by Steve Bailey

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher is not about to let the fact that he is winless with 19 previous Kentucky Derby (G1) starters temper his enthusiasm for this year’s race.

Neither is trainer Steve Asmussen, who has brought seven horses to the Derby since 2001 and also has yet to saddle a winner.

Each is back with a pair of entries this year—Pletcher with Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) first- and second-place finishers Monba and Cowboy Cal, Asmussen with Grade 2 winner Pyro and Grade 3 winner Z Fortune—and convinced that, if things go right, this could be his year.

Pletcher knows he is going to be asked over and over this week about his record in the first leg of the Triple Crown and believes it is only a matter of time until he finds himself in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle.

“I don't know that 'bothers me' would be the right way to describe it,” Pletcher said when asked if he gets aggravated when people bring up his lack of success in the Derby. “I would love to win the Kentucky Derby. But as I've said many, many times before, I don't base our stable success, you know, just on the Kentucky Derby.  

“And like I said before, I think we've done a pretty good job of preparing our horses. We've done a very good job of getting a lot of horses to the Derby. And now, you know, I feel confident, if we show up with the right horse, we can get the job done. But, you know, if it happens, great; but if it doesn't, then we'll continue to try.”

Pletcher is tied with Racing Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito in third with 19 career starters, well short of mentor D. Wayne Lukas’s record 42 starters since 1981. Pletcher recorded his best finish in 2006, when Bluegrass Cat finished second to Barbaro, and also had a third- and fourth-place finish with Impeachment and More Than Ready, respectively, in 2000 and another fourth with Limehouse in '04.

Pletcher did, however, score his first classic victory last season when Rags to Riches became the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) following a dramatic stretch drive with Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Curlin, who is trained by Asmussen.

“It was our first classic win and, in some ways, got that monkey off our back,” Pletcher said. “To do it with a filly, you know, in the dramatic fashion that it was done and to beat a horse of the quality of Curlin, it couldn't have been any more exciting. So, you know, I thought it was a huge win.
 
“But the way our business works is that was on a Saturday. The next day you’ve got to try to win something else. So, you know, we're not resting on those laurels. We're hoping to add some more to it.”

Curlin went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) and this year’s $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), giving Asmussen a 12-month run most trainers only dream about.

Curlin finished third in last year’s Derby—Asmussen’s best career finish in the race—but solidified Asmussen’s belief that his horse was something truly special.

He is hoping to see the same positives in Pyro and Z Fortune but knows this will be their only shot at Derby glory.

“You’re only three once,” he said. “Curlin getting beat in this race goes to show you how tough it is. Here we are a year later with new horses, and [Curlin] won’t get that chance again. There’s only one chance to win the Derby. That’s it.”   

Asmussen said he has not changed anything in the wake of last year’s success with Curlin and plans to continue making the trip to Churchill Downs each May until he ends up with a winner.

“You can’t care what anyone else thinks,” he said. “You guys have your opinions, and that’s great. Go tell everyone what you think. I’m just trying to get my horses ready to run in a race, just like I would any race.

“Pyro and Z Fortune are very good horses, but they’re going to have to step up on the biggest stage on the biggest day of their lives and run the race of their lives. If they don’t, they won’t win. It’s pretty simple.”

Much more simple than actually winding up in the winner’s circle on the first Saturday in May.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor for Thoroughbred Times