Pletcher shooting for fourth win in Belmont Stakes

by NYRA Press Office

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who owns three victories in the Belmont Stakes, would be joining some rarified company should either Vino Rosso or Noble Indy upset Triple Crown hopeful Justify in Saturday’s Grade 1, 1 ½-mile race, presented by NYRA Bets.

While James Rowe leads all trainers with eight Belmont victories from 1883-1913, followed by Sam Hildreth (7), Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons (6 including Triple Crown champions Gallant Fox and Omaha) and Woody Stephens (5 straight from 1982-86), Pletcher would become only the fourth trainer to win four editions of the 1 ½-mile race.

Others who have accomplished that feat include R.W. Walden, who did so in the 1800s; Max Hirsch, whose four wins ranged from 1928 to 1954, and Pletcher’s former employer, D. Wayne Lukas, whose fourth win in the Belmont came in 2000 with Commendable.

Pletcher, who won his first Belmont in 2007 with the filly Rags to Riches, added a second in 2013 with Palace Malice and a third last year with Tapwrit, saw a number of similarities between those winners and his current hopefuls.

“First of all, they both have pedigrees that fit this race,” said Pletcher of Noble Indy, winner of the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, and Vino Rosso, who took the Grade 2 Wood Memorial. “In Rags to Riches’ case she was truly, truly bred for a mile and a half on the dirt. She was also a very strong-galloping horse that was very impressive to watch train on a daily basis. She had that natural stamina and ability to get into a rhythm and carry that pace over a distance of ground. Both of these horses had a pedigree to suggest they can handle it, with Noble Indy having [1992 Belmont winner] A.P. Indy influence on the top side, and Vino Rosso being closely related to Commissioner, who was unfortunately just beaten in the Belmont, on the bottom side.

“Both of them have that training style about them where they show good stamina in their gallops, good rhythms in their gallops and also have been successful at winning races at 1 1/8 miles already.”

Pletcher has long stated that Rags to Riches’ heart-pounding victory over Curlin remains his favorite win for many reasons – one of which is that it was his first Classic – but added that all three were very special.

The trainer added the narrow losses were memorable in their own way.

“We’ve got some tough beats, too,” he said. “Commissioner (headed by Tonalist in 2014) and Destin (second by a nose to Creator in 2016) were two of the toughest beats we’ve had in that period. We’ve had some other that weren’t so close. Stay Thirsty [second to Ruler On Ice in 2011] ran too good to lose and Dunkirk [runner-up to Summer Bird in 2009] ran great.

“It all makes you appreciate just how tough these Classics are to win.”