Trainer Todd Pletcher Has Barn Full of Kentucky Derby Hopefuls

Trainer Todd Pletcher nominated 34 horses to the 2015 Triple Crown, and with just over two months until the first Saturday of May, the seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer is looking good with a barn full of Kentucky Derby contenders.

In the latest early Kentucky Derby odds released by Odds Shark, Pletcher trains six of the top 11 contenders and again figures to be the busiest guy in the paddock at Churchill Downs for the Run for the Roses.

However, strength in numbers does not always lead to his horses being draped in roses in the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs. Pletcher has started 40 horses in the Kentucky Derby and has won just once, with Super Saver in 2010.

In 2014, Pletcher was blanked with four starters, and in 2013, the trainer started five runners without picking up the top prize.

What does 2015 have in store for the Pletcher barn? It sure looks as if he could have five or six qualify for this year’s running. Let’s take a quick look at his major players:

Carpe Diem, 16-1

This colt is tied for eighth in the Derby points standings despite not yet making his three-year-old debut. He was last seen running a distant second to Texas Red in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last November at Santa Anita. 

The son of Giant’s Causeway won his first two starts, including taking the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 4. He has been working quickly in the mornings and makes his next start in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 7.

Itsaknockout, 16-1

His Derby future odds shrunk after getting placed first via disqualification in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park last Saturday, his price dropping from 40-1 all the way down to 16-1 at Odds Shark. 

With the 50 points earned for his victory, he is assured a starting spot in the gate and is currently in second place in the Derby points standings.

Perfect in three career starts, his final prep for the Run for the Roses will come in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Khozan, 16-1

There were three Derby prep races last weekend, but this guy got just as much action in Kentucky Derby future betting after his allowance score on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. 

He won his debut impressively and trounced his competition on Sunday by 12 3/4 lengths. His Derby price dropped from 33-1 to 16-1 despite the fact he has no Derby points.

Pletcher has this colt pointed toward the Florida Derby, and he will have to finish first or second to assure getting into the Kentucky Derby, with a third-place finish likely putting him very close to the cutoff point.

The colt is a half-brother to three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta, who earned $4.8 million in her career.

Daredevil, 20-1

This colt is another Pletcher trainee that has not yet made his three-year-old debut. The colt won his first two career starts, including earning 10 points for his win in the Champagne (G1) Oct. 4 at Belmont Park. He was a disappointing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which was his first start around two turns. 

His road to the Kentucky Derby starts this Saturday in the $200,000 Swale (G2) at Gulfstream Park, a seven-furlong sprint on the main track. If all goes well, he would then stretch out to two turns for his final Derby prep, likely to come in the Florida Derby unless Pletcher wants to try to keep some of his runners separated until the Kentucky Derby.

Far From Over, 20-1

Despite stumbling coming out of the starting gate, this colt went from last of five to pull off the mild upset over El Kabeir in the Withers (G2) at Aqueduct on Feb. 7. The colt is perfect in two starts, breaking his maiden in his debut on Dec. 12. 

By Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame out of an A.P. Indy mare, this guy is bred to handle the 1 1/4-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby.

Pletcher is pointing the colt to either the $400,000 Gotham (G2) or the $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct.

Competitive Edge, 20-1

Another that has yet to race as a three-year-old, this colt showed a ton of promise as a juvenile, breaking his maiden in his debut and then winning the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 1. 

While there is no doubt this colt has talent, he is going to have to play catch up without a start in five months. It seems more likely at this point that he may end up skipping the Derby and perhaps going to the Preakness Stakes (G1) two weeks later.

Kentucky Derby future odds via Oddsshark.

Follow Michael Dempsey on Twitter @turfnsport