Todd Pletcher could become the first trainer in 61 years to win both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. he has a better shot than anybody to pull it off with a record-tying five-horses in the field.
2013 Kentucky Derby: Todd Pletcher trying to sweep Oaks and Derby with five horses
Todd Pletcher hopes that one of his record-tying five horses can bring home the Kentucky Derby, which would make him the first trainer to win the Oaks and the Derby in the same year since 1952.
Matthew Stockman
Pletcher’s filly Princess of Sylmar was a longshot at the Oaks, with 38-1 odds to win the Friday race, but managed to bring home the win by one-and-a-half lengths. And Pletcher has even better opportunities Saturday, as his stable includes Revolutionary, who is tied for the best odds as of the morning lines with a 5-1 shot at taking the roses. Pletcher also trained Verrazano (11-1), Palace Malice (26-1), Charming Kitten (32-1) and Overanalyze (14-1).
The fact that five of Pletcher’s horses qualified says a lot about his skill, as do his back-to-back-to-back-to-back Eclipse Awards as the sports best trainer from 2004-2007. But the 45-year-old Dallas native hasn’t been overly successful at the Derby. His 31 horses have produced only one winner, Super Saver in 2010. ESPN notes that of Pletcher’s seven horses considered to be top-four favorites at various derbies, six have finished out of the top ten.
Ben A. Jones pulled off the Oaks-Derby double in 1949 and then again in 1952, with Real Delight winning the ‘52 Oaks and Hill Gall taking the Derby. Nobody has pulled off the feat since.
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