Contenders

Todd Pletcher

A native of Dallas, TX, Pletcher grew up around Thoroughbred racing as his father, Jake Pletcher, trained Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in animal science, he went to work for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He stayed with Lukas for six years, eventually becoming his main East Coast assistant trainer. Pletcher went out on his own in 1996 and he currently trains for such powerhouse owners as: Michael Tabor of Coolmore, Aaron and Marie Jones, Padua Stables, and Eugene Melnyk. In less than 10 years, Pletcher has conditioned such top-class performers as Ashado, Bluegrass Cat, Left Bank, Speightstown, Strong Hope, Forest Danger, Flower Alley, Balto Star and others. While he has been very successful since taking out his license, 2006 was yet another banner year for the Pletcher stable. He set a season earnings record in 2005 with his horses winning more than $20.8 million in purses, surpassing the previous record of $19.1 million set by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Pletcher recently won the 2006 Eclipse as the nation's top trainer, his third win in a row. After going winless with his first 12 Breeders' Cup starters, Pletcher won two races in the event in 2004: the Sprint with Speightstown, and the Distaff with Kentucky Oaks champ Ashado. Both would also go on to be Eclipse winners in their respective divisions. Pletcher's best Derby finishers to date are the aforementioned Bluegrass Cat and Invisible Ink, second in 2006 and 2001, respectively, and a fourth with Limehouse in 2004.

Garrett Gomez

Garrett Gomez was born on January 1, 1972. A native of Tucson, he now lives in southern California, where he rides on the circuit. He began riding at Santa Fe Downs in 1988, riding the midwest fair circuit before moving to California in 1998. He won the autumn Hollywood riding title that same year. He also has ridden for a time at Churchill Downs, where he was based before a self-imposed sabbatical in 2002 due to substance abuse problems. Returning to the saddle in September, 2004, Gomez has enjoyed tremendous succes, including winning the 2005 spring/summer Hollywood meet title. He's won major races for the last twelve years, including Arkansas Derby, the Secretariat, the Pacific Classic and the 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile and Juvenile. Gomez became Pletcher's go-to rider when John Velazquez was injured during the 2006 Keeneland spring meet. A winner of over 2,000 races for his career, Gomez tallied 261 wins and $20.1 million in earnings, which was tops in the nation, last year. His best finish in three Derby starts was a seventh aboard Southern Rhythym in 1994.

Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor

Michael Tabor was the principal shareholder in the Arthur Prince chain of betting shops in the United Kingdom until selling the business in 1996 for $50 million. In 1972, he purchased his first Thoroughbred and 23 years later his Thunder Gulch won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. He has campaigned many runners, such as Galileo and Giant's Causeway, in partnership with Susan Magnier, wife of Coolmore Stud owner John Magnier and daughter of renowned Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien.

G. Watts & Louise I. Humphrey (KY)

Watts and his wife Sally reside on their 800 acre Shawnee Farm in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. There, they board about 40 broodmares that they either own wholly or in partnership. In addition, they have about 50 horses in training. Watts is President of GWH Holdings, which is involved with diversified operations and investments. His prominent positions in the Thorougbred industry include: Member and former steward of The Jockey Club; Director, the Breeders' Cup, Keeneland Association; Chairman, The Blood-Horse Inc. Sally bred 1980 Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk. Watts has bred over 25 stakes winners, beginning with Golden Reserve in 1979 and also including 1985 Belmont winner Creme Fraiche and 1987 champion 3-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Sacahuista.

Ravel brought $950,000 at the Keeneland yearling auctions, another high dollar offspring of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. Standing at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky, Fusaichi Pegasus gained plenty of notariety when his son Fusaichi Samurai sold for a two-year-old world record price of $4.5 million at Fasig Tipton in February 2004. Besides Fusaichi Samurai, our subject stallion has sired 25 other winners as of this writing, including millionaires Floral Pegasus and Roman Ruler . He is also the sire of Andromeda's Hero and Bandini, one of the favorites for the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Fusaichi Pegasus himself was also a sales sensation, bringing $4 million as a yearling and ultimately became the first favorite to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979. His Derby win, while not unexpected, marked the first time a son of Mr. Prospector had won the race -- previous thinking had been that the immortal sire could not generally get a 1 1/4 mile horse. However, Fusaichi Pegasus is closely related to Preakness winner Pine Bluff and Arkansas Derby winner Demons Begone, both horses with proven two-turn ability.

Ravel is out of Let, also owned and raced by G. Watts Humphrey. Other than Ravel, Let has one other foal to race, the maiden winner Storm Warning. On the racetrack, however, the daughter of Belmont Stakes winner A. P. Indy was very successful. She amassed $604,020 in lifetime earnings, winning seven of 22 starts, with victories in Churchill Downs Distaff (GII) and Personal Ensign and a second in the Ashland (GI). Let is also a half-sister to Eagle Cafe (by Gulch), earner of over $4.2 million in Japan, competing in middle distance dirt races.

Ravel is inbred 4x4 to 1964 Derby winner Northern Dancer, through his sons Danzig and Nureyev ; he actually rests in the exact spot on both sides of Ravel's pedigree. In addition, classic influences such as Halo, Damascus, Secretariat and Nashua can all be found in Ravel's fourth generation. There lies a great deal of stamina to blend well with his speed garnered from his grandsire Mr. Prospector. Dosage Index: 3.00 - by Mark Hoard

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