LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Trainer Todd Pletcher is back on the rail at Churchill Downs, keeping a close eye on one of the favorites – Fierceness, a position he was in just a year ago.
“[It] has crossed my mind, yes it has. Now, we’re blessed to have a very talented horse,” Pletcher said.
They had a very talented horse last year in Forte, who was the favorite, only to be scratched Derby morning by the vet for a bruise on his right foot.
"You know, it’s as disappointing as it gets. And, you know, this is the race that everyone wants to be in. Everyone wants to take a shot at winning. We felt like we had the best three year old colt," he said.
Mike Repole owned Forte, and he's the owner of Fierceness.
"I'm past it. Just remember the horse that won the Derby last year, Forte beat in the Fountain of Youth and Forte beat in the Florida Derby. You knew how good he was,” Repole said.
So far, Repole is 0-9 trying to win the Kentucky Derby, that is counting the scratches by Forte last year and the Derby favorite Uncle Mo in 2011.
“No one should feel bad for Michael Repole. I got a pretty awesome life. I got an awesome family. I my parents, I got my daughter, my wife, my friends from childhood. I’m 0 for seven with , 0 for 2 with favorites – 0 for 9, this will be number 10,” he said. “Who would have thought that? You know growing up in Queens going to Aqueduct. I'd be on my 10th Derby entry you know like so. It's all great."
When it comes to his latest contender, everybody knew Fierceness had talent and then he put on a jaw-dropping performance in the Florida Derby.
"We thought he'd run well. But you know, it's hard to project that you're gonna want to win a great one Florida Derby by over 13 lengths, you just don't see that very often,” Pletcher said.
The scary thing, they don't believe he's reached his full potential.
"It could be 95%, it could be 90%, it could be 85% -- you don't know. That’s the great part. You know there's more in the tank," Repole said.
Now it all comes down to getting the colt to the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
"I think I'm more anxious than Mike is on this one," Pletcher said.
Repole added, "I love discomfort. Pressure is a privilege man. I thrive on that man."
Then this week, this crew will feel right at home.
"And remember the A students work for the C students remember I told you that okay."
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