Pletcher sets mark again

One year after breaking the North American record for money won by a trainer, Todd Pletcher has done it again.

Thanks to a big Friday around the country, Pletcher eclipsed the mark of $26,820,243 his widespread stable had set in 2006.

Nearly $555,000 short of his old record entering the day, Pletcher won five races in New York, Kentucky and California, with three of the wins coming in graded stakes.

After upsets by Mini Sermon in the $150,000 Top Flight at Aqueduct and A.P. Arrow in the $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, Pletcher completed his stakes run with 4-5 favorite The Leopard in the $111,800 Generous at Hollywood Park.

Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, The Leopard, a 2-year-old son of Storm Cat, won for the second time in three races on turf, defeating 5-1 shot Indian Sun by 2 1/4 lengths under jockey Garrett Gomez, who added to his own record with his 72nd stakes score of the year. The final time for the mile was 1:34.28.

“It was a good day,” said Pletcher, speaking from Louisville. “It’s nice to break the record with some important wins. It’s been a great year for the whole team.”

Lang Field, an 18-1 shot who had finished sixth in his only other appearance in a Grade I, used some of his new-found versatility to defeat 2-1 favorite Zann and seven others in the $400,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Best previously when he had been able to make the lead, the 4-year-old Langfuhr gelding earned his biggest victory from off the pace, winning by a neck under jockey Jon Court. Trained by Art Sherman for owner Nigel Shields, Lang Field ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:39.72.

The win was the second in a Grade I for Sherman, 70, and both have come at Hollywood Park. In 2006, the trainer won the Triple Bend with Siren Lure.

“He showed me a new dimension last time,” when third in the War Chant on Oct. 13 at Santa Anita, Court said. “He did not run through the bridle like he did in his previous races. He was very comfortable sitting and he made a little run, so I knew that he no longer had to have that one style. I had to utilize his speed a little to get position, but we were able to sit behind and save the best for last.”

Ridden by Gomez, Zann was second for the third time in his last four starts. He finished half a length in front of 5-2 second choice Proudinsky, who was a head in front of 5-1 shot Silent Name.

There is a pick-six carryover of $143,896 for today at Hollywood Park.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com