Trainer Profile: Edward Plesa Jr.
The name Edward Plesa Jr. isn't known to horseplayers that don't bet on races at Gulfstream or Monmouth. That's where Plesa Jr. saddles most of his runners. He rarely saddles a horse outside of Gulfstream or Monmouth, only occasionally putting the saddle onto a horse at Aqueduct or Belmont.
But although he's not well-known to non-Florida and east coast players, Plesa Jr. has had major success throughout his career. Born in 1949 into a thoroughbred racing family, Plesa Jr.'s saddled some memorable equines. I highlight two of the most memorable.
Bob Baffert saddled the top two winners in the 1998 BC Juvenile Fillies: Silverbulletday and Excellent Meeting. Both would go on to great success. Three Ring was simply outmatched, but she had a decent 3-year-old campaign, winning the Davona Dale and Bonnie Miss before a try in the Kentucky Derby where she finished 19th.
in her final race, she won the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes under the brilliant Jerry Bailey. Shortly after the victory, she fractured her skull in an accident at Belmont Park and had to be euthanized.
His top victory was the 2014 Grade 1 Woodward where he beat Moreno by half a length. Itsmyluckyday finished his career with 9 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 third place finishes from 21 starts. He earned $1, 706, 350.
If you handicap trainers, definitely look to back Edward Plesa Jr. Like his father before him, Plesa Jr. has had massive success training thoroughbreds. That success should continue as long as he decides to keep heading to Gulfstream Park or Monmouth and putting saddles on horses.
But although he's not well-known to non-Florida and east coast players, Plesa Jr. has had major success throughout his career. Born in 1949 into a thoroughbred racing family, Plesa Jr.'s saddled some memorable equines. I highlight two of the most memorable.
Year After Year, Plesa Jr. Finds Success
1998 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Three Ring
Edward Plesa's first big race horse was a filly, the ill-fated Three Ring. A Notebook sired miss from My Nichole, Three Ring didn't win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In any other year, she probably would have. It just so happened that in 1998 the best trainer in the United States and now greatest of all time had not one, but two of the best 2-year-old fillies to ever step onto a racetrack.Bob Baffert saddled the top two winners in the 1998 BC Juvenile Fillies: Silverbulletday and Excellent Meeting. Both would go on to great success. Three Ring was simply outmatched, but she had a decent 3-year-old campaign, winning the Davona Dale and Bonnie Miss before a try in the Kentucky Derby where she finished 19th.
in her final race, she won the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes under the brilliant Jerry Bailey. Shortly after the victory, she fractured her skull in an accident at Belmont Park and had to be euthanized.
2014 Woodward Stakes - Itsmyluckyday
So far, the most successful horse Edward Plesa Jr's trained is the Lawyer Ron sired Itsmyluckyday. Ridden by Paco Lopez in most of his victories, Itsmyluckyday bounced out of a 15th place finish in the 2013 Kentucky Derby to secure a second place finish behind Oxbow and ahead of Derby winner Orb in the Preakness Stakes.His top victory was the 2014 Grade 1 Woodward where he beat Moreno by half a length. Itsmyluckyday finished his career with 9 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 third place finishes from 21 starts. He earned $1, 706, 350.
2018 Another Successful Year for Edward Plesa Jr.
As 2018 comes to a close, Edward Plesa Jr. had another successful year. As of Dec. 27, he's saddled 149 horses. He's won 28 of those races, with 19 seconds, and 22 thirds. His equines have made over $1.097 million. Plesa Jr. figures to have as successful of a 2019 as he had a 2018.If you handicap trainers, definitely look to back Edward Plesa Jr. Like his father before him, Plesa Jr. has had massive success training thoroughbreds. That success should continue as long as he decides to keep heading to Gulfstream Park or Monmouth and putting saddles on horses.
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