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With seven Eclipse awards, three Classic winners, nine Breeders’ Cup winners and 10 champions to his credit, Todd Pletcher is a trainer who needs no introduction. A son of trainer Jake Pletcher, the Texas native was destined for a career in racing and got his start at just 7-years-old as a hot walker for his father at Ruidoso Downs.
Spending several years studying under Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Pletcher went out on his own in December of 1995 and saddled his first winner just three months later. In the 21 years since, he has trained many of racing’s elite, such as Hall of Famer Ashado; champion and GI Belmont S.-winning filly Rags to Riches; Eclipse winners and top sires Speightstown and Uncle Mo; and more recently MGISWs Verrazano, Curalina and Liam’s Map.
The 49-year-old, who has won 31 trainer titles in New York, has gotten off to a stellar start at the Gulfstream championship meet, where he has been leading trainer for 13 straight years from 2004 to 2016, with 12 winners, seven of which were black-type. Pletcher has plenty to be excited about as the meet continues with three possible contenders for the $12-million GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 28 and a slew promising juveniles.
KEEN ICE (c, 4, Curlin)
Donegal Racing’s Keen Ice is best known for handing Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) the only defeat of his 2015 campaign in last summer’s GI Travers S. while under the care of Dale Romans. Transferred to Pletcher after finishing a non-factor eighth in the G1 Dubai World Cup, the hulking bay was injured shortly after and did not make his first start for Pletcher until Oct. 7, finishing third in a Belmont allowance. A respectable third behind Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) and California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic next time Nov. 5, he was second to stablemate Stanford (Malibu Moon) in the GIII Harlan’s Holiday S. at Gulfstream Dec. 17.
“The plan for Keen Ice was to run in the Harlan’s Holiday even though we knew it was a little short of his best distance, but we felt like a race was important to prepare him for the Pegasus. I thought he ran very well considering that, like I said, the distance was a little short and the fractions were a little soft for a horse like him that likes to come from off the pace. He ran well, came out of it well and [owner] Jerry Crawford is in the process of securing a spot [in the Pegasus starting gate], so right now it looks like we will go forward for the Pegasus.”
STANFORD (c, 4, Malibu Moon)
Stonestreet Stables and the Coolmore contingent’s Stanford, who earned his first graded score in the Apr. 23 GII Charles Town Classic, was benched after a non-factor eighth in the GI Metropolitan H. at Belmont June 11. He made a successful return off the bench last time with a front running victory in the GIII Harlan’s Holiday S. last Saturday (video), after which Pletcher named the Pegasus as a possibility. However, Coolmore sold their Pegasus slot to Juddmonte Thursday and Stonestreet currently does not have a spot in the gate.
“I think [Coolmore selling their Pegasus spot] potentially could [affect Stanford’s chances of running in the Pegasus]. Coolmore owns 50% and Stonestreet owns 50%. I really haven’t had a chance to speak with everyone since his race and see what the plans are. I think we are going to see how he does between now and the time we have to make a decision. I would envision him pointing for Jan. 28 either to the Poseidon S. or the Pegasus, depending on what those connections decide. He came off the bench, ran a great race and he seems to be in good form, so we think Jan. 28 is in the cards. It is just a matter of which race. We would like to take him to Charles Town to defend his title [in the Apr. 22 $1 million GII Charles Town Classic]. We will see if there is a race between Jan. 28 and then or we will just go right to Charles Town. He seemed to like the track there last year, so we will take him back again this year.”
NEOLITHIC (c, 3, Harlan’s Holiday)
Starlight Racing’s Neolithic checked in second in Aqueduct’s GIII Discovery S. Nov. 11 and romped by nine lengths last time in a 1 1/16-mile allowance in Hallandale Dec. 14 (video), which Starlight’s Jack Wolf said was a prep for the Pegasus.
“He’s definitely pointing towards the Pegasus. Starlight owns a gate, but they are also working on some other ideas. I think, one way or another, we hope to have him in the Pegasus.”
FAJA (c, 2, Bodemeister)
Harrell Ventures LLC’s Faja was tabbed a “TDN Rising Star” after an ultra-impressive 8 3/4-length victory in his career bow going a mile at Gulfstream last Saturday (video).
