Pletcher's Big Year Ends With Seventh Eclipse
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Trainer Todd Pletcher is on another Eclipse Award win streak.
Pletcher secured his second straight Eclipse as outstanding trainer in ceremonies Saturday, Jan. 17 at Gulfstream Park and his seventh outstanding trainer award overall. He previously won four straight Eclipse Awards as outstanding trainer from 2004-2007 before securing his fifth such honor in 2010 and a record sixth last year.
In 2014, Pletcher led North American-based trainers in purse earnings at $22,476,736 and ranked sixth in total wins with 240. Pletcher horses won nine grade I races in 2014, led by Palace Malice in the Metropolitan Handicap, Danza in the Arkansas Derby, and Constitution in the Besilu Florida Derby.
Other grade I winners included Stopchargingmaria in the Alabama Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks, Daredevil in the Champagne Stakes, Carpe Diem in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, Competitive Edge in the Hopeful Stakes, and Angela Renee in the Chandelier Stakes.
The season also saw Pletcher reach a career milestone when he moved into first place on the all-time purse earnings list. Pletcher, who worked as an assistant to tacing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before going out on his own, passed his former mentor, who of course is also still active.
"I think it's a product of inflation, to be honest, and I don't think anybody is going to match Wayne's accomplishments in this business," Pletcher said when he reached the mark in the spring. "That said, it's still a satisfying milestone for the team and a record to be proud of."
In the summer, Pletcher won a stakes race for the 1,000th time, joining Lukas as the only two North American trainers to reach that milestone.
Voting (Only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities: National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters):
Todd Pletcher, 100; Chad Brown, 64; Art Sherman, 45; Bob Baffert, 20; Graham Motion, 13; Jerry Hollendorfer, 11; Steve Asmussen, 6; D. Wayne Lukas, 3; Karl Broberg, 1; Edward Graham, 1; Mike Maker, 1.