Pletcher Belmont Troops Gearing Up

It was a busy Friday morning for trainer Todd Pletcher at Belmont Park. 

'TDN Rising Star' and GI Blue Grass S. hero Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway) returned to the worktab for the first time since his 10th-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby. Under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the chestnut worked in company with GII Peter Pan S. winner Madefromlucky (Lookin At Lucky). The Belmont S.-bound duo covered five furlongs in a bullet :59.01 (1/20). 

“The [main] track was probably playing a little bit on the quick side, but I thought it was a pretty good work for both of them,” Pletcher said. “It was a fast work but in hand with a strong gallop out. 

Pletcher continued, “[Carpe Diem has] been galloping well. He's kind of an enthusiastic horse on a daily basis, so we decided on two breezes between the Derby and the Belmont and I thought we got a good, solid work this morning. That was the best that I've seen [Madefromlucky] breeze since we've had him. It was a very good work for him. It appears that he likes the track here, which is what we were hoping for and it seems like the Peter Pan was good going forward.” 

'TDN Rising Star' Materiality (Afleet Alex), an eventful sixth in the Derby, and GII Louisiana Derby runner-up Stanford (Malibu Moon) worked five furlongs together in 1:00.04 (4/20) (video). Velazquez was aboard the GI Florida Derby hero, who is also being aimed at the final leg of the Triple Crown. 

“I thought both horses worked extremely well,” Pletcher said. “It was a little bit slower in the first part than the Carpe Diem/Madefromlucky team, but they finished up with similar times and a strong gallop out as well. Before we went out, I told them we were looking for something between a minute and 1:01 with a strong gallop-out so the fractions seemed like they were going to land them in that time frame. I just relayed the times to them and they picked it up on their own through the lane.” 

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Competitive Edge (Super Saver), an impressive winner of the GIII Pat Day Mile at Churchill May 2, remains possible for either the GI Metropolitan H. or the GII Woody Stephens S. He breezed four furlongs in :48.59 (9/42) over the Belmont training track with impressive allowance winner Curalina (Curlin).