“He’s an interesting colt. It took a little while for him to kind of get everything together and we were in no rush with him. He has very patient owners who just said, ‘Take your time.’ So, we brought him down to Palm Beach and he just started getting better and better. In particular, his last two breezes were quite good. I had a little reservation about running him first time out at the mile, but we were sort of running out of options. It was either go a mile this past Saturday or the next opportunity at Gulfstream was seven furlong, but not until Dec. 31. We said, ‘Well he’s ready. Let’s go ahead and go.’ He actually handled the mile quite well. Most likely scenario would be, we would come back in a one-other-than and go from there.”
FACT FINDING (c, 2, The Factor)
Coolmore and Stonestreet teamed up to purchase Fact Finding for 350,000gns at this year’s Tattersall’s Breeze-Up Sale and his record currently stands at a perfect three-for-three. Following a debut win at Saratoga Aug. 6 with a Keeneland allowance score Oct. 12, the juvenile earned “TDN Rising Star” status for his seven-length victory in a sloppy renewal of Gulfstream’s Smooth Air S. Dec. 10 (video).
“We haven’t nailed anything down for sure, but he seems to be doing well with a little bit of space between races. Having already won his first three starts, we got a good foundation in him at two, so we probably wouldn’t be thinking of anything until the beginning of February, which puts the [GII] Holy Bull [S.] in play on Feb. 4. That’s a possibility, but there are a lot of options. One good thing about the stakes programs, not only at Gulfstream, but at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn, is you have a lot of options. You just have to pick one when you think you’re ready, but I’d say right now the Holy Bull is a good possibility.”
BODE’S DREAM (f, 2, Bodemeister)
St. Elias Stable’s Bode’s Dream also boasts a perfect record, starting with a first out success at Gulfstream May 11 to provide her freshman sire with his first winner. Becoming Bodemeister’s first stakes winner with a victory in Belmont’s Astoria S. June 9, the gray was subsequently shelved, but returned with a decisive score in the House Party S. in Hallandale Dec. 10 (video).
“We are considering the Old Hat S. on Jan. 7. She seemed to come back in good form. She ran a sharp race. If we felt like we needed more time we could wait til the following month for the [GII] Forward Gal [S. Feb. 4], but we are leaning towards the Old Hat at the moment.”
DESTIN (c, 3, Giant’s Causeway)
Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Destin, a full-brother to GISW sire Creative Cause, showed a lot of promise early in his sophomore campaign, winning both the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and GII Tampa Bay Derby. Sixth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, the gray came up just a nose short in the GI Belmont S. June 11 and was third in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 30. He was last seen finishing ninth to Arrogate in the GI Travers S. Aug. 27.
“He is in training at Bridlewood in Ocala. We are hoping to get him in after the New Year and we don’t have any definitive plans at the moment.”
ZULU (c, 3, Bernardini)
Stonestreet Stables and the Coolmore contingent also joined forces to take home Zulu for $900,000 at last term’s Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training. The “TDN Rising Star” opened his account with a pair of impressive victories at Gulfstream and was second to $1.2 million KEESEP buy Mohaymen (Tapit) in the GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 27. Benched after he failed to fire in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 9, the bay returned a winner in Gulfstream’s Tamarac S. Dec. 18 (video).
“He came out [his last race] very well. It was a nice return for him and good to see him come back and run so well. Right now, I’d say that the [GIII] Hal’s Hope S. on Jan. 14 is a possibility, but he is more likely to wait until February for the [GII] Gulfstream Park H. [Feb. 11] going the mile.”
SYNDERGAARD (c, 2, Majesticperfection)
Capturing his career-bow against fellow Empire-breds at Saratoga Aug. 8, $450,000 OBSAPR buy Syndergaard was named a “TDN Rising Star” for his good-looking victory in the Spa’s NY-bred Funny Cide S. Aug. 26 (video). Coming up just a nose short of GI Hopeful S. winner Practical Joke (Into Mischief) after setting a swift early pace in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 8, the chestnut checked in fifth in the GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last time Nov. 5.
