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Pletcher Waiting For Friday Workouts Before Finalizing Plans For 3-Year-Old Trio

Trainer Todd Pletcher originally was pointing Dr Post to the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby, but said he is keeping his options open and plans on working the horse, along with promising allowance winners Money Moves and Happy Saver, at Saratoga Race Course on Friday morning.

Pletcher said he could determine the next spots for his sophomores by the weekend, with the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy on September 5 at the Spa and the $100,000 Federico Tesio on September 7 at Laurel Park among the possible spots as well. The Jim Dandy, is one of four graded stakes on the final Saturday of the Saratoga summer meet.

“They are all working tomorrow, and we'll finalize plans probably on Saturday and see who will stay here and maybe who will go to Kentucky,” Pletcher said. “The Tesio on the seventh is a possibility.”

St. Elias Stable's Dr Post was on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year, running second to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20 that served as the series' first leg this year. The Quality Road colt ran third last out in the Grade 1 Haskell on July 18 at Monmouth and has earned enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, with his 80 points and $331,035 in non-restricted stakes earnings putting him in eighth for a race that could fill its customary field size of 20.

But the “Run for the Roses” might not be in play Dr Post, who is 2-1-1 in five career starts, including a win in the Unbridled in April at Gulfstream Park. The move leaves open the possibility of Pletcher, who has saddled more Kentucky Derby contenders than any trainer in history with 54, will not have an entrant in the race for the first time since 2003.

Money Moves and Happy Saver will both face stakes company for the first time in their next respective starts.

Owned by Robert LaPenta and Bortolazzo Stable, Money Moves won his first two starts at Gulfstream Park before running second by a neck to Prioritize going 1 1/8 miles on a fast Saratoga main track in an optional claimer on July 25. The Candy Ride colt earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for that runner-up effort.

Unraced as a juvenile, the Kentucky bred has flashed the talent that made him a $975,000 purchase at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sale.

Wertheimer and Frere's Happy Saver has followed a similar trajectory. Also unraced as a 2-year-old, the son of Super Saver has started his career 2-for-2, posting a 5 ½-length debut win on Belmont Stakes Day going seven-furlongs on Big Sandy before besting an allowance field by four lengths on July 26 at Saratoga going 1 1/8 miles.

“They've run well enough in their allowance races to show they have stakes in their future,” Pletcher said. “We'll see if they can handle the step up in class. I think all three are high quality colts and train accordingly.”

Should Pletcher choose to run any of the trio in the 57th edition of the Jim Dandy, the respective colts will once again be competing at a mile and a furlong. Dr Post is the only one of that group that has not previously raced at the Spa but has registered three works here already entering Friday.

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Flatter Hymn Answers All The Questions In Governor’s Stakes

There were several question marks arriving along with Flatter Hymn into Indiana. The thee-year-old son of Flat Out had two career starts, both wins at Charles Town. He had never raced outside of his home base, much less around two turns, but the good-looking gelding silenced all question marks with an impressive victory in the 18th Running of the $100,000 Governor's Stakes Wed. Aug. 26 at Indiana Grand.

Starting from the outside post eight, Flatter Hymn was one of the first to contend for the lead with Indiana Grand's leading jockey DeShawn Parker aboard. The duo sat along the outside of Chipofftheoldblock and Alex Achard through the early stages of the one mile, 70-yard event. In the turn, it appeared that the late closers might be too tough to tackle as Mai Tai's Gem and Santo Sanjur along with race favorite Two Last Words and Fernando De La Cruz moved up into position.

In the stretch, Flatter Hymn came alive and got back into contention for the lead, getting the advantage in the last few strides to win by one and one-quarter length over Mai Tai's Gem. Two Last Words finished third.

“I had trouble getting him to settle,” said Parker. “I was trying to get him to relax at first. He actually backed off at one point, but he seemed to get a breather and then he came right back and hit another gear. He gave me everything he had. He didn't have a bit of trouble with two turns.”

Flatter Hymn was the third choice on the board, paying $8.60, $4.00, $3.00 across the board. Bred by Sugarland Thoroughbreds of Indiana, the sophomore gelding is owned by Everett Novak's New Farm, who purchased him as a yearling for $30,000 from the Fasig Tipton Mid Atlantic Eastern Fall Sale in Maryland. Jeff Runco trains.

Runco is the longtime leading trainer at Hollywood Casino Charles Town. He is once again leading the standings in 2020 and has amassed more than 4,300 career wins. The Graded Stakes winning trainer mainly focuses his stable in West Virginia, but when the stakes opportunity came up for Flatter Hymn, he decided to send him to Indiana and reconnected with Parker.

