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.”
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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