NEWS
Pletcher confident in Quality Road for Classic
Posted: Sunday, September 05, 2010 2:59 PM
QUALITY ROAD
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Phil Janack
With no more starts planned leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on November 6, Quality Road’s victory in the Woodward Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course was valuable beyond the $450,000 paycheck.
“I think it was an important race for championship honors,” trainer Todd Pletcher said on Sunday morning in Saratoga Springs, New York. “In those situations, usually the last race you run is the most important.
“Obviously, with the last race being the Breeders’ Cup, that’s the one that’s going to carry the most weight of all. But, his body of work this year is pretty impressive, and that’s going to carry a lot of weight, too, at the end of the day.”
Quality Road rebounded from a head loss to Blame in the Whitney Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on August 7 by rolling to a 4 ¾-length triumph in the Woodward against six overmatched challengers, completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 (video).
“I thought it went like it was supposed to go,” said Blame’s trainer Al Stall Jr., who watched the race from Saratoga’s box seats. “I think the best horse clearly won. Todd made a plan for the horse and it looks like he’s on track to do what he wants to do.
“I guess you wouldn’t consider it an explosive effort, but who knows how the track was. I’m sure they were trying to set him up for one more big effort. He’s a nice horse, he’s full of class, and he did everything right. He’s a definite threat.”
Bred and owned by Edward P. Evans, Quality Road has won four of five starts this year, including wins in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Donn Handicap (G1), and Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3). The Woodward win gave Pletcher his meet-leading 34th victory.
“That win would have been as sweet whether we had zero wins or 34 wins,” Pletcher said. “We felt like it was important to get him back in the winner’s circle. It’s hard to be too disappointed when you’ve run a horse in the races we’ve run him in and come up a head short of being perfect, and conceding weight when you’re doing that. Yeah, it was an important win for us.”
Pletcher plans to train Quality Road up to the Classic, which will be the Elusive Quality colt’s third try at 1¼ miles, and first this year. In his previous two, he was third, beaten by five lengths, in the 2009 Shadwell Travers Stakes (G1), and second by a length in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), both won by 2009 three-year-old male Summer Bird.
“For me, statistically, we’ve always done well in that kind of time frame,” Pletcher said. “We’d like to come into the biggest and most important race with what we do best. It seems our horses tend to run their best races with a little space in between.
“I think if he gets the mile and a quarter, he can do it with the time in between. Really, the two times at a mile and a quarter were both on a sloppy track. The Jockey Club Gold Cup wasn’t a bad race. I think he gets the mile and a quarter; we’d just obviously like to do it on a fast surface.”
Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was mystified by the performance of 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird, who finished last of seven in the Woodward despite running closer to the pace and wearing blinkers for the first time.
“He came out of it perfect,” Lukas said. “We got him into the race and he did everything right but the last quarter. I don’t know if it’s his mindset, if he wants to finish by being way back. I was really pleased with the way he laid up there so easy the first part of the race, but he didn’t kick in. He didn’t finish; he just ran evenly.
“I might try him shorter. Everybody keeps thinking he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse. I might try him at a mile once and see how he does, if I can find a decent race. He’s a work in progress, I’ll tell ya. He’s perfectly sound and physically better than he’s ever been, and yet we’re not getting the job done.”
Phil Janack is a Saratoga-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Handicapper, Inglewood, CA on September 09, 2010 at 02:34 PM
I agree Jack, he is a beast at 8 to 9 furlongs after that he is suspect, he would be better suited for the B.C.Dirt Mile, Pletcher should consider running him there but he won't due to Q.R. is his best chance of trying to win the Classic that he has in his barn and he will be going for it.
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Posted by: Jack, Baltimore, MD on September 07, 2010 at 03:30 PM
I really love Quality Road. One of my favorite colt's. I can also understand Todd Pletcher's confidence in Quality Road for the Classic. I'd be confident too if I had a colt this talented. That said, I really believe that this year's Breeders Cup Classic is going to expose Quality Road as a bit of a core specialist. A total beast from 8 to 9 furlongs. But very "iffy" at 10 furlongs. He's yet to have proven in his career that he can get that 10th and championship furlong with a win attached to it. It doesn't help his cause that the stretch at Churchill Downs is a long, forever stretch. Which very much favors late closing horses with a strong closing kick. Does that sound familiar about a particular horse that will be running in the Classic? Quality Road likes to rate either on, or very close to the pace. It's entirely possible that Quality Road could be the pace in the race. If he is? I'm sure Quality Road will ensure a very lively gallop for the field. But when it comes to that last furlong, with Zenyatta, Blame, Lookin At Lucky, and possibly some of the European contingent as well bearing down on Quality Road. I think he'll fade under the weight of a lively pace. He'll be passed by Zenyatta for sure. And very likely Blame as well. I personally think he'd be much better suited to race in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. I think Quality Road would be virtually a lock to win that race. But with Quality Road being Pletcher's #1 colt in the barn. His vanity will prevent him from considering any other race but the Breeders Cup Classic for his colt. I wish Quality Road all the luck in the world. But he's got equal or better talent running at him, that's proven they can win at 10 furlongs. I just don't see Quality Road winning the Breeders Cup Classic. TJMO.
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Posted by: jimmygreek, atlantic city, NJ on September 06, 2010 at 08:55 PM
you have to prove that QR can endure being hard pressed somewhere from the mile to 1 1/8th in the classic and then still having a punch left, you'll have to prove it to us to be believable. Blame and others will be there eyeball to eyeball at that point setting the table for a closer!
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Posted by: Linda, Ventura, CA on September 06, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Maybe MTB could get a second wind if he starts slower but is continually accelerating and keeps on going smoothly that way building steam instead of a sudden jerk and stalking position. Doesn't Zenyatta (a big horse) do that? In a small field that might work, just keep smoothly accelerating (building up steam) until get up front. A big field is different - need holes, end up going wide, checking, stalking not necessarily good for steam build up etc? Smiley too.
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Posted by: Joni, Pierre, SD on September 05, 2010 at 06:49 PM
Dear D.Wayne,
Try Grade 2 or 3.Maybe an off track? Just a thought.:)
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