Betting The Horses

Eskendereya is an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was foaled in 2007 in Kentucky. Eskendereya was foaled by breeder Sanford Robertson and was sold for $250000 to Zayat Stables. Eskendereya is a grandson to a one time leading North American Sire Storm Cat. Eskendereya was sired by Giant’s Causeway with the dam being Aldebaran Light, a daughter of champion Seattle and horse racing favorite Slew. Eskendereya is trained by Todd A. Pletcher.

Eskendereya was first raced at Saratoga and rallied from off the pace to eventually finish second. He also went on to with the Pilgrim Stakes and the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

In February 2010, Eskendereya took the lead in the Grade II Fountain of youth Stakes and beat highly favored Buddy’s Saint. This win put Eskendereya in the mix as an early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Eskendereya’s current record is 6:4-1-0.

Trainer Todd A. Pletcher has been a leading American Thoroughbred horse trainer for the last few years.  He has won 4 consecutive Eclipse Awards as the outstanding Trainer of the year.  Pletcher has been atop the leader board in purse earnings from 2004-2006. Pletcher attended college at the University of Arizona and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Animal Science in 1989.  He was promoted to assistant trainer for Lukas in 1991 and in 1995 took out his trainer’s license.

Pletcher was suspended for 45 days in August 2004 when one of his horses tested positive for an anesthetic, mepivicaine, which can numb pain in horses.  He was fined $3,000 and the purse money was taken and redistributed.  The suspension was appealed, but it was upheld.