An early beginning:
Todd Pletcher was born on June 27, 1967, in Dallas. His father Jake Pletcher trained Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses out west and Todd started working with him as a child. He went to college at the University of Arizona where he graduated in 1989 with a degree in Animal Science. During the summers he worked at the track and did his intership for the legendary Charlie Whittingham in California.
Studied with a master:
After he graduated, Pletcher started working as a foreman then later as an assistant for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He was with Lukas for seven years and still does many things in the style of his mentor such as using white bridles and always wearing a fancy suit. He opened his own public stable in December 1995 and had his first winner in February 1996 with Majestic Number at Gulfstream Park.
Developing stakes winners:
His first big stakes winner was Jersey Girl who won the Astoria at Belmont Park, the first of many New York stakes wins for Pletcher. She went on to win seven consecutive stakes including three Grade Ones before having to retire due to injury. In 1998, he sent Archers Bay to Canada and took the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, for owner Eugene Melnyk who he still trains for today.
Championships and awards:
Pletcher has won many awards and championships in the last few years, including the 2004 and 2005 Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Trainer. He has owned the Saratoga meet for the last few years, taking the top trainer title six times including the last five years straight. He has won a total of 15 trainer titles in just the past seven years at New York tracks plus the Keeneland title in spring of 2005 and Gulfstream Park in 2005 and 2006.
Grade One winners:
He has had
many stakes winners over the years, but 2006 has been a banner year. So far he has: Bishop Court Hill (Carter), Bluegrass Cat (Haskell)
Circular Quay (Hopeful), English Channel (Woodford Reserve, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, United Nations), Fleet Indian (Beldame, Personal Ensign), Go Deputy (Sword Dancer), Honey Ryder (Flower Bowl), Magnificent Song (Garden City), Pool Land (Ruffian), Spun Sugar (Go For Wand, Apple Blossom), and Wait a While (American Oaks, Yellow Ribbon.)
Breeders' Cup success:
His first placing in the Breeders' Cup was Chapel Royal who was third in the 2003 Juvenile then Ashado was second in the 2003 Juvenile Fillies. Pletcher won his first Breeders' Cup races in 2004 at Lone Star Park in his native Texas when Ashado took the Distaff and Speightstown took the Sprint. In 2005 his best placing was Flower Alley's second in the Classic. For 2006, he looks loaded for bear and should have a good day at Churchill Downs.
Continues to set records:
Todd Pletcher is one of the hottest trainers out there right now. He broke his own record for single season earnings for a trainer on October 7, 2006, and tied the record for most stakes wins on October 13, 2006. His former mentor D. Wayne Lukas set the record with 92 wins in 1987. He is also rapidly closing in on the record for most graded stakes won in a year, also currently held by Lukas.
Family man:
Pletcher is married to Tracy and has two sons, Payton and Kyle, and a daughter, Hannah. They live in Garden City, New York.
