Pletcher gets Preakness boost
Todd Pletcher was given a huge boost ahead of the Preakness Stakes when Panty Raid ran out a game winner of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on Friday.
Despite being one of the most successful trainers in America, Pletcher’s record in Triple Crown races currently reads no wins from 26 runners.
He will saddle two of the nine starters in the Preakness, Circular Quay and King Of the Roxy, and victory in this Grade Two, 250,000 event can only boost his confidence that he will finally get off the mark.
Coming off a pair of sharp efforts in Kentucky, Panty Raid settled in nicely off the pace before storming up the home straight to overtake Winning Point for a one length success in the hands of Edgar Prado.
“I was a little concerned at the 3/8 pole,” Pletcher said. “But I thought she could handle the extra distance.”
It was the second win in three years for Pletcher, who also captured the event with Spun Sugar in 2005.
