With the postponement of the GII Fasig-Tipton Swale S., trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr. is unsure whether his colt Souper Colossal (War Front) will contest the affair, which has been rescheduled to Saturday.
“It's a negative because if we're looking at the big picture–which is certainly running in the [GI Kentucky] Derby–I have to look at opportunities and a time frame to get my horse ready to earn (qualifying) points,” Plesa said. “With the Swale being postponed for a week, it gives me seven less days to do what I believe is best for my horse. That being said, I'm going to look what my options are and discuss it with Mrs. Weber and Bruce Hill, the farm manager. Right now, our decision is: do we go ahead and run in the [GII] Tampa Bay Derby [Mar. 7], the same day as the Swale, to get two bites of the apple, so to speak; or do we go ahead with our original plan and run in the Swale, which makes me run a week sooner than maybe what I would have thought in the [Mar. 28 GI] Florida Derby? It needs to be sorted out. There's no black and white answer at the moment.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher still plans for even-money morning-line favorite Daredevil (MoreThan Ready) to run in the Swale. “We're going to breeze him [Monday], just an easy half-mile, and then hopefully be all set for next Saturday,” Pletcher said of the GI Champagne S. winner.
Chalk Racing's Spectacular Bid S. runner-up Ready for Rye (City Zip) will remain on track for Saturday's rescheduled GII Fasig-Tipton Swale S. “For us, everything is good. It's just another week away,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “We'll just continue our schedule with him and re-enter.”
GIII Hutcheson S. runner-up X Y Jet (Kantharos) will also remain on track for the Swale, according to trainer Jorge Navarro. “We're still going for it,” the conditioner stated. “He's kind of on the right schedule so we didn't miss anything.”
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