The Return of a Perfect Constitution

The field was nearly three-quarters of the way into the running of this year’s Grade 1 Florida Derby and it looked like the undefeated 3-1 shot on the rail was in deep trouble. Wildcat Red and General A Rod were running 1-2, while the favorite, Cairo Prince, was poised on his outside. Constitution looked to have nowhere to go. But then a gap opened on the rail, and the good looking son of Tapit did what only good horses do.

Accelerating to the hole like an all-pro running back, Constitution took full advantage of the small opening, and then battled determinedly all the way to the wire. At the finish, the WinStar runner had forged to a neck victory in the signature race at Gulfstream Park. Making it all the more impressive was that Constitution did all this in only his third start, and his first stakes race. The future was indeed bright for the well bred bay. Unfortunately, he suffered a hairline fracture soon after, and has not run since. The long wait for the return of the Todd Pletcher trained three-year-old is almost over, though, as Constitution will face eight rivals in a 1 1/16-mile allowance/optional claimer Sunday at Belmont Park.

Things got started for the $400,000 yearling purchase this January in a seven panel maiden race at Gulfstream. Despite a flat footed start, Constitution rolled up into contention on fast fractions, before driving to a one-length debut victory. Next came an eye-catching 3 ½-length score in an 8 ½ furlong allowance race in February. It was labeled as an allowance race, but in truth the 6th race on the Fountain of Youth undercard was so much more.

In what turned out to be one of the key races of the year, the allowance affair saw three of the top four finishers go on to grade 1 victories soon after. As good as the field was, it was all about Constitution as he carried Javier Castellano to an impressive and easy front running victory in racehorse time of 1:42 flat. Left in his wake that day were Tonalist and Wicked Strong.

There would be no Kentucky Derby for the son of Tapit but now after some healing time back home at WinStar, the winner of $649,350 is ready to continue a career that started with so much promise.

Carded as the 8th race on Sunday, Constitution will need to handle a field of salty veterans if he is to further his unblemished career. David Jacobson has two in the race, and both could be dangerous. Praetereo and Spa City Fever are both seasoned veterans claimed by the New York trainer last year. The six-year-old Praetereo enters Sunday’s race off one of the best races in his career, when just missing in a fast stakes race at Delaware Park. His stablemate, and two years his senior, Spa City Fever is a speedy winner of nearly $600,000.

Besides Constitution, Easter Gift has the most back class of the bunch. The graded stakes winner finished off 2013 with an excellent third to Will Take Charge and Game on Dude in the Clark at Churchill Downs, but has yet to show any of his previous good form in two poor starts this year. Others in the Constitution return event include Don Dulce, for Jason Servis, who finished second in three consecutive stakes races over the winter, and Dawly, a recent  allowance winner from the red hot barn of Rudy Rodriguez.