Trainer Pletcher gets shut out

LOUISVILLE, KY. —  Todd Pletcher joked that the worst-case scenario after Saturday was that he would be 0 for 19 in the Kentucky Derby.

Now he is.

“I couldn’t make out any major excuses just watching it the first time,” the trainer said.

“It’s hard right after a race. I’m disappointed the horses didn’t run better, but like I said before, life goes on whether you win the Derby or not.”

Circular Quay, Pletcher’s best finisher, was sixth. Any Given Saturday was eighth, Sam P. was ninth, Scat Daddy was 18th and Cowtown Cat was 20th.

None appear likely to run in the Preakness two weeks from now -- although that is Pletcher’s typical approach for Derby runners. He prefers not to run them back so quickly -- unless, of course, he gets a Derby winner who would be contending for the Triple Crown.

“Right now, I’d have to say that none of these five would go to the Preakness,” Pletcher said. “We’ve been training King Of The Roxy for that race, and he’s our horse for it.”

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Doug O’Neill, trainer of Great Hunter and Liquidity, didn’t have any immediate insight into their performance, although rider Corey Nakatani said Great Hunter simply didn’t handle the track.

“We were obviously disappointed, but they both came out of the race great,” O’Neill said. “We’ll regroup, and our hats are off to Street Sense.”

Jockey David Flores said his trip aboard Liquidity was OK.

“It was a little bit tight, but that’s the Derby,” Flores said. “I just didn’t have enough horse.”

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Churchill Downs held a tribute to the late Barbaro before the seventh race, replaying his 2006 Derby victory on the video boards and interviewing owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson.

The crowd clapped and cheered again watching Barbaro -- who died in January eight months after being injured in the Preakness -- pull away down the stretch for a 6 1/2 -length victory that was the largest margin in 60 years.

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It was no surprise that Louisville basketball Coach Rick Pitino and new Kentucky basketball Coach Billy Gillispie, both enthusiastic horse-players, were at the Derby. But this one was.

Tubby Smith, who left Kentucky for Minnesota this spring amid vociferous criticism, was on Millionaire’s Row at Churchill Saturday.

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Calvin Borel, the winning rider on Street Sense, said he might not have seen the best of his horse yet.

“Yes sir, he’s the best 3-year-old I’ve ever been on in my life,” Borel said. “He’s unbelievable. He’s a great horse. I really and truly don’t know how good he is. Ever since he was a 2-year-old, he’s gone forward, he’s never gone backwards, so I really don’t know how good he is.”