Weather Forces Pletcher Audible

With wet weather in the forecast for Saturday, trainer Todd Pletcher pushed forward the final works for four of his potential five starters for next Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby, sending each out to work a half-mile beneath the Twin Spires. 

Working first Friday morning were the first- and fourth-place finishers from the GI Kentucky Derby, Alto Racing’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Materiality (Afleet Alex) and Starlight Racing’s Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid). Both horses were credited with a time of :48 flat, accomplished in fractions of :12, :23.60 and :35.60 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01 and six panels in 1:14.60. Javier Castellano was aboard Materiality and has the call in the Derby, while Itsaknockout was ridden by Ezequiel Perez. 

Following that duo was Stonestreet Stable, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s GII Louisiana Derby runner-up Stanford (Malibu Moon), with Isabelle Bourez up and Cheyenne Stable and Mac Nichol’s Madefromlucky(Lookin at Lucky), with John Velazques in the irons. Stanford covered the four furlongs in :48.40 in fractions of :12.40 and :24.20 before striding out five furlongs in 1:10 and three-quarters in 1:13.80. Madefromlucky was slightly in arrears in :48.60, going in splits of :12.40 and :24.20 with gallop-out times of 1:01.60 and 1:15. 

“I was happy with all of the works,” Pletcher said. “Materiality and Itsaknockout worked very well and I thought they both got over the track very well. Stanford breezed really well today and I thought his gallop out was particularly good.” 
Pletcher hinted that Madefromlucky would pass the Derby, but would confer with the colt’s ownership before issuing a final decision. 

“I am thinking that Belmont Park with its sweeping turns might be a good fit for him,” Pletcher said of Madefromlucky, most recently fourth to American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 11. 

Pletcher’s fifth Derby possible, GI Toyota Blue Grass S. victor and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), is scheduled to have his final workout Saturday morning at Keeneland. John Velazquez has the call next Saturday.