[OLD HEAD]

Cowboy Cal

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: John Velazquez

A native of Puerto Rico, born on November 24, 1971, Velazquez is perennially among the top 10 riders in New York, where he currently lives. On Sept. 3, 2001, he became the first jockey in Saratoga history to ride six winners on a single card. On April 22, 2001, Velazquez won his 2,000th career race. His mounts earned in excess of $22.4 million in 2004, tops in the nation, while his 335 wins were good for third last year. After attending jockey's school and riding in Puerto Rico, came to New York in March 1990. He has ridden in eight Derbies, his best a second on Invisible Ink in '01. He and his wife Leona, daughter of trainer Leo O'Brien, have one daughter and one son.

Owner: Stonerside Stable

Stonerside is the farm and racing stable name of husband and wife Robert and Janice McNair; Houston, TX residents who own the NFL's Houston Texans, who began playing in 2002. Robert founded and subsequently sold in 1999 Cogen Technologies, a power generation business, for a reported $1.5 billion. The couple is involved in several community activist projects, particularly in Robert's hometown of Forest City, North Carolina. Their 1,947 acre farm, which they established in 1994, is located in Paris, Kentucky, adjacent to Claiborne Farm. They also own a training centers Aiken, South Carolina where 1993 Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero was broken. They have campaigned 59 stakes winners, including the homebred Congaree, who finished third in the 2001 Derby; co-breeders of Fusaichi Pegasus (2000 winner); bred The Cliff's Edge (5th in 2004); co-owned (in McNairs' first racing entity, Rose Hill Stable) Strodes Creek (2nd in 1994); co-owned Corker (11th in 1996); co-owned Sort It Out (17th in 2005); and owned Bob and John (17th in 2006). They contested the Kentucky Oaks in 2005 with Sis City, who finished fourth.

Breeder: Stonerside Stable

Stonerside is the farm and racing stable name of husband and wife Robert and Janice McNair; Houston, TX residents who own the NFL's Houston Texans, who began playing in 2002. Robert founded and subsequently sold in 1999 Cogen Technologies, a power generation business, for a reported $1.5 billion. The couple is involved in several community activist projects, particularly in Robert's hometown of Forest City, North Carolina. Their 1,947 acre farm, which they established in 1994, is located in Paris, Kentucky, adjacent to Claiborne Farm. They also own a training centers Aiken, South Carolina where 1993 Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero was broken. They have campaigned 59 stakes winners, including the homebred Congaree, who finished third in the 2001 Derby; co-breeders of Fusaichi Pegasus (2000 winner); bred The Cliff's Edge (5th in 2004); co-owned (in McNairs' first racing entity, Rose Hill Stable) Strodes Creek (2nd in 1994); co-owned Corker (11th in 1996); co-owned Sort It Out (17th in 2005); and owned Bob and John (17th in 2006). They contested the Kentucky Oaks in 2005 with Sis City, who finished fourth.

Finish.... Date.... Race

2nd 04.12.2008 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) - Keeneland
Set slow early pace, fought gamely in stretch, good second

2nd 02.16.2008 Hallandale Beach Stakes - Gulfstream Park
Led through torrid fractions, could not hold off winner

1st 01.1.2008 Tropical Park Derby (GIII) - Calder Race Course
Authoratative victory

1st 11.24.2007 Laurel Futurity - Laurel Park
Bounded away at the end to win easy

1st 09.25.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Belmont Park
Always led, easy victory

7th 08.24.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Saratoga
Soundly defeated