Pletcher Pair Pointing for Donn

The Todd Pletcher-trained duo of soon-to-be 4-year-olds Constitution (Tapit) and Danza (Street Boss) are both expected to contest Gulfstream Park’s GI Donn H. Feb. 7. The former, a “TDN Rising Star” campaigned by WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, upped his record to three-for-three in March’s GI Florida Derby over the same track and trip as the Donn, but was sidelined for the rest of the spring and summer. Fourth in a Belmont optional claimer Oct. 12, the bay checked in third after setting the pace in the GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs Nov. 28. 

“Right now, Constitution is pointing for the Donn,” confirmed Pletcher, leading trainer at Gulfstream’s Championship Meet for an incredible 11 straight years. “The question is, do we run him in between? I don’t know yet. We might just train him up to the Donn. He came out of his last race very well. We know he likes Gulfstream, and I think this track will carry him a little more than Churchill Downs sometimes does.” 

Of Constitution’s performance in the Clark, Pletcher added, “[Rider] Javier [Castellano] was very comfortable with the way he handled the first turn. Javier felt like he was more relaxed than I did watching it, but down the backside he settled pretty well and I thought he ran a big race. He’s just getting back into form. It was only his second start since the Florida Derby and only his fifth lifetime start.” 

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’s Danza, who belied 41-1 odds to romp home in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 12, has been off since a solid third in the GI Kentucky Derby May 3. 

“He came out of the Derby and he was wiped out,” Pletcher explained. “He broke out in a skin disease from head to toe and lost some weight, and we decided to just stop on him and point for the Donn and work our way back. We’ll see.”