“Syndergaard is in Florida. He got a little vacation after the Breeders’ Cup and is at Stonestreet in Ocala, so I doubt we’d see him until March at the earliest. We would definitely point him towards a stake. I’m just not sure which one. We wanted to give him a little more of a break after [this year]. He will start back in training at Stonestreet sometime after the New Year and then we will work it out from there.”
THEORY (c, 2, Gemologist)
WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing’s Theory was arguably one of the most impressive debut winners of the Saratoga meet, romping by 5 1/2 lengths to become a “TDN Rising Star” July 30 (video). Capturing Belmont’s GIII Futurity S. next out Oct. 15, the bay was a disappointing 10th last time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and came down with a fever the day after the race.
“He just arrived back to us. He ended up having to stay in California for almost a month before we felt like he was good to ship. He went to WinStar to get a little bit of light training there. He arrived at Palm Beach Downs on Tuesday, so he has galloped a couple of days there. It shouldn’t take long for him to get his fitness level back, but we haven’t really locked in on a race or work schedule yet. Obviously he didn’t fire his ‘A’ race in the Breeders’ Cup, but being sick afterwards was a legitimate excuse for that.”
SWEET LORETTA (f, 2, Tapit)
Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable went to $750,000 to acquire Sweet Loretta as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale. Capturing her Monmouth Park unveiling by a dominant seven lengths June 18, the bay took Saratoga’s GIII Schuylerville S. next out July 22 and was a dead-heat winner of the Spa’s GI Spinaway S. Sept. 3 (video). She suffered the first loss of her career last time when 11th in the GI 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5.
“Sweet Loretta is getting a vacation at Crupi’s Farm in Ocala. I think she will probably start her back in training sometime after the New Year as well. She got a pretty significant cut going into the first turn [of the Breeders’ Cup] on her right front pastern and she had to have a lot of stitches for that. All of that has healed up very well and should not affect her moving forward from a soundness perspective. It was just a matter of getting all that healed up and freshening her up a little bit. We are looking forward to getting her back to Palm Beach Downs maybe in February.”
NONNA MELA (f, 2, Arch)
Running away to a 7 1/4-length victory in her career bow at Monmouth July 2, St. Elias Stable’s Nonna Mela won Saratoga’s GII Adirondack S. next out Aug. 19 and was most recently fourth in Belmont’s GI Frizette S. Oct. 8.
“She is also at Crupi’s and I think she is a little ahead of the schedule that Sweet Loretta is on. We will probably see her around the same time, maybe a little bit earlier than Sweet Loretta.”
CHERRY LODGE (f, 2 Bernardini)
Gainesway Stable’s Cherry Lodge was named a “TDN Rising Star” following her debut graduation at Saratoga Aug. 7 (video) and was third behind a pair of dead-heat winners in the Spinaway a month later. The bay was last seen completing the exacta in Belmont’s GIII Matron S. Oct. 16.
“Cherry Lodge is also in Ocala and we expect her to go back into training right after the beginning of the year as well.”
TAPWRIT (c, 2, Tapit)
Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert LaPenta went to $1.2 million to acquire Tapwrit at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale last summer. Breaking out at the start of his Saratoga debut Sept. 3, he finished 10th, but rebounded to don cap and gown at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 6 and won the Pulpit S. in Hallandale last time Dec. 10 (video).
“Tapwrit is doing great. He came out of his last race well. We are leaning towards going back to two turns with him next time, so that kind of eliminates the [one-mile] Mucho Macho Man [S. Jan. 7], but aside from that we haven’t really locked in on a particular race. Everything is in play from Oaklawn to the Fair Grounds to Tampa and even the Holy Bull. Some of it will depend on travel arrangements and those kind of things, such as how available the flights are. He is doing really well and will be showing up hopefully in one of those stakes next time.”
SONIC MULE (c, 2, Distorted Humor)
A first-out winner at Monmouth this summer, Calumet Farm’s Sonic Mule completed the trifecta in the GII Saratoga Special in August and filled that spot again back in Oceanport in the Sapling S. Sept. 4. Second in the Armed Forces S. at Gulfstream Oct. 1, the bay captured an allowance at Gulfstream West Nov. 3 and took the Buffalo Man S. back in Hallandale Dec. 10.