“I used to ride a lot for Jeff (Runco) when I was out at Mountaineer,” said Parker. “I even went over to Charles Town to ride for him some. I talked to him on the phone about this horse and he told me both times, he got in trouble in his last races. I watched his last race, and he was in trouble at the top of the stretch, and there, once you get in the stretch, it seems like only a few jumps and you are at the wire. For him to get out of trouble and go on and win in that start was really impressive.”

Flatter Hymn returns to West Virginia as a stakes winner and a near-$100,000 winner. He keeps his record perfect with three wins in three starts. Flatter Hymn was unraced at two.

“When Jeff (Runco) decided to nominate this horse to the stakes, he gave us a call,” said Ricky Giannini, who oversees Brad Cox's Stable at Indiana Grand. “He shipped in a few days ago with Jeff's assistant just for this race. We actually sent a West Virginia bred to Jeff a few weeks ago for a race, so we just traded horses for a little bit.”

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Old Friends Announces Online Auction Of Premier Racing Memorabilia

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility based in Georgetown, KY., today announced plans for a landmark online auction series that will feature treasured pieces from one of the foremost private collections of racing memorabilia in the United States.

The auction series is a collaboration between Old Friends and the estate of Julie Albright, a longtime racing supporter and collector, and will be highlighted by original saddle cloths, collectible stallion halters, farm, training, and race-worn horse shoes, tickets, programs, and much more from some of America's most accomplished equine athletes. A portion of the sale proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization.

The first in the series of online auctions will launch on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 pm (EST) and sales will be offered weekly throughout the fall via the Old Friends eBay store. Click here and choose Special Memorabilia Sale on left. (Note: pages will not be live until 6 pm Sunday)

Thoroughbred heroes represented include: popular stakes winners Lava Man, Lost in the Fog, and Medaglia D'Oro; noted stallions Giant's Causeway, Scat Daddy, and War Front; classic winners Afleet Alex, Empire Maker, Fusaichi Pegasus, Giacomo, Jazil, Point Given, and Rags to Riches; and Breeders' Cup champions A.P. Indy, Azeri, Curlin, Da Hoss, Kona Gold, Silverbulletday, and Unbridled.

Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity presented by the collaboration.

“We are very excited that we are able to offer such incredible memorabilia from some of the greatest racing moments of the last 20 years,” Blowen said. “Like many non-profits, 2020 has been a challenging year for us. But this online auction series presents an opportunity to finish strong. We owe that to our residents.”

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Keeneland To Offer Drive Thru Betting On Kentucky Oaks, Derby Days

Keeneland's Drive Thru Betting will be open Friday, Sept. 4 and Saturday, Sept. 5 to accept wagers on the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and all the races on those two days from Churchill Downs.

Drive Thru Betting will be located behind the Keeneland Entertainment Center, which can be accessed via Gate 1 at Man o' War Boulevard. All patrons will complete a health screening and temperature check at Gate 1.

Keeneland will not be offering any other Oaks or Derby events except for Drive Thru Betting.

Click here for more information.

Here are additional details about Drive Thru Betting:

Kentucky Oaks Day – Friday, Sept. 4

· Drive Thru Betting will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Six windows will be available.

· Advance wagering for the Kentucky Derby full card and Oaks/Derby Double will be available.

· First post at Churchill is 11 a.m. Post time for the Oaks is 5:45 p.m.

· Full-card simulcasting programs are $4 each.

· A limited number of Kentucky Oaks souvenir programs will be available for $5 each.

· The Official Kentucky Derby Program will be available at noon for $6 each.

Kentucky Derby Day – Saturday, Sept. 5

· Drive Thru Betting will be open from 7 a.m. until the Derby post time (7:01 p.m.). Eight windows will be available.

· First post at Churchill is 11 a.m.

· Full-card simulcasting programs are $4 each.

· Official Kentucky Derby Programs are $6 each.

Keeneland Select always open

Fans also may wager on all the racing action from Churchill online through Keeneland Select, which enables players to watch and wager on racing from tracks around the world. Users earn lucrative rewards and support Keeneland's mission to invest in Thoroughbred racing. A portion of Keeneland Select's profits are reinvested in the sport through increased purses, fan development, player development and more. Click here for more information.

Red Mile simulcasting is available

At Red Mile, the historic harness track near downtown Lexington where Keeneland offers simulcast wagering, advance wagering on the Oaks and Derby cards begins Thursday, Sept. 3 at approximately 11:45 a.m.

Simulcasting is available on the second floor only. There is no reserved seating, and seating will be first come, first served. Seating is extremely limited due to social distancing guidelines, and all patrons must wear masks.

Parking and admission are free.

On Friday, Sept. 4, wagering on the Oaks card and advance wagering on the Derby card begins at 10 a.m.

On Derby Day, wagering at Red Mile will open at 10 a.m.

On both days, players who want to wager and leave will be able to “Park and Bet” by making their wagers trackside.

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