Todd Pletcher last raised the Belmont Stakes trophy (pictured) in 2013 but has only raised the Kentucky Derby trophy once in 2010. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)

By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing

LOUISVILLE -- Todd Pletcher, an avid sports fan, knows what it means to win the big one.

A native of Dallas, he eagerly awaits each NFL season with the hope that seemingly star-crossed quarterback Tony Romo can lead his beloved Cowboys to victory in the Super Bowl.

Pletcher also knows how elusive career-defining triumphs in the most important contests in any sport can be. Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, for all of his arm strength, for all of his ability, never hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy to celebrate a Super Bowl victory. Peyton Manning, perhaps the finest passer of all time, experienced such jubilation once.

The same is true of Pletcher when it comes to the Kentucky Derby. The owner of a record seven Eclipse Awards as the leading trainer in North America, he has been able to produce just one winner from among 40 starters in the run for the roses. He fell short with his first 24 starters before everything finally came together in 2010.

Rain pelted Churchill Downs, the track turned muddy, and Super Saver, peaking at the ideal time and perfectly handled by Calvin Borel, relished the goo to end his trainer’s drought.

Pletcher, 47, readily admits that the Derby is something of a puzzle to him. “My job normally is to find the best race for my horse, where that horse is going to be a favorite and, ideally, a short price,” he said. “I want to run them where they figure to be able to win. But this race is different and I’ve had to start looking at it differently.”

Pletcher submitted 34 horses when 429 early nominations were taken for this year’s Triple Crown races. He will send three starters into the Derby: Carpe Diem, Materiality and Itsaknockout. His powerhouse operation offers depth – and he is not hesitant to use it.

CARPE DIEM WINNING THE BLUE GRASS AT KEENELAND

Photo by Coady Photography

He referred to a couple of  50-1 longshots in explaining the wide-open nature of the Derby, which annually attracts a full field of 20 horses that have never gone the mile-and-a-quarter distance or heard the roar of 150,000 or so jazzed fans.

“We’ve had enough Giacomos (2005) and Mine That Birds (2009) to make the point that anyone has a chance,” he said. “And I get that.”

Luck becomes such a major player when 20 horses charge toward the pivotal first turn. Pletcher was unlucky when Carpe Diem, arguably his best hope, was stuck inside after drawing post two. It will not be easy for jockey John Velazquez to keep him out of trouble, to keep him from taking heavy kickback, that close to the rail.

But Pletcher, a two-time winner of the Belmont Stakes who often passes on the Preakness, does not worry about something such as the draw, an element beyond his control.

He said of his well-bred quartet: “I’m really pleased. Any time you come in with a horse like Carpe Diem, who has only lost once and that came in the Breeders’ Cup [Juvenile], and Materiality is undefeated and we have a couple of longshots who are training well, we’re optimistic.”

Carpe Diem’s only setback occurred when he placed second in the Juvenile. Materiality is 3-for-3 after repelling Upstart in the Florida Derby but would be the first horse since Apollo in 1862 to earn the roses after going unraced at 2. Itsaknockout and Stanford have done enough to show they belong.

Mike Repole, one of Pletcher’s major clients, does not have a horse in this year’s fight. That has not at all shaken his confidence in the all-time leader in purses with more than $282 million in career earnings.

“I think Todd Pletcher is not only the best trainer in our era, but he may go down as the best trainer of all time,” Repole said.