“He is either going to the [GIII] Hutcheson [S. Jan. 7] or the Mucho Macho Man. We will play it by ear and see how he trains, but we are pointing for Jan. 7.”
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Spending several years studying under Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Pletcher went out on his own in December of 1995 and saddled his first winner just three months later. In the 21 years since, he has trained many of racing’s elite, such as Hall of Famer Ashado; champion and GI Belmont S.-winning filly Rags to Riches; Eclipse winners and top sires Speightstown and Uncle Mo; and more recently MGISWs Verrazano, Curalina and Liam’s Map.
The 49-year-old, who has won 31 trainer titles in New York, has gotten off to a stellar start at the Gulfstream championship meet, where he has been leading trainer for 13 straight years from 2004 to 2016, with 12 winners, seven of which were black-type. Pletcher has plenty to be excited about as the meet continues with three possible contenders for the $12-million GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 28 and a slew promising juveniles.
KEEN ICE (c, 4, Curlin)
Donegal Racing’s Keen Ice is best known for handing Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) the only defeat of his 2015 campaign in last summer’s GI Travers S. while under the care of Dale Romans. Transferred to Pletcher after finishing a non-factor eighth in the G1 Dubai World Cup, the hulking bay was injured shortly after and did not make his first start for Pletcher until Oct. 7, finishing third in a Belmont allowance. A respectable third behind Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) and California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic next time Nov. 5, he was second to stablemate Stanford (Malibu Moon) in the GIII Harlan’s Holiday S. at Gulfstream Dec. 17.
“The plan for Keen Ice was to run in the Harlan’s Holiday even though we knew it was a little short of his best distance, but we felt like a race was important to prepare him for the Pegasus. I thought he ran very well considering that, like I said, the distance was a little short and the fractions were a little soft for a horse like him that likes to come from off the pace. He ran well, came out of it well and [owner] Jerry Crawford is in the process of securing a spot [in the Pegasus starting gate], so right now it looks like we will go forward for the Pegasus.”
STANFORD (c, 4, Malibu Moon)
Stonestreet Stables and the Coolmore contingent’s Stanford, who earned his first graded score in the Apr. 23 GII Charles Town Classic, was benched after a non-factor eighth in the GI Metropolitan H. at Belmont June 11. He made a successful return off the bench last time with a front running victory in the GIII Harlan’s Holiday S. last Saturday (video), after which Pletcher named the Pegasus as a possibility. However, Coolmore sold their Pegasus slot to Juddmonte Thursday and Stonestreet currently does not have a spot in the gate.
“I think [Coolmore selling their Pegasus spot] potentially could [affect Stanford’s chances of running in the Pegasus]. Coolmore owns 50% and Stonestreet owns 50%. I really haven’t had a chance to speak with everyone since his race and see what the plans are. I think we are going to see how he does between now and the time we have to make a decision. I would envision him pointing for Jan. 28 either to the Poseidon S. or the Pegasus, depending on what those connections decide. He came off the bench, ran a great race and he seems to be in good form, so we think Jan. 28 is in the cards. It is just a matter of which race. We would like to take him to Charles Town to defend his title [in the Apr. 22 $1 million GII Charles Town Classic]. We will see if there is a race between Jan. 28 and then or we will just go right to Charles Town. He seemed to like the track there last year, so we will take him back again this year.”
NEOLITHIC (c, 3, Harlan’s Holiday)
Starlight Racing’s Neolithic checked in second in Aqueduct’s GIII Discovery S. Nov. 11 and romped by nine lengths last time in a 1 1/16-mile allowance in Hallandale Dec. 14 (video), which Starlight’s Jack Wolf said was a prep for the Pegasus.
“He’s definitely pointing towards the Pegasus. Starlight owns a gate, but they are also working on some other ideas. I think, one way or another, we hope to have him in the Pegasus.”
FAJA (c, 2, Bodemeister)
Harrell Ventures LLC’s Faja was tabbed a “TDN Rising Star” after an ultra-impressive 8 3/4-length victory in his career bow going a mile at Gulfstream last Saturday (video).
