NEWS
Pletcher counting on successful Saratoga meeting
Posted: Monday, July 28, 2008 1:20 PM
TODD PLETCHER
Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
by Phil Janack
Trainer Todd Pletcher won with just one of 23 juvenile and first-time starters last summer at Saratoga Race Course. Less than a week into the current meeting, he already has doubled that total.
Munnings, $1.7-million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training sale, gave Pletcher his second win of the meet on Saturday. His other victory came with third-time starter Join in the Dance on July 25.
A chestnut Speightstown colt, Munnings was impressive in his career debut. He brushed the starting gate at the break, rushed quickly to the front, dismissed a challenge at the quarter pole, and drew off to win by 4 1/4 lengths, covering six furlongs in 1:09.84.
"I thought he ran about as well as a first-time starter can run," Pletcher said. "He didn't break great but he was able to quickly gain position. He ran well and he ran fast and did everything right. We were quite pleased."
Pletcher is thinking big for Munnings's next start—the premier two-year-old race of the meet.
"Assuming everything goes smoothly, we'll point him for the Hopeful Stakes (G1)," he said. "We have really high hopes for him."
Join in the Dance, a dark bay or brown Sky Mesa colt, could contest the Hopeful on September 1 or the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) on August 14. Pletcher also mentioned the Sapling Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on August 31.
Bullion Cache, a two-year-old who missed the Sanford Stakes (G3) with a fever on July 24, is on the mend and could return by the end of the meet.
Pletcher also said that Wait a While came out of her loss in the Diana Stakes (G1) on Saturday in good order and most likely will return on August 21 in the Ballston Spa Handicap (G2), which she won in 2007. Wait a While was seventh of ten as the favorite in the Diana.
"We'll keep the Ballston Spa open as a possibility if she bounces out of it quickly," he said. "She wasn't badly beaten. I would expect her to improve off that."
Meanwhile, Pletcher said he plans to target the $1-million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (G1) on August 23 with Harlem Rocker, who worked a half-mile in :48.90 on Saturday.
"We are strongly considering the Travers," Pletcher said. "We're just kind of keeping tabs on the Haskell [Invitational Stakes (G1)] a little bit, but I would say it's more likely the Travers. The horse is doing great."
Harlem Rocker won the $495,400 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of Canada's Triple Crown, in his previous start on July 13.
Phil Janack is a New York-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
