Todd Pletcher on the Verge of his 3,000th Training Win

Todd Pletcher heads into Saturday’s racing needing only one more winner to reach the 3,000 victory mark.  Pletcher began his training career as an assistant to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.  Pletcher took out his training license and went out on his own in December 1995. 
 
His first winner, Majestic Number, came in January of 1996.  On Saturday Pletcher has horses entered in seven races at Gulfstream and two races at Aqueduct. Interestingly his entry in race 4 at Gulfstream is also named Majestic Number.  Race 4 is a seven furlong maiden special weight for three year-olds.  This Majestic Number is listed at 6-1 on the morning line after running fourth in his first start at the Florida track on January 5, 2012.  The Officer colt was bought for $45,000 at the Ocala March 2011 sale for two year-olds.  The first Majestic Number was a filly by Polish Numbers.
 
•1989-Pletcher graduates from the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona. Begins working for D. Wayne Lukas
•1991-Named assistant trainer for Lukas
•1995-Takes out trainer’s license
•1996-First winner Majestic Number
•1998-Leading Trainer at Saratoga
•1999-Leading Trainer Belmont Spring
•2001-Leading Trainer Belmont Fall, Leading Trainer Aqueduct Fall
•2002-Leading trainer at Saratoga, Leading Trainer Belmont Spring, Leading Trainer Belmont Fall
•2003-Leading trainer at Saratoga, Leading Trainer Belmont Spring, Leading Trainer Belmont Fall, Leading Trainer Aqueduct Fall
•2004-Eclipse Award, Leading American Money winner, Leading trainer at Saratoga, Leading Trainer Belmont Spring, Leading Trainer Gulfstream
•2005-Eclipse Award, Leading American Money winner, Leading trainer at Saratoga, Leading Trainer Belmont Fall, Leading Trainer Gulfstream, Leading Trainer Keeneland Spring
•2006-Eclipse Award, Leading American Money winner, Leading trainer at Saratoga, Leading Trainer Belmont Fall, Leading Trainer Gulfstream
•2007-Eclipse Award, Leading American Money winner, Leading Trainer Gulfstream, Leading Trainer Monmouth
•2008-Leading Trainer Gulfstream, Leading Trainer Keeneland Spring
•2009-Leading Trainer Belmont Fall, Leading Trainer Gulfstream, Leading Trainer Aqueduct Fall
•2010-Eclipse Award, Leading American Money winner, Leading trainer at Saratoga, Leading Trainer Belmont Spring, Leading Trainer Gulfstream, Leading Trainer Monmouth, Leading Trainer Aqueduct Winter
•2011-Leading American Money winner, Leading Trainer Belmont Spring, Leading Trainer Gulfstream, Leading Trainer Aqueduct Winter
 
It may not take long for Pletcher to win number 3,000.  He has the morning line 5-2 favorite in Gulfstream’s second race. Z Vilna makes his second start after placing in his debut where he raced wide and had a troubled start. In race 3, the promising three year-old Big Blue Nation makes his debut.  This colt finished third in last year’s G1 Hopeful. The great story would be if number 3,000 comes in race four with Majestic Number, the 2012 edition. Thunder Moccasin is the 7-5 favorite in the G2 Hutcheson after a blazing debut in December at Gulfstream. 

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