“He’s an interesting colt. It took a little while for him to kind of get everything together and we were in no rush with him. He has very patient owners who just said, ‘Take your time.’ So, we brought him down to Palm Beach and he just started getting better and better. In particular, his last two breezes were quite good. I had a little reservation about running him first time out at the mile, but we were sort of running out of options. It was either go a mile this past Saturday or the next opportunity at Gulfstream was seven furlong, but not until Dec. 31. We said, ‘Well he’s ready. Let’s go ahead and go.’ He actually handled the mile quite well. Most likely scenario would be, we would come back in a one-other-than and go from there.”
FACT FINDING (c, 2, The Factor)
Coolmore and Stonestreet teamed up to purchase Fact Finding for 350,000gns at this year’s Tattersall’s Breeze-Up Sale and his record currently stands at a perfect three-for-three. Following a debut win at Saratoga Aug. 6 with a Keeneland allowance score Oct. 12, the juvenile earned “TDN Rising Star” status for his seven-length victory in a sloppy renewal of Gulfstream’s Smooth Air S. Dec. 10 (video).
“We haven’t nailed anything down for sure, but he seems to be doing well with a little bit of space between races. Having already won his first three starts, we got a good foundation in him at two, so we probably wouldn’t be thinking of anything until the beginning of February, which puts the [GII] Holy Bull [S.] in play on Feb. 4. That’s a possibility, but there are a lot of options. One good thing about the stakes programs, not only at Gulfstream, but at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn, is you have a lot of options. You just have to pick one when you think you’re ready, but I’d say right now the Holy Bull is a good possibility.”
BODE’S DREAM (f, 2, Bodemeister)
St. Elias Stable’s Bode’s Dream also boasts a perfect record, starting with a first out success at Gulfstream May 11 to provide her freshman sire with his first winner. Becoming Bodemeister’s first stakes winner with a victory in Belmont’s Astoria S. June 9, the gray was subsequently shelved, but returned with a decisive score in the House Party S. in Hallandale Dec. 10 (video).
“We are considering the Old Hat S. on Jan. 7. She seemed to come back in good form. She ran a sharp race. If we felt like we needed more time we could wait til the following month for the [GII] Forward Gal [S. Feb. 4], but we are leaning towards the Old Hat at the moment.”
DESTIN (c, 3, Giant’s Causeway)
Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Destin, a full-brother to GISW sire Creative Cause, showed a lot of promise early in his sophomore campaign, winning both the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and GII Tampa Bay Derby. Sixth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, the gray came up just a nose short in the GI Belmont S. June 11 and was third in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 30. He was last seen finishing ninth to Arrogate in the GI Travers S. Aug. 27.
“He is in training at Bridlewood in Ocala. We are hoping to get him in after the New Year and we don’t have any definitive plans at the moment.”
ZULU (c, 3, Bernardini)
Stonestreet Stables and the Coolmore contingent also joined forces to take home Zulu for $900,000 at last term’s Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training. The “TDN Rising Star” opened his account with a pair of impressive victories at Gulfstream and was second to $1.2 million KEESEP buy Mohaymen (Tapit) in the GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 27. Benched after he failed to fire in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 9, the bay returned a winner in Gulfstream’s Tamarac S. Dec. 18 (video).
“He came out [his last race] very well. It was a nice return for him and good to see him come back and run so well. Right now, I’d say that the [GIII] Hal’s Hope S. on Jan. 14 is a possibility, but he is more likely to wait until February for the [GII] Gulfstream Park H. [Feb. 11] going the mile.”
SYNDERGAARD (c, 2, Majesticperfection)
Capturing his career-bow against fellow Empire-breds at Saratoga Aug. 8, $450,000 OBSAPR buy Syndergaard was named a “TDN Rising Star” for his good-looking victory in the Spa’s NY-bred Funny Cide S. Aug. 26 (video). Coming up just a nose short of GI Hopeful S. winner Practical Joke (Into Mischief) after setting a swift early pace in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 8, the chestnut checked in fifth in the GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last time Nov. 5.
“Syndergaard is in Florida. He got a little vacation after the Breeders’ Cup and is at Stonestreet in Ocala, so I doubt we’d see him until March at the earliest. We would definitely point him towards a stake. I’m just not sure which one. We wanted to give him a little more of a break after [this year]. He will start back in training at Stonestreet sometime after the New Year and then we will work it out from there.”
