Pletcher Looking At Record-Equaling 5 Derby Starters

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Todd Pletcher set his tentative lineup for the Kentucky Derby on Friday, and it's a doozy -- a record-equaling five horses.<br/><br/>The trainer said his probable starters are

Friday, April 13th 2007, 2:14 pm

By: News On 6

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Todd Pletcher set his tentative lineup for the Kentucky Derby on Friday, and it's a doozy -- a record-equaling five horses.

The trainer said his probable starters are Any Given Saturday, Circular Quay, Cowton Cat, Scat Daddy and Sam. P. If all five run, it would match records set by two Hall of Famers: Wayne Lukas in 1996, and Nick Zito two years ago.

Pletcher also said he's got a tentative list of riders for the May 5 Derby: John Velazquez for Circular Quay, Edgar Prado for Scat Daddy, Garrett Gomez for Any Given Saturday, Fernando Jara for Cowton Cat and Ramon Dominguez for Sam P.

He may have another Derby prospect in Deadly Dealer, who is running in Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Lukas won the 1996 Derby with Grindstone, while Zito's best finish in 2005 was seventh by Bellamy Road.

Pletcher is looking for his first Derby victory -- he's 0-for-14 in six Derbys.

Pletcher's quintet is formidable.

Scat Daddy won the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park; Circular Quay won the Louisiana Derby; Cowton Cat captured the Illinois Derby; Any Given Saturday won the Sam F. Davis, finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby and ran third in the Wood Memorial; and Sam P. was second in the Robert Lewis and third in the Santa Anita Derby.