Pletcher, Velazquez hopes Stradivari hits right note

1:06 PM ET

They each have won a Kentucky Derby and two runnings of the Belmont Stakes. When it comes to the Preakness, however, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez have been blanked.

One could say it’s due to a lack of effort. Pletcher has competed in just five runnings of the Preakness (with seven starters), while Velazquez has ridden in the race only six times. Compare that to the other two legs of the Triple Crown: Pletcher has started 45 horses in 16 editions of the Kentucky Derby and 20 horses in 11 runnings of the Belmont. Velazquez has ridden in the Derby 18 times and in the Belmont 19 times.

“I’ve got nothing against the Preakness or Pimlico,” said Pletcher, 48, who has not started a horse in the Preakness since 2011. “I love Pimlico, I love the Preakness. Just trying to do what we feel is right for our horses.”

Pletcher’s best finish in the Preakness came in 2000 with Impeachment, who finished third.

Velazquez, 44, finished second in the 2011 Preakness with Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and second in 2013 with Itsmyluckyday.

“It’s definitely one of the races I do think about winning,” Velazquez said. “Obviously, with so much success I’ve had in my career and that race is still missing — definitely it’s one of the races you look forward to winning.”

Stradivari has an eye on winning Saturday’s Preakness for trainer Pletcher and jockey Velazquez. Coady Photography

On Saturday, Pletcher and Velazquez will team up in the 141st Preakness with Stradivari, a lightly raced but talented colt who will be making his stakes debut.

Stradivari, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, has won two races by a combined 25-3/4 lengths after finishing fourth in his debut. He missed some time due to what Pletcher called a minor setback following his maiden …

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