Todd Pletcher

Nearly (Not This Time), who could make the starting gate for the GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31, was well-beaten on debut during the Belmont At The Big A meet Oct. 26. Shipping to South Florida to face state breds, the dark bay won by an eye-catching 9 1/4 lengths Nov. 22. Tabbed as the 6-5 second choice after the pre-race scratch of intended favorite Mob (Gun Runner), Nearly was bumped hard by Confessional (Essential Quality) at the break, which put him several lengths behind coming on...

While prefacing his remarks by saying that "nothing is set in stone," Spendthrift Farm General Manager Ned Toffey told the TDN that the main pre-GI Kentucky Derby goal for presumptive 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) will likely be the GI Curlin Florida Derby to be run at Gulfstream Park Mar. 28. Spendthrift's other top prospect, Further Ado (Gun Runner), is likely headed to the GI Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 4. Ted Noffey is trained by Todd Pletcher, who is based in the winter at Palm Beach Downs...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) wrapped up Aqueduct's fall meet Wednesday with Flavien Prat taking the leading rider title and Linda Rice taking the leading trainer honors. Prat's 46 wins included nine stakes victories and five graded victories. His record for the fall stands at 136-46-21-15, earnings of $3,247,016, and a win percentage of 33.82%. Manny Franco was second with 33 wins, while Kendrick Carmouche was third with 25 victories. Rice notched her fourth consecutive Aqueduct fall meet training title with 31 wins and an overall record of...

2nd-SA, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 2:31 p.m. ET. NEWTON (Munnings) went through the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale ring and brought $975,000. Sent to Bob Baffert, the colt is out of $1.2-million buy Secret Jewel (Bernardini), whose other progeny include GSW Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) and SW Point Proven (Gun Runner). Secret Jewel's half-sisters include Canadian GSW Colonial Flag (Pleasant Tap), MGSW Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun) and last but not least GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect)--herself the dam of GI Breeders' Cup...

7th-GP, $70k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 3:18 p.m. ET Epic d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), a full-brother to the once-in-a-lifetime Rachel Alexandra, makes his first career start for Todd Pletcher going two turns over the Gulfstream lawn. He brought $1.35 million from the fledgling Las Vegas-based Epic Horses at last year's Keeneland September Yearling sale. The bay was bred in Kentucky by Dede McGehee. "He is a really good mover," the operation's advisor and CEO of Town & Country Farms Shannon Potter said at KEESEP while declining to reveal the names of...

7th-GP, $58k, OC 62k/C, 3yo/up, 1m, 3:30 p.m. ET WinStar Farm, CHC, Inc. and Cold Press Racing's Tappan Street (Into Mischief) will make his highly anticipated return facing six rivals in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park Friday. He is the 4-5 program favorite. Last seen defeating leading Horse of the Year candidate and GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 29, Tappan Street was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby after suffering a condylar fracture in his right front leg. "We've been...

Jackson Hole (c, 2, Nyquist), a $385,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $1.3 million Keeneland September yearling, kicked off his career with a debut victory for Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Drawn widest of all in post seven, the 4-5 favorite was fourth through an opening quarter in :23.06. He was ridden into third heading into the far turn, revved up three deep in the stretch and took care of business from there to graduate by a length over Ramajay (Knicks Go). Jackson Hole was produced by the winning Broman...

4th-GP, $70k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, post time: 1:47 p.m. ET Jackson Hole (Nyquist), a $1.3-million Keeneland September yearling, debuts for WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and First Go Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher. He was produced by the winning Broman homebred Spa Treatment (Bernardini), a daughter of SW & GISP Silver Knockers (Silver Deputy). The Nyquist x Bernardini cross is also responsible for GISWs Gretzky the Great, Immersive and Nysos. Jackson Hole has drawn widest of all in post seven with John Velazquez aboard. He is the 7-5 morning-line favorite. TJCIS...

The GI Kentucky Derby aspirants Paladin (Gun Runner) and Renegade (Into Mischief) have a nice little rivalry going after facing each other twice in the span of seven weeks at Aqueduct. Even though the Chad Brown-trained Paladin ($1.9 million FTSAUG) has bested the Todd Pletcher-trained Renegade ($975,000 KEESEP) both times-once via DQ on Oct. 17, and an outright win Saturday in the GII Remsen Stakes-the two colts might not be as far apart as their records indicate. Paladin (owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Brook Smith, Peter...

It was round two of their first match-up, and this time Paladin (Gun Runner--Secret Sigh, by Tapit) came home best over Renegade (Into Mischief) to score not just his first black-type, but also secure 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the 112th running of the GII Remsen Stakes. The pair was last seen Oct. 17 at this venue when they brought their battle down to the wire in a maiden special weight contest, and Renegade officially crossed the line first by a head. He was later...

Life and Times (Justify), the least experienced runner in the field, impressed in his belated debut, wiring a field over course and distance Nov. 1. by 5 3/4 lengths to earn a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. The 3-5 favorite on the step up Saturday, he had little issue handling this group of winners, pressuring Commuted (Gun Runner) for the early lead through the half in :46.60. Once in command, he drew off comfortably to lead this group in by 6 3/4 lengths with Dreamlike (Gun Runner) closing from last to...

There is nothing unpredictable when it comes to trainer Todd Pletcher's record in the GII Demoiselle Stakes because he has had his share of top flight winners like Stopcharging Maria (Tale of the Cat), Malathaat (Curlin) and Nest (Curlin). On Saturday in the 104th edition of the race at Aqueduct, the Hall of Famer's count hit 10 when his Repole-owned filly Zany (American Pharoah--Mo' Green, by Uncle Mo) looked stout as she motored home to nab 10 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks. Zany's career started with...