Photo:

Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

Hallandale Beach, Fla.

After sweeping the previous two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with eventual 2-year-old champions Forte and Fierceness, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher was conspicuous in his absence from last year’s contest.

Now, while other prominent conditioners begin to rev up top Kentucky Derby prospects for major preps ahead, it is increasingly clear Pletcher is playing from behind. Tip Top Thomas, his lone representative on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, is not viewed as a major candidate for the first Saturday in May. And do not look for Carmen’s Candy Jar, his lone horse on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with one qualifying point, to be in the Oaks. Pletcher dismissed that notion, calling her “a nice little filly, but not that type.”

As strong a hand as Pletcher appears to hold with 4-year-olds Fierceness, Mindframe and Locked, he is not exactly where he wants to be with his 3-year-olds. “I wish we were holding a stronger hand and had a deeper bench than we currently have,” he said of his sophomore colts.

And the Oaks? “I would need someone to step up in a hurry to get on the Oaks trail,” he admitted.

On a positive note, only River Thames and Grande recently placed themselves on the road to the Derby with victorious debuts in what can be a rapidly changing picture but one that has been “slow developing” for Pletcher. He intended to have River Thames and Grande debut at Saratoga last summer only to have adversity strike.

“We were pretty close to being ready to run and had some setbacks and had to take some time, so that put them behind schedule a little bit,” he said.

Winner of the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017, Pletcher knows from vast experience that success in any of the Triple Crown races is about timing.

“I’ve always said this. Even when I’ve had a hot hand in January and February, that’s not always good,” he said. “It’s about what happens in April and the first week in May.”

If Pletcher should need consolation, his older runners almost surely will provide that. “We’re a little light on 3-year-olds, but we’re very fortunate with our 4-year-olds. Between Locked and Fierceness and Mindframe, we have three of the top four or five in training,” he said.

Here is a look at some of Pletcher’s top horses:

3-year-olds

Grande. His need for distance was reflected in the spot chosen for his debut. He was sent a mile and responded by drawing clear by 2 1/2 lengths Jan. 11 at Gulfstream Park. Pletcher: “He’s a Curlin two-turn horse. We’ll try to get an allowance into him before looking for a two-turn Derby prep.”

River Thames. The son of Maclean’s Music also made his first lifetime start Jan. 11 at Gulfstream. A six-furlong race was chosen for him. With John Velazquez riding with great confidence, River Thames made a four-wide move and coasted home a 4 3/4-length winner. “It was an impressive debut. This horse has always trained really well. We’re looking to stretch him out really gradually and try to get on the Derby trail. It’s a matter of which way we go. We’ve got plenty of allowance options, plenty of stakes options.”

Tip Top Thomas. He recently returned to the barn after a freshening. Although the Volatile colt has five Derby qualifying points based on his second-place finish in the Grade 1 Champagne, he is not being viewed in that light. “We’re probably behind schedule, but he’s a horse we think is a one-turn miler type. We’ll see how things go, but we’re not really focused on a Triple Crown campaign at the moment.”

Vassimo. The son of 2016 Derby winner Nyquist is 2-for-2, breaking his maiden Dec. 14 going a mile at Gulfstream Park before taking a Jan. 17 allowance race at one mile, 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs. Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard both times, always a good sign. Either the Feb. 15 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds or the March 1 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream will be targeted for his next start. “He’s one, having two starts under his belt, that is probably farthest along of the group.”

Older horses

Fierceness. The hard-hitting Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up is recuperating in Ocala from elective surgery on a hind ankle and is reportedly doing well. Owner Mike Repole has set out three major targets for his homebred: the Met Mile (G1), Whitney (G1) and a return to the Classic. Pletcher: “He’ll probably get back to us around the first of March. The first target for the summer is the Met Mile and possibly a prep before that.”

Locked. He was second in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) to runaway winner White Abarrio, but Pletcher was not at all discouraged. Locked was essentially doomed at the start when his head was turned as he broke from post 11 in a field of 12. “From that post, you can’t make any mistakes. Missing the break was really the one mistake you didn’t want to make.” The $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) on Feb. 22 and the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) on April 5 will be considered for the comebacking colt’s next race following his third start off a layoff.

Mindframe. His 3-year-old campaign consisted of only four races on behalf of Repole and Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable before he was found to have bone bruising. It was short enough that his inexperience continued to show, particularly when he ran erratically while placing second in the Belmont Stakes, but long enough to allow him to display great potential. Pletcher: “He’s at Palm Beach Downs. All is going well. We’re looking forward to a very productive 4-year-old campaign. We always felt he would get better as he matured. He’s a May foal.”