Tag: Todd Pletcher

Busy Saturday Morning for Kentucky Derby and Oaks Workers

It was an action-packed Saturday morning at Churchill Downs for GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks workers.

At 5:15 a.m., the Brad Cox-trained duo of GI Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings) worked six furlongs together in 1:11.20 (1/4) and 1:11.40 (2/4), respectively. At 7:30 a.m., GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), with newly named jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., worked five furlongs for Cox in 1:01.60 (30/57). “There's a lot of excitement leading into these final Derby works,” Cox said. “You start to get a little anxious as the days near closer to the Derby. Things went very smooth this morning.”

 

The Kenny McPeek tandem of GI Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy) and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. winner Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) worked a half-mile together in :48 (28/130).

“I like that this is a home game for us,” McPeek said. “Both Brian [Hernandez, Jr.] and Corey [Lanerie] have been around this oval all their lives, and both are solid journeyman riders. I don't have much concern about them finding their way around there. Both Corey and Brian are due a signature horse, so maybe one of them's got it this week.”

 

Todd Pletcher breezed the trio of GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) (four furlongs in :48.60) (55/130); and GI Curlin Florida Derby runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) and Louisiana Derby third Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile), who worked a half-mile together in :47.40 (9/130).

“From here, we'll do the usual stuff–like visiting the gate and galloping. We'll be galloping up to the Derby,” Pletcher said.

 

Other Derby horses on the worktab Saturday include: Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road (Race Day) (four furlongs in :48.80) (67/130); GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) (six furlongs in 1:13.20) (3/4); and GII Rebel S. winner Un Ojo (Laoban) (four furlongs in :47.60) (14/130). Happy Jack (Oxbow), a distant third in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, covered a mile in 1:39.60 (1/1) at Keeneland. Florida Derby winner White Abarrio (Race Day) breezed a half-mile in :48.28 between races during an impromptu workout on Saturday afternoon's program at Gulfstream Park. “Wow. That's all I can say is 'wow,'” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “He worked super.”

 

Four Kentucky Oaks candidates had their final works Saturday morning at Churchill Downs: Bourbonette Oaks heroine Candy Raid (Candy Ride {Arg}) (four furlongs in :48.80) (67/130); GI Central Bank Ashland S. runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo) (five furlongs in 1:00.80) (15/57); unbeaten GII Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Kathleen O. (Upstart) (four furlongs in :47.80) (20/130) and GIII Gazelle S. heroine Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) (four furlongs in :48.60) (55/130).

“She's not necessarily a strong morning worker,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said of Kathleen O. “So, we're very pleased with what we saw today. I'm excited. We're excited. We got through today and we know she always shows up on race day. This morning was right up there with some of her best. We're glad to be back in Kentucky with her and we're thinking with her running style she'll appreciate the longer stretch here [at Churchill Downs].”

Desert Dawn (Cupid), upset winner of the GII Santa Anita Oaks, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 (19/53) at Santa Anita Saturday.

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Repole Purchases Minority Interest in Mo Donegal

Owner Mike Repole purchased a minority interest in GI Kentucky Derby contender and GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), ownership group Donegal Racing announced Friday. The price and ownership stake were not disclosed.

Mo Donegal, a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, captured Aqueduct's GII Remsen S. over future GI Toyota Blue Grass winner Zandon (Upstart). Third in the Feb. 5 GIII Holy Bull S. behind White Abarrio (Race Day) and Simplification (Not This Time), he returned to New York Apr. 9 for the Wood Memorial S., rallying over a speed-favoring track to prevail by a head over Early Voting (Gun Runner).

The Todd Pletcher trainee has won three of five starts for earnings of $621,800. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will be in the saddle on Derby day.

“I am excited to be part of Mo Donegal with Jerry Crawford and the partners of Donegal Racing,” Repole said. “In my 15 years of racing, this will be the first time I am partners with someone who has a bigger entourage than my own. While having some great conversations with Jerry, this partnership made so much sense for Repole Stable. Being trained by Todd Pletcher, being ridden by Irad Ortiz and most special, being a son of my sire Uncle Mo. As a racing fan, I have been incredibly impressed by Mo Donegal, and I am so excited to watch him and his brilliance as an owner.”

