Filed under: Horse RacingLOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Even before the Breeders' Cup Classic was run, a case could be made for this being Todd Pletcher's weekend. By the 10th race of the two-day, 14-race Cup program, Pletcher-trained horses had won three times, including one race that he had never won, the Juvenile. He crossed that off his list when Uncle Mo, the favorite, blew away the field down the stretch to win in a rout.
"You know, I don't get goosebumps very often watching a horse race, and that's not because I'm not a huge horse-racing fan -- but that was a pretty special performance,'' Pletcher said afterward. "I was literally shaking a little bit after the race. It was just unbelievable.''
On Friday, Pletcher-trained horses won the Juvenile Fillies Turf with More Than Real, and earlier Saturday, Pluck opened the day's card with a win in the Juvenile Turf. In each of the Saturday wins, his horse burst away late in the race to win, and Pluck was especially lucky because he was to the immediate left of Rough Sailing when that ill-fated colt fell, broke a bone in his right foreleg and had to be put down.
After the Juvenile win, Pletcher spent more time complimenting jockey John Velasquez and owner Mike Repole than talking about his own success. He did not, however, hesitate when asked about Uncle Mo's Kentucky Derby prospects.
"We're gonna do everything we can to make sure that Uncle Mo comes back here in May in great shape. if it happens, we'll be thankful,'' Pletcher said, adding, "While, obviously, we would all love to win the Kentucky Derby, we love winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, too.'' Pletcher's Super Saver won last May's Derby.
Pletcher's horse in the Classic, Quality Road, finished last, stopping six furlongs into the race. There was no word on whether he was injured. Quality Road was scratched at the gate in last year's Classic at Santa Anita after being unable to settle down.
More Breeders' Cup: Zenyatta Falls Short | Jockeys in Fight | Full Breeders' Cup Results
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