Tag: Todd Pletcher

Sunday Insights: Winchell Colt Set To Pull Debut Out Of Hat

6th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:40 p.m.
At Keeneland on Sunday afternoon, MAGIC TAP (Tapit) debuts for Winchell Thoroughbreds breaking from post three with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons. The $450,000 KEESEP purchase, bred by Don Alberto, is a half to MGISW American Gal (Concord Point).

Dam GSP American Story (Ghostzapper) is herself a sibling to G1 Golden Shaheen victor Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) and GI Apple Blossom scorer Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}), who went on to produce GSW Lake Avenue (Tapit). This Steve Asmussen firster fired a bullet work at the Fair Grounds on Mar. 26 (5f, :59.40, 1/27).

Drawn to the inside, MALIBU SPRINGS (Quality Road), for Todd Pletcher, is out of multiple stakes winning dam Marquee Miss (Cowboy Cal), who herself is a half-sister to GISW Promises Fullfilled (Shackleford). The WinStar homebred will have the services of John Velazquez.

BRIGADE COMMANDER (Hard Spun), a $325,000 KEESEP buy, was bred by Tami Bobo. Trained by Dallas Stewart and ridden by Flavien Prat, the bay colt counts GISW Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy) and GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday) among his female family. TJCIS PPS

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Pletcher Derby Crew Works Before Heading To Louisville

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) returned to training Friday morning for his last local work before shipping to Louisville to begin final preparations for the GI Kentucky Derby.

Working in company with Bright Future, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, the Derby favorite went a half-mile in :50.28 at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher, according to Mike Welsch of DRF.

“With Forte we were just looking for a nice, easy first work back. He ran in the Florida Derby 13 days ago and he's getting ready to ship on Sunday to Churchill, so we just wanted to let him stretch his legs a little bit and not do too much,” Pletcher said. “It looked like he was just kind of in an open gallop out there, doing really well.”

 

 

 

Also breezing together for Pletcher Friday and bound for Louisville were Spendthrift Farm-owned pair Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) and Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) who were timed in :49.49 seconds for four furlongs, according to DRF. Kingsbarns is assured a place in the Derby starting gate with 100 qualifying points after his victory in the GII Louisiana Derby, good for eighth overall. Second in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, Major Dude–who is ranked 23rd–is on the bubble with 40 points.

“We were looking for a little more from Major Dude and Kingsbarns. I thought they both went really well [with] good enthusiasm and energy in their gallop-outs and seemed to be moving well so, overall, very pleased,” Pletcher said. “I thought they all went according to plan.”

Friday's works were a relief for Hall of Fame trainer after heavy rains swept through South Florida this week and threatened to disrupt their schedules.

“They've been doing well, they've been eating well, they've been galloping nicely. I was happy to get the works in on the day we scheduled,” he said. “We've had a lot of rain so I wasn't positive that was going to happen, but the track dried out nicely and we had good conditions for it.”

Pletcher also reported that Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit) exited his Apr. 8 victory in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland in good order and will join his stablemates in Louisville over the weekend. The gray colt is ranked fourth in the Derby leaderboard with 150 points.

“Tapit Trice came back super, really good energy. He's been galloping the last few days at Keeneland,” Pletcher said. “He'll ship over to Churchill after training on Sunday. Knock on wood, so far so good.”

 

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Modern Games Returns To Keeneland In Friday’s Maker’s Mark

Last year's Eclipse champion turf male returns to the place of his Breeders' Cup glory Friday with an expected start in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), trained by Charlie Appleby, makes his 4-year-old debut since taking the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland last November.

Off the board in only two of his 13 prior starts, the chestnut just missed in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot leading into the Breeders' Cup, took the GI Woodbine Mile by 5 1/4 lengths three starts back and finished second only to Cartier Horse of the Year Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) four back in the G1 Qatar Sussex Cup at Goodwood.

Up to challenge him from the inside is Todd Pletcher's 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready), entered off a pair of graded-stakes wins in Florida this spring for owners WinStar Farm and Sien

a Farm in Tampa's GIII Tampa Bay S. and Gulfstream's GIII Canadian Turf S.

A Group 1-placed juvenile in Ireland, Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) makes just his second start stateside off a win against optional claiming company at Gulfstream Mar. 10 for Chad Brown and Peter Brant

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Prat Chooses Angel of Empire as His Derby Mount

It was likely a difficult decision, but Flavien Prat has chosen to ride GI Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) over GII Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) in this year's GI Kentucky Derby.

The news was confirmed by trainer Brad Cox, who said he has received assurances from Prat and his agent Brad Pegram that the French-born riding star will be aboard Angel of Empire in the Derby.

“Yes, Prat will ride Angel of Empire in the Derby,” Cox said via text. “We're excited that Flavien is sticking with Angel of Empire. If we can duplicate his run in the Arkansas Derby, we believe that it would be an effort that would make him very competitive in the Kentucky Derby. We're looking forward to May 6.”

After Cox used four different jockeys in Angel of Empire's first five races, he landed on Prat for the Apr. 1 Arkansas Derby and the result was a 4 1/4-length win. The Pennsylvania-bred could be the second choice in the Derby behind Forte (Violence).

Prat will also ride likely GI Kentucky Oaks favorite Wet Paint (Blame) for Cox.

Kingsbarns, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, is undefeated in three starts. After using Luis Saez and Antonio Gallardo, Pletcher went to Prat for the Louisiana Derby and the result was a 3 1/2-length front-running win.

Reached by text, Pletcher said he has yet to secure a rider for Kingsbarns, but several top jockeys should be available.

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