poised for rewards on the Derby and Oaks trail later this spring if his young horses progress in the final months before May.

Spice is Nice is a candidate for the Davona Dale Stakes (G2), an Oaks prep at Gulfstream Park Feb. 29. Palm Springs and Texas Swing are under consideration for the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 7 on the Derby trail. And a colt many consider to be his top Derby hopeful, Gouverneur Morris, could reappear in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park March 28 or another major Derby prep.

Gouverneur Morris, second the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) last fall at Keeneland in his lone defeat in three starts, won an allowance optional claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 14 in his seasonal debut for owners Team Valor International and WinStar Farm.

"That comeback was a nice solid race and now we're looking forward to another big one to come," Pletcher said. "We're just going to play it by ear and let the horse guide us in the right direction. Everybody's happy to get that comeback race under his belt and the (speed) figures should come in to support it was a good quality race. Now it's a matter of determining when we want to run him back, and take our best shot to give him enough points and enough seasoning to get into the Derby."

Gouverneur Morris is a son of the Pletcher-trained Constitution , winner of the 2014 Florida Derby and currently North America's leading second-crop sire.