(Monday, February 22) Trainer Todd Pletcher has started 24 horses in the Kentucky Derby, coming up short each and every time.

Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith even handed Pletcher The Green Monkey, a $16 million purchase, the biggest price tag for a horse sold at public auction.

The Green Monkey started just three times, with a third his best finish.

Pletcher has come close to winning the Run for the Roses, finishing second in the Derby twice with longshots Invisible Ink (2001) and Bluegrass Cat (2006).

In 2007, Pletcher set a record by saddling five runners in the Derby, but they finished 6th, 8th, 9th, 18th, and 20th.

While the four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer is winless in America's most famous race, there has not been a year where he has headed down the Triple Crown Trail with such ammunition.

Pletcher is locked and loaded, and it would be no surprise to see him match his record by sending out five runners in this year's Run for the Roses.

Of the five Derby preps run on Saturday, Pletcher won three of them, and has a handful of other talented three year olds waiting in the wings to make their next Derby prep.

Here is a rundown of his major Derby contenders:

Eskendereya: The colt's stock rose tremendously on Saturday with his win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). Look for the son of Giant's Causeway to be on top of everyone's Derby list this week after he rolled over the field by 8 ½ lengths in impressive fashion. The colt was ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall, having trouble on the first turn.

His three year old debut was a smart win against first level allowance company, and he improved by leaps and bounds on Saturday, popping a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. The colt has one sib to race, stakes winner Balmont ($472,067). His next start likely will come in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 20.

Discreetly Mine: This colt certainly has the pedigree to be a nice runner. He is a half brother to stakes winners Discreet Cat ($1.7 million) and Pretty Wild ($398,280). The colt jumped out to the early lead in Saturday's Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds, was able to set moderate early fractions of 24.60 and 48.75, and was never headed, holding on to win by 1 ½ lengths.

The colt was second in the Futurity (G2) and Champagne (G1) in his two-year-old season for trainer Stan Hough, and was transferred to Pletcher for his three-year-old campaign.

His Risen Star victory produced a career best Beyer of 94. His next outing will be March 27 in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

Rule: The Delta Jackpot (G3) winner made his three-year-old debut in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, taking the field gate to wire, stopping the timer in 1:44.15 for the 1 1/16 miles on the main track, and earning a Beyer of 98.

The colt has won four in a row, all in gate to wire fashion. His mare Rockcide is a half sister to 2003 Derby winner Funny Cide.

His next start will come in the Florida Derby (G1) or Wood Memorial (G1).

Super Saver: This colt might be the best in the barn, and he has not even made his three-year-old debut yet. His last start was a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs last November in gate to wire fashion.

The colt is bred to handle 1 ¼ miles. He is by Maria's Mon (sire of Derby winner Monarchos) out of the A.P. Indy mare Supercharger.

His three-year-old debut comes in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on March 6 or the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park on March 13.

Aikenite: This colt may drop off the radar since Pletcher has so many talented three year olds, but his third in the Fountain of Youth was a decent effort. The colt was bumped around at the three quarter pole and made a mild late run, finishing just ¾ of a length behind highly regarded Jackson Bend.

The colt showed some promise as a two year old, finishing third in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) behind Dublin and second in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) behind Noble's Promise. He had to steady in the stretch in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile where he was fifth, beaten 2 ½ lengths for the top spot.

It might be too soon to give up on this guy, who will be flying under the radar the next month.

Connemara: Bouncing back from a runner up finish in the California Derby, this colt turned the tables on Ranger Heartley by winning the El Camino Real Derby (G3) Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

The Beyer came up on the light side, the colt earning just a 83. The colt stopped the timer for the nine furlongs in 1:51.26 over the Tapeta surface.

The colt has some pedigree, his half brother Lion Heart ($1.4 million) was the runner up in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

The son of Giant's Causeway has only raced on synthetic surfaces in his four starts, winning on Polytrack, Pro Ride, and now Tapeta.

We may not know how good this colt will be on dirt until Derby Day. His next start will likely come in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 3, meaning this guy could start in the Kentucky Derby without the benefit of a start on conventional dirt.

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