Pletcher preps probables for BSRF; Noble Indy, Vino Rosso breeze in the rain for G1 Belmont | Belmont Stakes
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Jun 1, 2018
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Pletcher preps probables for BSRF; Noble Indy, Vino Rosso breeze in the rain for G1 Belmont

by NYRA Press Office



Trainer Todd Pletcher was a busy man Friday morning, shuttling between Belmont Park’s main track and training track as he fit in a number of scheduled works for next week’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in between the raindrops.


The trainer called an audible for his two Belmont Stakes contenders, sending them to the training track, where they breezed five furlongs with new workout partners in preparation for their dates with Triple Crown hopeful Justify in the 150th edition of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, presented by NYRA Bets, on Saturday, June 9.

First off was Noble Indy, who, equipped with blinkers and in company with Hyndford, went 1:01.22 with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano aboard. In the next set, Vino Rossoand the Grade 1 Stephen Foster-bound Patch were caught in 1:01.55 under fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

“I thought they both worked very well,” said Pletcher, who last year won his third Belmont Stakes with Tapwrit, joining Rags to Riches (2007) and Palace Malice (2013). “We got the type of [Belmont] work we were hoping for, kind of a long steady five-eighths with a big gallop-out. I got them both in around 1:42 for the mile which was what I was looking for. Both of them showed they were in good form.”

Last week, the duo went a half-mile together in a bullet 47.04 in their first work since the Kentucky Derby.

“Last week on the main track, they worked together and went a little quicker than I wanted,” said Pletcher. “I didn’t want to do that again. Today I wanted a long, stamina building work.

“The thing I liked about both horses was the work on the main track [last week] was as good as I’ve seen them go,” he added. “I wanted to go on the main track because of that this morning. I’m glad we got it in when we did. I think they showed last week they handled the main track very well and I hope that proves to be the case [in the Belmont].”

Pletcher, whose Madefromlucky and Materiality finished sixth and eighth, respectively, behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Belmont, said beating Justify would be a tall order for any of his Belmont rivals.

“I feel as good as I can feel,” he said. “With the five weeks in between races, and that they’ve been here at Belmont since two days after the Derby, we’re hoping that will give them a little bit of an edge. [But] I think, like all of us, we need Justify to wake up on the wrong side of the bed to have a chance.”

Pletcher also sent out stakes winners Hard Study and Outplay, who breezed a half-mile in 48.69 on the main track for the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 ½ miles; Grade 1 Humana Distaff runner-up Ivy Belle (49.11) and Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap winner Unbridled Mo(49.09) on the training track for the Grade 1, $750,000 Ogden Phipps; multiple stakes winner Blind Ambition in 48.89 on the training track for the Grade 2, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational; Grade 1 Man o’ War victor Hi Happy in 48.89 for the Grade 1, $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan, and 2-year-oldOutshine in 49.87 for the $150,000 Tremont in Friday, June 8.

“I thought they all went well and they appear to be in good form,” said Pletcher.

Speaking of Belmont Stakes winners, last year’s hero Tapwritwill be making his first start since the 2017 Travers on Sunday at Belmont Park in the eighth race, a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer. The 4-year-old has been training steadily since April, including three works at Belmont Park, most recently covering a half-mile in 49.80 on Tuesday.

“He’s been training great,” said Pletcher. “He hasn’t run in a while but he’s been training like he’s good enough to run off the layoff. It’s good to have him back and we’re looking forward to getting a race into him. Hopefully this is the start of a successful campaign for him.”

Pletcher said the Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban Handicap at 1 ¼ miles on July 7 could be under consideration for Tapwrit should he run well.


Tenfold gallops two miles, will work Saturday at Churchill

Tenfold, third by a total of three-quarters of a length in the Preakness in his fourth lifetime start, galloped two miles under exercise rider Angel Garcia. The son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin is scheduled to work five-eighths of a mile Saturday morning at Churchill Downs and to fly to New York Tuesday.

“The horse galloped good,” said Scott Blasi, the assistant trainer who oversees trainer Steve Asmussen’s Churchill Downs operation. “I was really happy with him. He just looks like he’s got a bloom to him. I really liked his gallop today a lot.”

The Preakness was about the only thing that jockey Ricardo Santana did not win at Pimlico. During the two-day affair, the Churchill Downs-based Santana rode in 11 stakes, winning five with a second and three thirds, one being the Preakness on Tenfold. He also had a fourth and a fifth.

Four of his victories were with Asmussen horses, including the Chick Lang for 3-year-olds with Mitole, who is scheduled to run back Belmont Stakes Day in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens, presented by Mohegan Sun.

“A few days earlier, Steve told me we had a lot of good shots,” Santana said. “All the horses were training amazing. Tenfold was training amazing. Mitole was training amazing. I’ve got a lot of confidence in Steve. He does a really good job with the horses, and they are always ready to go.

“I was really blessed, having two days winning stakes and the trainer and owners gave me an opportunity. I was really happy. I can’t even believe I had that great week.”

Tenfold was tracking Bravazo, then actually got the jump on that horse rounding out of the turn and going after Justify. Bravazo came swooping in late to edge Tenfold for second by a neck.

“The horse ran a really good race,” Santana said. “Steve told me since the first day that the horse was special for him. We had a lot of confidence that he was going to run a good race. He was acting really professional. He took the dirt [in his face] pretty good. He’s an amazing horse. He does everything right. We were in a great spot. I was a little worried how the track was, because it was pretty muddy. But the horse was like he didn’t care.

“Turning for home, my horse gave me everything he had. He got a little tired. I think if he had run one more race, we had a pretty good chance to beat Justify. I think in the Belmont my horse is going to run a very tough race.”

Santana believes the Belmont’s 1 1/2 miles will suit Tenfold, who won his first two starts at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park.

“He’s got a really long stride,” he said. “He’s a horse that the second you ask him, he goes for it. When I won his first race, he broke so sharp and was on the lead. I didn’t even feel how fast I was going. I came back and saw the time (1:44 4/5) that we ran. The second time, I schooled him pretty good, put him behind two other horses, and he took the dirt pretty good. We beat a nice horse for Todd Pletcher. He ran a pretty good race in the Arkansas Derby for his third race. He was a baby still, and in the Preakness, he proved a lot.”


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