LEXINGTON, Ky. – Back in 2006, Todd Pletcher got all the way up to 50 starters at the Keeneland spring meet, and that wasn’t a radical outlier. Pletcher ran 47 horses in 2008 and regularly had 30 or more starters during Aprils at Keeneland. That pace slowed considerably in recent years, with Pletcher down to just 13 runners during the spring meet of 2017, but the Hall of Fame trainer said he plans greater participation during this April meeting. “I think there will be higher volume this year. We’re emphasizing Keeneland a little more, pointing toward the meet. The purse structure is so much more attractive than Gulfstream,” Pletcher said. Pletcher’s participation at Gulfstream’s championship meet, which runs from December through April, waned this past winter, with his starters there down from 234 during the 2020-21 season to 161 at the meeting that recently concluded. Gulfstream maiden races, for instance, are worth $53,000 compared to $100,000 at Keeneland. :: Serious horseplayers use serious products. Get DRF's premium past performances, now free for the first time Pletcher, who won nine races from 19 starters during the April 2021 meet here, entered four horses on the opening-day card at Keeneland, including three in stakes, with Nest the likely favorite in the Grade 1 Ashland, the day’s feature. Later in the meet, Pletcher has the 3-year-olds Emmanuel and Commandperformance for the Blue Grass Stakes and plans to run the 3-year-old Major General in the Lexington Stakes. Jouster and A G Indy are aimed at the Giant’s Causeway, a turf sprint, and Shamrocket is possible for the Eklhorn Stakes, but the big name for the Keeneland stakes schedule is Malathaat, who will make her 4-year-old debut April 22 in the $300,000 Doubledogdare if all goes well. During her 3-year-old campaign, Malathaat won the Ashland, the Kentucky Oaks, and the Alabama Stakes. She was second by a head in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and third, beaten a half-length, in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Earlier this year she was named champion 3-year-old filly of 2021. “She’s been on a good schedule. She’ll have two more breezes at Palm Beach Downs and hopefully she performs well,” Pletcher said Tuesday. :: Want the best bonus in racing? Get a $250 deposit match, $10 free bet, and free Formulator with DRF Bets. Code: WINNING The Grade 3 Doubledogdare could serve as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps on June 11 at Belmont Park. ◗ The Grade 1 Madison on Saturday has come up an excellent race – and it’s also a family affair. Four-year-old Cilla and 6-year-old Club Car both were produced by the 12-year-old mare Sittin at the Bar. Sittin at the Bar has gotten four foals to race and three have won stakes. ◗ Will Walden, the 31-year-old son of WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden, has taken out a trainer’s license and has about 10 horses at Keeneland, all of them 2-year-olds. Elliott Walden was a highly accomplished trainer for 20 years before changing roles in the business in 2005. ◗ Among the new faces with horses at Keeneland is Lacey Gaudet, who has four horses bedded down after shipping in early this week from her Maryland base. – additional reporting by Marty McGee