Mike Repole is also a partner on top GI Longines Kentucky Oaks contender, and Mo Donegal's stablemate, Nest (Curlin).

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Derby and Oaks Workers Active on Both Coasts

A trio of GI Kentucky Derby contenders put in their final works ahead of next weekend's Run for the Roses. The only one of the three to work at Churchill Downs was GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Zandon (Upstart).

Working on his own at 7:30 a.m. over a fast track with regular morning partner Kriss Bon aboard, the Chad Brown pupil completed the five furlongs in 1:00.40 (7/43). Churchill Downs clockers caught Zandon in fractions of :12.80, :25, :36.80, 1:00.40 and out in 1:12.80 and 1:26.40.

“I just didn't want to take any chances with the weather forecast, even though it looks better for tomorrow,” Brown said. “The track is in fabulous shape. You're not going to get a better track to train over than we got this morning.

 

 

 

Working about the same time at Gulfstream Park was GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth winner Simplification (Not This Time), who worked five furlongs in 1:00.44 (1/10) for trainer Antonio Sano over a muddy track. Junior Alvarado was aboard for the work.

“I'm very happy with the work,” Sano said. “He went very easy and handled everything. The jockey said he was better than last week. It was a really, really good work for the horse…I am 100% confident in my horse. I know the race is very strong, but I'm confident in the horse. I think this is a better horse than Gunnevera (Dialed In).”

A few hours later at Santa Anita, Messier (Empire Maker), the runner-up in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 for trainer Tim Yakteen.

Six GI Longines Kentucky Oaks contenders had their final works Friday morning, including the Todd Pletcher-trained trip of Nest (Curlin) (4f :48.60), Shahama (Munnings) (5f 1:01.2) and Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft) (5f 1:01) for next Friday's $1.25 million race over a fast track.

Working first during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners was GI Central Bank Ashland S. victress Nest with Irad Ortiz in the irons. Working in company, Nest produced fractions of :24.20 and :48.60 and galloped out in 1:01 and 1:14.

“It's 21 days after the Ashland and it was a solid work,” Pletcher said. “She finished good and galloped out strong.”

 

 

 

Working together were GII Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up Goodess of Fire with Humberto Zamora aboard and G3 UAE Oaks winner Shahama with Oaks rider Flavien Prat aboard.

Shahama was on the inside with fractions of :25.40, :37.20, :49.20, 1:01.20 and out in 1:13.60, 1:26.20 and 1:40.40. Goddess of Fire had fractions of :25.20, :37, :49, 1:01 and out in 1:13.40, 1:26 and 1:40.20.

“I wanted them to do a little more than Nest,” Pletcher said. “They both finished well and galloped out strong.”

GII Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up Hidden Connection (Connect) breezed a half-mile in :50.20 for trainer Bret Calhoun Friday at Churchill under jockey Reylu Gutierrez.

“Her work last week was great and today, even though it was easier, it was just as impressive,” Gutierrez said.

GII Rachel Alexandra S. heroine Turnerloose (Nyquist) covered five panels in 1:01.20 under exercise rider Edvin Vargas.

“She's fit and ready to go,” trainer Brad Cox simply stated.

Also on the Churchill worktab was GIII Gazelle S. runner-up Venti Valentine (Firing Line). She worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, with splits of :13, :24.80 and :36.80, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.

“That's the way she gallops,” said Francisco Abreu, brother to trainer Jorge Abreu, who supervised the filly's workout. “The first part, she's a little anxious, then she calms down a little. It was just a maintenance work for her; she had a strong final work was a week ago.”

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Life Is Good, Country Grammer Thriving at WinStar

Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Country Grammer (Tonalist), both multiple Grade I winners co-owned by WinStar Farm, are enjoying a freshening at WinStar's training and rehabilitation facility in Versailles, Ky. before they return to the racetrack for their summer campaigns. Rivals in their last start in the G1 Dubai World Cup, the duo now shares the same daily routine on the farm. After training at 6:30 every morning, they keep company together as they enjoy the grass and sunshine in side-by-side round pens.

