Churchill Downs. His name is Todd Pletcher, and he is a four-time Eclipse Award winner for outstanding trainer. He has won nearly every big race, including Breeders' Cup races and the Belmont Stakes, but the roses on Kentucky Derby Day have eluded him, despite saddling 24 runners in America's most famous horse race.
Throughout this year's Kentucky Derby Trail, the number that kept on ticking was "0 for 24."
The best Pletcher has done with his 24 starters is a couple of runner up finishers, Invisible Ink in 2001 and Bluegrass Cat in 2006.
Five of his runners finished last: Keyed Entry (2006, 20th), Cowtown Cat (2007, 20th), Monba (2008, 20th), Graeme Hall (2000, 19th) and Wild Horses (2002, 18th).
Pletcher may finally be able to get that monkey off his back this year, but his chances were hurt this week when the likely Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya was diagnosed with some filling in his leg.
In addition, Rule, the winner of the Delta Jackpot (G3) and Sam F. Davis (G3) before running third in the Florida Derby (G1), will be held out of the Kentucky Derby and instead head to the Preakness Stakes (G1) in two weeks.
A couple of weeks ago it appeared Pletcher might start as many as seven starters in the 20 horse field, but when the dust cleared on Wednesday, the trainer will saddle four runners, including a filly.
He desperately does not want to be answering the "0 for 28" questions leading into next year's Kentucky Derby.
Does he have a chance of being in the winners circle after the two most exciting minutes in sports?
Here is a look at his four runners in Saturday's race:
#4 Super Saver (15/1)
Super Saver got a late start to his three year old campaign, not making his first start this year until running third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), beaten a half length for the top spot.
The colt was sent off at 4/1 in his second start of the year, the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The colt tracked the early pace, but could not get by longshot Line of David in the stretch, the winner taking the field gate to wire.
Jockey Calvin Borel gets the return ride on the colt, and the jockey has been on fire early in the Churchill Downs meeting. Borel rode longshot Mine That Bird to victory in last year's Derby, and won in 2007 aboard Street Sense.
#11 Devil May Care (10/1)
Can a filly beat the boys in the Kentucky Derby? Only three have won the roses in the history of the race, Winning Colors (1988), Genuine Risk (1980), and Regret (1915).
Pletcher won the Belmont Stakes (G1) in 2007 with the filly Rags to Riches, and over the past year we have seen Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, and Goldikova beat up on the boys in major races.
She ran a career best in her last start winning the Bonnie Miss (G2) at Gulfstream Park, and shares top last out speed fig honors with Sidney's Candy.
She is a robust, big filly, who will not be pushed around by her male counterparts. She has the pedigree to handle 1 1/4 miles, and is proven over a wet track.
Throughout this year's Kentucky Derby Trail, the number that kept on ticking was "0 for 24."
The best Pletcher has done with his 24 starters is a couple of runner up finishers, Invisible Ink in 2001 and Bluegrass Cat in 2006.
Five of his runners finished last: Keyed Entry (2006, 20th), Cowtown Cat (2007, 20th), Monba (2008, 20th), Graeme Hall (2000, 19th) and Wild Horses (2002, 18th).
Pletcher may finally be able to get that monkey off his back this year, but his chances were hurt this week when the likely Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya was diagnosed with some filling in his leg.
In addition, Rule, the winner of the Delta Jackpot (G3) and Sam F. Davis (G3) before running third in the Florida Derby (G1), will be held out of the Kentucky Derby and instead head to the Preakness Stakes (G1) in two weeks.
A couple of weeks ago it appeared Pletcher might start as many as seven starters in the 20 horse field, but when the dust cleared on Wednesday, the trainer will saddle four runners, including a filly.
He desperately does not want to be answering the "0 for 28" questions leading into next year's Kentucky Derby.
Does he have a chance of being in the winners circle after the two most exciting minutes in sports?
Here is a look at his four runners in Saturday's race:
#4 Super Saver (15/1)
Super Saver got a late start to his three year old campaign, not making his first start this year until running third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), beaten a half length for the top spot.
The colt was sent off at 4/1 in his second start of the year, the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The colt tracked the early pace, but could not get by longshot Line of David in the stretch, the winner taking the field gate to wire.
Jockey Calvin Borel gets the return ride on the colt, and the jockey has been on fire early in the Churchill Downs meeting. Borel rode longshot Mine That Bird to victory in last year's Derby, and won in 2007 aboard Street Sense.
#11 Devil May Care (10/1)
Can a filly beat the boys in the Kentucky Derby? Only three have won the roses in the history of the race, Winning Colors (1988), Genuine Risk (1980), and Regret (1915).
Pletcher won the Belmont Stakes (G1) in 2007 with the filly Rags to Riches, and over the past year we have seen Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, and Goldikova beat up on the boys in major races.
She ran a career best in her last start winning the Bonnie Miss (G2) at Gulfstream Park, and shares top last out speed fig honors with Sidney's Candy.
She is a robust, big filly, who will not be pushed around by her male counterparts. She has the pedigree to handle 1 1/4 miles, and is proven over a wet track.