Curalina returns from her Shuvee win in fine fettle

Picking up her fourth career graded stakes win over a sloppy main track in Sunday's Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap, trainer Todd Pletcher said that Curalina returned from the race in fine fettle.

"She came back in great shape this morning," said Pletcher. "She seemed to take the race very well."

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Pletcher went on one race later to saddle 3-year-old Caribbean to a maiden-breaking victory for the same connections in a race that was moved off the turf.

"We weren't 100 percent sure what to expect from him [Caribbean] first time on the dirt, but we felt like he trained well enough to give it a try," said Pletcher. "I think it was his second start as a gelding and I think that kind of helped. He's behaved much more professionally in the paddock and he ran a little more professionally as well. It was good to see."

With two wins on Sunday's card, Pletcher is now in second place in the trainer standings, only one behind current leading trainer Chad Brown, who has nine. Both trainers have entries slated for Monday's stake the $100,000 Coronation Cup with Lost Raven and Brinkley for Pletcher and Ava's Kitten for Brown to close out Week 2 at Saratoga.

Source: NYRA Communications