Todd Pletcher | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pletcher Unveils Plans For 3-Year-Old Stars

The road to the GI Kentucky Derby has been unkind to Todd Pletcher so far this year, but that may be about to change. The Hall of Fame trainer is ready to regroup and will look to win the March 30 GI Florida Derby with Fierceness (City of Light) and the March 2 GII Fountain of Youth with Locked (Gun Runner).

Locked, who is the 10-1 favorite beyond the “all others” option in the latest round of the Derby Future Wager, was originally scheduled to make his debut in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. but Pletcher withdrew him from the race after he spiked a temperature and missed a work. Pletcher had Locked back on the work tab Friday morning and said he was pleased with the move.

Locked won last year's GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland before finishing third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Fierceness, last year's champion 2-year-old male, kicked off his 2024 campaign with a lackluster third-place finish in the Holy Bull S. in which he was beaten 3 1/2 lengths. Afterward, Pletcher said his next race was up in the air, but confirmed Friday that he will go next in the Florida Derby. Fierceness will have his first work since the Holy Bull next week.

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Lauren Robson Saddles First Winner Thursday at Gulfstream

Trainer Lauren Robson saddled her first career winner Thursday, bringing a rather extensive resume with her into the Gulfstream Park winner's circle.

“I came over from England in 2004. I worked for various, really good trainers. I was an assistant for Jonathan Sheppard, Wesley Ward and Jerry Hollendorfer,” Robson said. “I galloped for Todd Pletcher. I rode many good horses for him. There were other good trainers I worked for also, like Richard Mandella.”

Robson saddled Jabran to a 3 1/2-length victory under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in Race 2, a five-furlong maiden claiming event for 3-year-olds on Tapeta.

“I'm really happy Johnny rode him. He's been a longtime friend, he and his wife Leona,” Robson said. “It's great to get the first one under my name.”

A tragic accident that left her husband, former jockey Rudy Delguidice, paralyzed led Robson into training a small stable at Gulfstream.

“I was in Ocala. We were breaking and training horses, and my husband had an accident and broke his neck in July 2022,” Robson recalled. “So, we came down here for him to do his rehab, and I thought to myself, 'Well, since I have these couple horses, I just may as well train them myself.'”

Following her first training success on her own, Robson doesn't aspire to build a large stable in the future.

“This is fun for me and my husband. He comes out in the morning to watch the horses train. It keeps him involved,” she said. “I'm hoping to get a few more, but I'm not looking to have too many. I'd like to be kind of small and be hands-on, get on my own horses and just do good with what I've got. I'd like young horses. I've learned from some good people. It makes me happy to get the best out of each individual.”

Robson owns Jabran, a son of Munnings, and co-owns British Empress, a 4-year-old maiden daughter of Classic Empire. Jabran was only Robson's 10 starter dating back to Sept. 30.

“When you only have two horses, it seemed to take a while,” Robson said. “I guess if you had 20 horses, it would be a week's worth of runners.”

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Thursday’s Insights: Pricey Pletcher Colts Debut at Gulfstream

5th-GP, $89K, MSW, 4yo/up, 7 1/2fT, 2:09pm EST
Trainer Todd Pletcher offers up a pair of seven-figure sales horses making their belated debuts. Victorious Racing LLC's SWORDOFHONOR (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) sports some pretty flashy credentials. The €1.5 million Arqana August yearling purchase is a half-brother to the year-older Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a two-time Group 1 winner as a juvenile who subsequently won last summer's G2 Celebration Mile S. at Goodwood. Consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux and purchased by Oliver St Lawrence, the bay was the second highest-priced yearling and the top-priced colt of the 2021 Arqana August Yearling Sale. His family also includes Group 1 scorers Elvstroem (Aus) and Haradasun (Aus). The son of Cercle de La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), sister to Group 1 winners Highland Reel and Cape of Good Hope, posted a pair of bullet works–including the most recent a 1:01 (1/5) move Feb. 8–at Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base.

Also representing the Hall of Famer is Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's STORM READY (City of Light), a $1.05 million Keeneland September buy. The half to GSW Biddy Duke (Bayern) posted his latest breeze at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 31, covering five panels in 1:00 3/5 (1/2). The colts will be partnered by the Ortiz brothers, the former by Jose and the latter by Irad. TJCIS PPS

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Saturday Insights: Full-Brother To MGSW Three Witches Ready To Party At Fair Grounds

8th-FG, $57K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 4:30 p.m. ET.
Bred by Machmer Hall, SHIRE'S END (Into Mischief) takes to the turf in New Orleans under the guidance of trainer Brendan Walsh. A $450,000 buy at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, the colt is a full-brother to MGSW/GISP Three Witches, who went to RIFA Mustang Europe for $1.7 million at last year's Keeneland November Sale, then won the GII Santa Monica S. at Santa Anita a week ago. Dam Layreebelle (Tale of the Cat) is also responsible for GII La Canada S. winner Spellbound (Bernardini)–dam to MGSW Soothsay (Distorted Humor)–and GIII Dwyer S. winner Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid). TJCIS PPS

8th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:37 p.m. ET.
On the main track in Hallandale, Secret Crush (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes the races for the MyRacehorse contingent.

Purchased for $300,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, the Todd Pletcher trainee is out Elarose (Storm Cat), who went to Chiyoda's Dr. Masatake Iida in 2018 at Keeneland November for $450,000 while in foal to Quality Road.

Elarose is part of a deep family anchored by her dam, Take Charge Lady (Dehere). Her half-siblings include GI Florida Derby champ Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), GI Travers S. victor Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GI Beholder Mile winner As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) and the dam of champion of 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and 2023 top five first-crop sire Omaha Beach (War Front). TJCIS PPS

9th-TAM, $53K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:45 p.m. ET.
Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables bought Oversubscribed (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) at the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 400,000gns. Trained by Chad Brown, the filly's extended female family includes French Group 3 winner In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), the dam of G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines S. heroine We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), G1 Prix du Cadran S. hero Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 Prix Rothschild S. victress With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}). TJCIS PPS

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