THEORY (c, 2, Gemologist)
WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing’s Theory was arguably one of the most impressive debut winners of the Saratoga meet, romping by 5 1/2 lengths to become a “TDN Rising Star” July 30 (video). Capturing Belmont’s GIII Futurity S. next out Oct. 15, the bay was a disappointing 10th last time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and came down with a fever the day after the race.
“He just arrived back to us. He ended up having to stay in California for almost a month before we felt like he was good to ship. He went to WinStar to get a little bit of light training there. He arrived at Palm Beach Downs on Tuesday, so he has galloped a couple of days there. It shouldn’t take long for him to get his fitness level back, but we haven’t really locked in on a race or work schedule yet. Obviously he didn’t fire his ‘A’ race in the Breeders’ Cup, but being sick afterwards was a legitimate excuse for that.”
SWEET LORETTA (f, 2, Tapit)
Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable went to $750,000 to acquire Sweet Loretta as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale. Capturing her Monmouth Park unveiling by a dominant seven lengths June 18, the bay took Saratoga’s GIII Schuylerville S. next out July 22 and was a dead-heat winner of the Spa’s GI Spinaway S. Sept. 3 (video). She suffered the first loss of her career last time when 11th in the GI 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5.
“Sweet Loretta is getting a vacation at Crupi’s Farm in Ocala. I think she will probably start her back in training sometime after the New Year as well. She got a pretty significant cut going into the first turn [of the Breeders’ Cup] on her right front pastern and she had to have a lot of stitches for that. All of that has healed up very well and should not affect her moving forward from a soundness perspective. It was just a matter of getting all that healed up and freshening her up a little bit. We are looking forward to getting her back to Palm Beach Downs maybe in February.”
NONNA MELA (f, 2, Arch)
Running away to a 7 1/4-length victory in her career bow at Monmouth July 2, St. Elias Stable’s Nonna Mela won Saratoga’s GII Adirondack S. next out Aug. 19 and was most recently fourth in Belmont’s GI Frizette S. Oct. 8.
“She is also at Crupi’s and I think she is a little ahead of the schedule that Sweet Loretta is on. We will probably see her around the same time, maybe a little bit earlier than Sweet Loretta.”
CHERRY LODGE (f, 2 Bernardini)
Gainesway Stable’s Cherry Lodge was named a “TDN Rising Star” following her debut graduation at Saratoga Aug. 7 (video) and was third behind a pair of dead-heat winners in the Spinaway a month later. The bay was last seen completing the exacta in Belmont’s GIII Matron S. Oct. 16.
“Cherry Lodge is also in Ocala and we expect her to go back into training right after the beginning of the year as well.”
TAPWRIT (c, 2, Tapit)
Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert LaPenta went to $1.2 million to acquire Tapwrit at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale last summer. Breaking out at the start of his Saratoga debut Sept. 3, he finished 10th, but rebounded to don cap and gown at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 6 and won the Pulpit S. in Hallandale last time Dec. 10 (video).
“Tapwrit is doing great. He came out of his last race well. We are leaning towards going back to two turns with him next time, so that kind of eliminates the [one-mile] Mucho Macho Man [S. Jan. 7], but aside from that we haven’t really locked in on a particular race. Everything is in play from Oaklawn to the Fair Grounds to Tampa and even the Holy Bull. Some of it will depend on travel arrangements and those kind of things, such as how available the flights are. He is doing really well and will be showing up hopefully in one of those stakes next time.”
SONIC MULE (c, 2, Distorted Humor)
A first-out winner at Monmouth this summer, Calumet Farm’s Sonic Mule completed the trifecta in the GII Saratoga Special in August and filled that spot again back in Oceanport in the Sapling S. Sept. 4. Second in the Armed Forces S. at Gulfstream Oct. 1, the bay captured an allowance at Gulfstream West Nov. 3 and took the Buffalo Man S. back in Hallandale Dec. 10.
“He is either going to the [GIII] Hutcheson [S. Jan. 7] or the Mucho Macho Man. We will play it by ear and see how he trains, but we are pointing for Jan. 7.”
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