Todd Pletcher's Derby frustration

Todd Pletcher has been America's most successful trainer over the last decade. He has been the top money-winner in six different years, earning five Eclipse Awards. His powerful stable is replenished each season by a small army of well-bred young prospects, virtually ensuring his continued success.

And yet in the race that every trainer wants to win -- the Kentucky Derby -- Pletcher's performance has been inexplicably poor.

He has scored but one victory -- with Super Saver in 2010 -- out of 29 starters. He will saddle two starters on Saturday, the undefeated Gemologist and his stablemate El Padrino.

Pletcher's best 3-year-olds have often fallen by the wayside before they get to Louisville. Eskendereya was injured in 2010, Uncle Mo was stricken by a disease in 2011 and the highly regarded Algorithms was hurt after winning the Holy Bull Stakes in January. The Pletcher horses who have reached the starting gate have been a surprisingly weak bunch. None has been favored, and in five different years since 2000 a Pletcher trainee has finished last.

Pletcher's career Derby record:

Year	Horse	Finish
2000	Impeachment	3rd
2000	More Than Ready	4th
2000	Trippi	11th
2000	Graeme Hall	19th
2001	Invisible Ink	2nd
2001	Balto Star	14th
2002	Wild Horses	18th
2004	Limehouse	4th
2004	Pollard's Vision	17th
2005	Flower Alley	9th
2005	Coin Silver	12th
2005	Bandini	19th
2006	Bluegrass Cat	2nd
2006	Keyed Entry	20th
2007	Circular Quay	6th
2007	Any Given Saturday	8th
2007	Sam P.	9th
2007	Scat Daddy	18th
2007	Cowtown Cat	20th
2008	Cowboy Cal	9th
2008	Monba	20th
2009	Join in the Dance	7th
2009	Dunkirk	11th
2009	Advice	13th
2010	Super Saver	1st
2010	Mission Impazible	9th
2010	Devil May Care	10th
2010	Discreetly Mine	13th
2011	Stay Thirsty	12th

By Andrew Beyer - The Washington Post. Published May 2, 2012.