“Life Is Good and Country Grammer arrived shortly after the Dubai World Cup,” WinStar Farm Trainer Destin Heath said. “They were able to quarantine in Louisville at a new quarantine facility, which is a change from years past.  We were able to check on them while they were there and now they've settled back into their normal routine here at WinStar. We've been letting them do their thing–keep a little bit of fitness, but be a horse. They both train early in the morning so they have ample time to go outside.”

With consecutive Grade I wins in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., 'TDN Rising Star' Life is Good was the heavy favorite in the Dubai World Cup, but Country Grammer, who was coming off a second-place finish in the G1 Saudi Cup, closed in the final furlong to get the victory.

“We all thought Life Is Good was a cinch,” Heath admitted. “I'll be honest, that was my main rooting interest. But Country Grammer coming through and winning the race was pretty special for us and the crew here at the training barn.”

Country Grammer spent a brief stint at WinStar after he was purchased as a 2-year-old by Paul Pompa in 2019 and he returned after his 3-year-old campaign that was marked by a win in the GIII Peter Pan S. After Pompa's passing in 2020, the colt sold to WinStar Farm for $110,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale and was sent to Bob Baffert in California, where got his first Grade I victory last year in the Hollywood Gold Cup S.

Life is Good has also spent a good deal of time at WinStar's training center. The $525,000 Keeneland September purchase was part of WinStar's breaking program.

“Life Is Good is pretty special,” Heath said. “He was easy to break and was forward from day one. [WinStar Rehabilitation and Breaking Manager] Terry Arnold told me from day one that he was the best one of the bunch and he was spot on with that. We've always been high on him and he's never really done anything wrong. We just had to manage him to not go too fast in his early stages.”

Heath notes Life is Good's Pegasus victory as his most impressive win so far, but he first points to the talented bay's first-ever defeat last year in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., where he ran second off a layoff after a battle with Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), as the race he and his team are most proud of.

“He was with us for quite a bit last spring after he got injured and came off the Derby trail,” Heath said. “It was pretty special to see him run in a Grade I just 47 days after shipping out. That was a thrill even in defeat.”

While there was never a question of Life is Good's brilliance as 3-year-old, Heath said he is even more confident in the champion's ability now as an older horse.

“As a 4-year-old, he's a little bit more professional about things,” Heath explained. “He knows his job and he knows what to do. We just have to keep him in a routine to where he's happy and healthy. I think we've got him figured out now. He just likes to go out and be a racehorse.”

Country Grammer heads back to the barn after a morning in the sunshine | Katie Petrunyak

Heath said that Country Grammer is equally professional on the racetrack, but not quite as easygoing as his stablemate on the ground.

“He knows that he's all man,” Heath said. “You've got to set your scenarios up every morning with the right riders and grooms to make sure he's not going to tell them who's boss. Turned out, he's a little bit more of a ham and a little bit more animated. He plays and has a good time out there, but on the track he's the consummate professional. He never turns a hair and really enjoys his job.”

Heath, who first came to Kentucky in 2005 to work for D. Wayne Lukas and took on the role of head trainer at WinStar in 2018, is no stranger to working with top-class horses at WinStar with a long list of graduates that includes superstars Justify, Monomoy Girl, Songbird, Improbable, Midnight Bisou and Always Dreaming.

He noted that their roster this spring is particularly impressive. Along with Life Is Good and Country Grammer, two-time Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. winner Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Champion Corniche (Quality Road), 2021 GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) and 2021 GI Cigar Mile H. victor Americanrevolution (Constitution) have all spent time at WinStar already this year.

“It's pretty special to have horses of that caliber,” Heath said. “The incredible horses in the barn are easy to have. They know their job and they know their routine. I just try to stay out of their way and let them do their thing. I know I never take a day for granted here and I know the crew doesn't either.”

No specific plans are set yet as to when Life Is Good and Country Grammer will ship out in the coming weeks. Country Grammer's trainer Bob Baffert is currently serving a 90-day suspension for the betamethasone positive in last year's Kentucky Derby, but Heath said the 5-year-old bay will be pointing toward Del Mar. Meanwhile Life Is Good will head to Todd Pletcher to target the Saratoga race meet.

“We're going to leave it up to the individual horse and the timeline for the year,” he explained. “We'll let them decide when they're ready to get back to the races. It's all up to the horse.”

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