Todd Pletcher

They bet him like he couldn't lose, and Grande (Curlin) came through for his supporters to win his first graded stakes in the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes on Florida Derby Day at Gulfstream Park. One of the most talked about 3-year-olds last season, both for his ability and as a high-profile vet scratch from Kentucky Derby 151 due to a foot issue, the son of Curlin has lost only once in his career--a runner-up effort in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes that preceded the Kentucky Derby drama, and subsequent layoff until...

Looking every bit the 3-2 morning-line favorite for the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, Renegade (Into Mischief) strode out of paddock schooling with top marks shortly before noon on Thursday. The colt had that, 'Take the test, don't let the test take you' sort of look. Renegade's trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Hot Springs track's signature race five times, but it hasn't been since 2018 when Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) took the prize. Of course, that hero was campaigned by Robert and Lawana Low, who happen...

Seven GI Kentucky Derby winners in the last 20 years--including last year's winner and Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief)--have used the GI Curlin Florida Derby as a launching pad to success on the first Saturday in May. Could we see another one emerge from Saturday's loaded renewal at Gulfstream Park? Chief Wallabee (Constitution) will look to punch his ticket to the big dance following a too-good-to-lose second to Commandment (Into Mischief) in a heart-stopping renewal of the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28....

Brad Cox always seems to be loaded when it comes to top 3-year-old fillies, and he's got another good one in Life of Joy (Gun Runner), who pulled off an impressive victory in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. With the GII Fantasy Stakes and the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks on tap this week, the picture for the GI Kentucky Oaks should become all the more clear. So, here goes, your latest Top 10: 1) ZANY (American Pharoah--Mo' Green, by Uncle Mo) O-Repole Stable; B-D.J. Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history:...

NEW KENT, VA--From one CD to another. In his second start of the year, Pin Oak Stud's Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) stamped his ticket for a return trip to Churchill Downs with a visually-impressive finish in Saturday's Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. Under the tutelage of Riley Mott, the 6-1 choice is already proven under the Twin Spires when he finished out his juvenile campaign with a win in the GIII Street Sense Stakes in late October. And while his return to the track earlier this season didn't go quite as...

NEW KENT, VA--Bob Baffert has an embarrassment of riches on his hands when it comes to classy 3-year-old fillies. Grade I winner Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) joined stablemates Explora (Blame) and Forced Entry (Charlatan) in the top five slots of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard Saturday with her dominant win in the second running of the Virginia Oaks. Making her second start of the year, Bottle of Rouge crossed the country to Colonial Downs off a 1 1/2-length score in the Sunland Park Oaks Feb. 15. She...

There is a no-frills air to George Weaver, evident in everything from his worn-in boots to the strictly utilitarian office in his Palm Beach Downs barn. Weaver has little interest in shouting his success from the rooftops. He'd rather let the horses do the talking. "I feel like your horses should do the advertising for you," Weaver said. "When they win, I think it tells everybody what you're about. We let the horses kind of tell us when they're ready to go. That always leads to the best success on...

In a unanimous decision, the State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division Third Judicial Department, has thrown out a 14-day suspension and a $2,000 fine that was originally handed down by the Commission to Todd Pletcher after a horse he trained tested positive for an overage of phenylbutazone (bute) following a July 30, 2022 race at Saratoga, and has remanded the matter back to the New York Gaming Commission for a rehearing. The horse in question, Capensis (Tapit), finished sixth in the allowance race. In affirming Pletcher's petition in...

1st-AQU, 80K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10 p.m. FUSION (Into Mischief), the second foal out of MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Separationofpowers, debuts Sunday in New York for the partnership of Qatar Racing and Mountmellick Farm and trainer Chad Brown. The mare has already produced a winner from her first foal, this filly's full-brother, Poulsen, who went Japan's way for $925,000 at OBS April in 2024. Separationofpowers sold to Hunter Valley Farm for $2.1-million at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2019 before going back through that same ring...

Spendthrift Farm's 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Further Ado (Gun Runner), a smashing 20-length maiden winner at Keeneland last fall and workmanlike winner of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, launches his 3-year-old campaign in Saturday's GIII Esmark Tampa Bay Derby. The $275,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $550,000 OBS April breezer has posted six workouts at trainer Brad Cox's Payson Park base for his return, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:01 (1/28) Feb. 21. Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call from post...

The first mare scanned in foal to McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds undefeated new sire Showcase (by Uncle Mo) was reported, the farm said via a Friday press release. New Year's Wish, a stakes-placed daughter of New Year's Day trained by Linda Rice, was purchased by McMahon. The chestnut was the last horse selected by Rice's father Clyde before he passed away. Named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' after his 7 1/2 length debut win, Showcase took home the 2024 GII Saratoga Special Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer Todd...

6th-OP, 110K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:04 p.m. QUITE BAFFLING (Gun Runner) impressed enough at OBS March last year, breezing a quarter in :21.1, to warrant a $750,000 final bid from Case Clay Thoroughbred Management on behalf of owner Wathnan Racing. Debuting around two turns, Quite Baffling is a daughter of the unraced Graydar mare Baffling, herself a half-sister to MGISW and successful sire Constitution (Tapit). Another half-sister, GSW Jacaranda (Congrats), has produced SW/GISP Be You (Curlin). The only first-time starter in the field is trained by Steve Asmussen...