Pletcher’s Reputation As Stallion-Making Trainer Continues To Grow With Kentucky Derby Hopefuls

Future Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will have four entries in this year's Kentucky Derby, but his shadow over the race stretches much longer than just what's in his stable, through the pedigrees of other contenders, TVG Insider News reports.

Pletcher also trained the sires of four runners in the classic race: Mshawish (sire of his own runner Sainthood); Protonico (sire of Bob Baffert charge Medina Spirit); Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice (sire of Wesley Ward's Like the King); and Constitution (sire of Hidden Stash, trained by Victoria Oliver).

Those runners are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Pletcher's footprint on the modern North American Thoroughbred breeding industry.

Seven of WinStar Farm's 21 stallions – a third of its roster – were former Pletcher trainees, including Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, fast-rising Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Constitution, and stalwarts More Than Ready and Speightstown. His two alumni on the Ashford Stud roster are perennial top sires Uncle Mo and Munnings.

“I think one thing that Todd does well is he has a 2-year-old and 3-year-old program. I think that is what people want to breed to,” WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden told TVG Insider News' Alicia Hughes. “I think by getting them out early, having the ability to get them to the races and manage their careers, he gives them the best chance at stud. Obviously, the more stallions you put in the barn, the more successful stallions you're going to get out of it because you have more opportunity. And he focuses on developing stallions, he sees the big picture.”