Trainer Todd Pletcher appears to have a formidable hand going into this year's Kentucky Derby. Or should we say foot?? If Pletcher wins his second Derby in four years, the man who takes care of his horse's feet will be one of the first people he thanks. Like everyone has said for years, no hoof, no horse, or no foot, no horse. That's really true at the end of the day, said Pletcher. I don't think you can even calculate how important having a good blacksmith is. By all accounts, Pletcher's blacksmith, Ray Amato Sr., is one of the best in the business. And you'd be hard-pressed to find a backstretch worker who relishes going to work more than Amato, even though he's been doing the same thing for 65 years.