Our Trainers
Jake “J. J.” Pletcher Payton Trainer Center, Ocala, FL
A Thoroughbred trainer since 1969, J. J. gives early breaking and training lessons to Crown of Glory 's rising star, 2 year old grandson of Secretariat, Johnny Leroy (sired by Leroidesanimaux-sire of KY Derby winner and Dubai World Champion, Animal Kingdom).
Since JJ founded the 80-acre, 96-stall Payton Training Center in Ocala with Betty Massey in 1999, he has launched the careers of numerous stakes winners, including champions Left Bank, Wait A While and English Channel and Graded Stakes winners More Than Ready, Marley Vale, Jersey Girl, Victory Ride, Balto Star and Go Deputy to name a few. Utilizing his 25 years of racetrack experience, J. J. designed Payton’s five-furlong training track with gentle turns to minimize the impact on young horses’ legs. His program starts with ground driving and riding in confined spaces prior to track work. “We try to teach them to go out there, relax and not be afraid of anything,” he says. J. J. is the father of top-ranking trainer, Todd Pletcher.
Todd Pletcher
To say Johnny Leroy is in good hands is an understatement. Initial training began with Jake (JJ) Pletcher who is preparing him for his racing debut under the tutelage of his son Todd. Once he leaves Payton Training he will go to Palm Meadows Training Center and, God willing, will run his maiden race at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida during the month of December.
Todd began his career training at the age of seven as a hot walker for his father Jake (JJ). During his summers off from high school, he went to California, where he worked as a hot walker for Henry Moreno at Hollywood Park and Del Mar Racetracks. The following summer he worked with another legendary Hall of Fame trainer, Charlie Whittingham, as a groom at Hollywood Park. He began college at the University of Arizona in their Race Track Industry Program and graduated with a Bachelor of Animal Science in 1989 and his first job was another Hall of Fame Trainer, D. Wayne Lukas an active New York stable. By 1991, Lukas promoted Todd to his East Coast Assistant trainer.
Todd split his time between New York and Florida, and was instrumental in the development of such great horses as Thunder Gulch, Harlan, Serena's Song, A Wild Ride, and Flanders. He obtained his trainer's license in December 1995, and saddled his first winner, Majestic Number, in February 1996 at Gulfstream Park in Florida. He has won six Eclipse Awards as outstanding Trainer of the Year while topping the leader board in purse earnings in 2004, 2005, and 2006. His horse Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby, the first of his 24 horses entered in his career to win the Run for the Roses. He also won the 2007 Belmont Stakes with filly Rags to Riches and the 2013 Belmont Stakes with Palace Malice.
In 2005, Pletcher set a single season earnings record with purse earnings totaling $20,867,842 with trips to the winner's circle in ten Grade 1 races, including the Travers Stakes at Saratoga with Flower Alley and the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course with Bandini.[3] In the 2007 Belmont Stakes, Pletcher earned his first win in a Triple Crown race when Rags to Riches became the first filly to win that race since 1905. Todd captured his 3,000th career win, Feb 11, 2012 at Gulfstream Park and is well on his way one of the best trainers in the history of the game.
After missing the winner's circle with 24 previous entries, Pletcher won his first Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010 with Super Saver, the 8-1 second choice, with jockey Calvin Borel aboard. Todd captured his 3,000th career win, Feb 11, 2012 at Gulfstream Park and is well on his way one of the best trainers in the history of the game.
In 2013, Pletcher's Palace Malice, ridden by Mike Smith, won the 2013 Belmont Stakes. In May 2014, the 140th Kentucky Derby featured four of his horses: Danza, Intense Holiday, Vinceremos and We Miss Artie.