[OLD HEAD]

Monba

Trainer: 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. He ran five horses in last year's Kentucky Derby but could manage no better than sixth with Circular Quay.

Jockey: Ramon Dominguez

Thirty-one year old Ramon Dominguez, a native of Venezuela, began riding at age 16 in his home country. He moved to the United States in 1995, riding at Hialeah Park in Florida. He won 385 races in 2006, second to Julien Leparoux, with his mounts earning in excess of $14.4 million, placing him fifth for the year. He also led the national standings in both 2001 and 2003, when he had 431 and 453 victories, respectively. 2004 saw him score his first Breeders' Cup victory aboard Better Talk Now in the Breeders' Cup Turf (GI). And in 2004, he won the Isaac Murphy Award presented to the jockey with the highest winning percentage (28.3) for the year by the National Turf Writers Association. Dominguez has ridden four Derby starters, Tapit in 2004, High Limit in 2005, Bluegrass Cat in 2006 to a second place finish for Pletcher, and Sam P. in 2007. He has won three riding titles in Maryland, where he currently resides. He splits his riding time between Delaware, Florida, and New York.

Owner: Starlight, Lucarelli & Saylor

Both longtime racing fans, the Wolfs founded Starlight Stables in 2000 when they purchased six yearlings at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale. Among the group was a bay colt by Harlan that developed into multiple Grade 1 winner Harlan’s Holiday and launched Starlight into racing’s stratosphere.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Jack earned a master’s degree in economics from Murray State University in Kentucky and went on to teach and become a hedge fund manager with Columbus Partners in Atlanta before retiring to concentrate on racing. Born in DeRidder, Louisiana, Laurie graduated from McNeese State University with a degree in communications and theater. The couple resides in Louisville and Saratoga Springs, New York.

Residents of Duanesberg in upstate New York, the Lucarellis spent part of every summer for three decades at Saratoga Race Course, envisioning the day when they might have their own racehorses. When Donald Lucarelli’s family business, Bellevue Builders Supply, was sold in 2004, the couple decided to invest in some runners. They turned to the Wolfs, whom they had met at a party the year before, and immediately scored with Grade 2 winner Keyed Entry.

In 2006, the Lucarellis were able to enjoy their first Saratoga stakes winner and first Breeders’ Cup starter with Starlight’s Octave, who blossomed into a multiple Grade 1 winner in 2007.

Breeder: Mill Ridge Farm

Founded in 1962, Mill Ridge Farm’s founder Alice Headley Chandler is the daughter of Keeneland founder and Kentucky horseman Hal Price Headley. Mill Ridge proudly carries the racing silks of Mr. Headley today on the farm logo and on the race track.

Mr. Headley’s influence as a breeder remains strong through the descendants of several broodmares, notably his champion Alcibiades (dam of champion Menow). It was another descendent of Alcibiades that put Mill Ridge to the forefront of the commercial breeding industry in 1966 when Sir Ivor was sold as a yearling at Keeneland and went on to win the 1968 Epsom Derby, only the third American bred to do so in nearly 200 runnings.

Finish.... Date.... Race

1st 04.12.2008 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) - Keeneland
Prominent throughout, stretch-long duel, came out on top

12th 02.24.2008 Fountain of Youth (GII) - Gulfstream Park
Showed no speed, never a factor

4th 12.22.2007 CashCall Futurity (GI) - Hollywood Park
Well back early, closed fast in stretch through traffic

1st 11.24.2007 Allowance - Churchill Downs
Closed to pace early, swung wide, just lasted for win

1st 10.17.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Keeneland
Stalked the early pace, took command top of stretch, ran