Todd Pletcher
X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, and SF Racing LLC's Moira (Ghostzapper) was listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite during Wednesday morning's post position Queen's Plate draw, held at Woodbine's newly-opened Stella Artois Terrace. In addition to the Woodbine Oaks winner, who will exit gate 8 with regular pilot Rafael Hernandez aboard, a total of 10 colts have signed on for Sunday's $1-million 10-furlong Classic, the first jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. "Typically, when you win the Oaks, depending on how impressive they are doing it, you always have to...
Americanrevolution (Constitution)'s rapid development last season earned him New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male honors during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.'s Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 12 at Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion. Bred by Fred Hertrich and John Fielding and owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, Americanrevolution went from a maiden in June to a Grade I winner by December to lock up his championships. The 2021 New York-bred Horse of the Year and divisional champions were chosen by a vote...
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - This has been a turn-back-the-clock, very D. Wayne Lukas-like, summer at Saratoga for the Hall of Fame trainer. As he approaches his 87th birthday on Sept. 2, the racing legend has won a graded stake, finished second in two others, and made his presence felt at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale with the purchase of five yearlings for $2.725 million, led by of a son of Medaglia d'Oro for $1.35 million. After skipping the past two Saratoga seasons due to a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and...
6th-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-14, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.30, ft, 8 1/2 lengths. CHOCOLATE GELATO (f, 2, Practical Joke--Special Treat, by Candy Ride {Arg}) was backed down to 1-2 favoritism in her Spa debut July 14 yet had to settle for third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Sent off the 2-1 choice to make amends this time, the $475,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida juvenile graduate broke sharply and quickly assumed command, rolling through an opening quarter in :22.93. Still running comfortably following a :46.33 half, she was given her cue, accelerated with ease and...
2nd-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-14, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.18, fm, 1 3/4 lengths. MOMA (f, 2, Uncle Mo--Discreet Moon {GB}, by Malibu Moon) muscled her way between horses like a seasoned runner to kick clear for conditioner Todd Pletcher and owner/breeders Wertheimer and Frere. Squeezed slightly at the break when rivals came in on her, she tracked contentedly from the rear of the field with only two others beaten going into the first turn. Saving ground as pacesetters put up :23.56 and :48.35 fractions up the backstretch, she cut the...
A host of probable starters for the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga recorded works at the Spa Saturday as they each turn their attention to the 1 1/4-mile historic test for sophomores Aug. 27. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher watched runaway GIII Dwyer S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) soar through an "awesome" five-furlong breeze over the main track, completing the solo exercise in 1:01.01 (5/27). "Super work. Loved the way he did it, moving great and galloped out really strongly on a track that's...
Florida horse country is near synonymous with yearlings, training farms, and the promise a young horse brings to the legions of supporters behind it. With hotly contested claims as to who exactly holds the title of 'Horse Capital of the World', diehard Lexingtonians more than willing to defend their claims to the ends of time, some tend to get too caught up in splitting hairs. Regional markets can, and do play, a prominent role in building dynasties. They provide a foundation without which the industry could not stand; at least,...
Life Is Good (Into Mischief) caught a flier right out of the gate, strutted his stuff up front for six furlongs and fought off a pair of stubborn challengers through the Saratoga stretch to capture Saturday's $1-million GI Whitney S., punch his ticket to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and stick his nose in front of a crowded Horse of the Year race. Running away to a 9 1/2-length debut romp and 'TDN Rising Star' honors for Bob Baffert in November of 2020 at Del Mar, the $525,000 Keeneland...
8th-Saratoga, $115,000, Alw, 8-6, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, 7f, 1:23.90, gd, 1 1/2 lengths. SAINT TAPIT (c, 3, Tapit--Havre de Grace {Horse Of The Year, Ch. Older Mare, MGISW, $2,586,175}, by Saint Liam) graduated by four lengths on debut at Belmont June 26 and was favored at 8-5 to repeat here in this first try against winners. With the track freshly sealed after rain poured down over Saratoga, the blue-blooded chestnut tracked from a two-wide third through a :22.93 opening quarter. He drew even with the leader as the half went up...
Whisper Hill Farm homebred Charge It (Tapit) took another step forward for the GI Runhappy Travers S. with a half-mile breeze Friday at Saratoga. He was clocked in :48.77 for his second drill since a 23-length win in the GIII Dwyer S. July 2 at Belmont for trainer Todd Pletcher. "He went really well, five-eighths by himself in 1:01 and change. He had a super strong gallop out, pulled up the mile in 1:42," Pletcher said. "Essentially, we're trying to follow the same program we did leading up to the...
5th-DMR, $80k, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 7:04p.m. ET Hronis Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing LLC have partnered up to unveil the latest blue-blooded colt by Justify, this one named HAWKER. Shelling out a cool $675,000 for him at KEESEP, his pedigree warrants the implied expectations: out of GSP Flaming Heart (Touch Gold), it makes Hawker a half to GISP & MGSW Commissioner (A.P. Indy), GISP & GSW Laugh Track (Distorted Humor), and to the dam of MGISW Vino Rosso (Curlin). All three of the colt's closest female line...
Hall of Famer Todd A. Pletcher, currently sitting in second place in the Saratoga trainer standings, will be locked and loaded in a pair of Grade I events at the Spa Saturday, led by the 'Win and You're In' GI Whitney S. With the unbeaten sensation and 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) awaiting the GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 3, a pair of New York-based heavyweights in the handicap division will throw down in the 12-race card's feature. The uber-talented 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into...