Todd Pletcher

The fall isn't really, The Fall, until Keeneland arrives. Well, get your steaming pot of burgoo ready, because it's here. Scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6, the meet's opening day at the Old Keene Farm is upon us and the 10-race card includes a trio of graded stakes which all have Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' implications. Leading off is the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the Main Track. Suitors for the GI Breeders' Cup Qatar Racing Sprint include MSW Bango...

After significant rainfall cancelled the entire Friday and Saturday Belmont at the Big A cards, a pair of Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge races were moved from Sunday to Wednesday in order to allow everyone to dry out. The GII Miss Grillo S., a pathway to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, brings together a cast of 12. Only Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's Gala Brand (Violence) has graded experience. The chestnut filly delivered in her second start when she faced males and won the GIII...

'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Forte (Violence), off since his disappointing fourth-place finish in the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, is receiving treatment for a quarter crack. His connections, including trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole, still believe there is time to prepare him for a start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4. Per the Daily Racing Form, farrier Ian McKinlay patched the quarter crack on Forte's left front foot and the horse has been training at Churchill Downs, where he galloped Sunday morning....

Trainer Linda Rice has been suspended 14 days and fined $2,000 by the New York State Gaming Commission after a filly under her care returned a positive test for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone following a 9 1/2-length win as the 4-5 favorite at Aqueduct Racetrack more than eight months ago. Rice has appealed the Sept. 28 ruling, so she has been granted a stay of those penalties pending a final resolution. The NYSGC also made it public on Friday that Rice will be appearing before the commission for a...

Canigetaloan (Leofric) had to lay it all down, but gamely managed to fight off a familiar foe in a wild finish to break his maiden, score his first black-type victory in the Aspirant S., and tally the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Candy Ride {Arg}) all at once. Debuting in the same Aug. 11 state-bred maiden at Saratoga as Trust Fund (Practical Joke), who would go on to win by 2 1/4 lengths, Canigetaloan came out on the better end of the photo for second and would...

Cindy Hutter, who continues her inspiring recovery from a severe brain injury sustained in a training accident in July 2022, has been named the 2023 winner of the Bill Mooney Award for displaying courage in the face of tremendous adversity by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. Hutter started riding at a young age before going to work for trainer Bruce Miller after she turned 16. Hutter later worked for D. Wayne Lukas, galloping such stars as Winning Colors, Thunder Gulch, Open Mind and Flanders, and later for Todd Pletcher,...

2nd-KD, $150K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 2:02 p.m. TIRELESS (Not This Time), an $875,000 Keeneland September yearling, makes the races for Repole Stables and St. Elias Stables under the guidance of trainer Todd Pletcher. Third dam Tizso, herself a full-sister to Horse of the Year Tiznow, is also responsible for GISW and sire Paynter (Awesome Again). Lined up just to that one's outside, American Decision (American Pharoah) is a son of champion female sprinter Informed Decision racing for Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Thomas. TJCIS PPS 5th-KD, $150K, Msw, 2yo, f,...

After twenty-five years behind the scenes at Pletcher Racing Stable, COO Maggie Sweet has decided to step down later this season, according to a release from Pletcher Racing Stables Friday. "A number of factors have influenced my decision. Personally, I would like to spend more time with my young daughter during the summer. Professionally, I am interested in exploring other aspects of the racing and breeding industry," Sweet said. During her tenure, Sweet played a pivotal role in the growth and continued success of Pletcher Racing Stable. More recently, she...

Just five races after Mike Repole was visiting the Saratoga winner's circle with 2-year-old winner Life's an Audible (Audible) in Saturday's first race, the owner wasted little time getting back to that same spot. Repole won his second maiden special weight race on the day and his seventh at the meet when Agate Road (Quality Road) unleashed a furious stretch drive to win the day's sixth race, a maiden on the turf. Repole's 2-year-olds continue to be a relentless force at the Spa. "He's a nice Quality Road and we...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Different surface. Different distance. Different pace scenario. Far different outcome for Life's an Audible (Audible) Saturday in the opener at Saratoga Race Course. When her career debut at 1 1/16 miles on turf on July 30 was switched to the main track at one mile due to wet conditions, Life's an Audible was prominent for six furlongs, but weakened and ended up 21 lengths behind her Todd Pletcher stablemate Miz Sense (Street Sense. Running 5 1/2 furlongs over a turf course rated as firm in her...

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's Agate Road (c, 2, Quality Road--Yellow Agate, by Gemologist) was hammered into even-money favoritism for his turf and two-turn debuts on the strength of a near-miss runner-up effort in a rained-off maiden Aug. 5. At the end of 8 1/2 very eventful furlongs Saturday afternoon at the Spa, the $650,000 Keeneland September purchase was named a 'TDN Rising Star'. Drawn widest in a field of 10, Agate Road was behind the eight ball right from the opening bell, as he broke a good two...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With this smashing victory in the fifth race Friday, Locked (Gun Runner) graduated summa cum laude with 'TDN Rising Star' honors from the 2-year-old maiden special weight ranks at Saratoga Race Course. A month after his career debut went awry, Locked turned in a top-notch performance under Jose Ortiz, scoring by 7 1/4 lengths and covering the mile in 1:36. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said it is likely that the chestnut colt will run next in the GI Champagne S. or the GI Breeders'...