Given the history, Pletcher likes Tapwrit's inside Whitney 2018 post
Trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday morning he is encouraged by Tapwrit's inside post in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Stakes as the 2017 Belmont Stakes winner prepares to make his third start of the year.
"Actually I like the draw," said the three-time Whitney-winning trainer. "I think he's a horse that's better off being in the mix, so being inside is probably better for him. Sometimes, he gets a little distracted when he's on the outside."
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Bridlewood Farm, Gainesway Stable, and Whisper Hill Farm, the 4-year-old Tapit colt is seeking his first win since the Belmont. Tapwrit was tabled last summer following a fourth-place finish in the Travers which, as with the Whitney, runs at Saratoga.
Prior to last year's Belmont, Tapwrit stamped himself an early Kentucky Derby contender with a 4 ½-length win in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, before running fifth in the Grade 2 Blue Grass and sixth in the Derby. He has raced twice in 2018, finishing third in an optional claimer in June at Belmont Park and a wide fifth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 7 under jockey Jose Ortiz.
"It kind of reminded me of the Blue Grass a little bit," Pletcher said of the Suburban. "He didn't get away well and he got outside and kind of lost his focus a little bit. I think he gets distracted. But, he's come out of it well. He's had two good breezes here and we're expecting a good performance from him.
"It was his second start off a long layoff," he added. "Jose said when he came back that he felt like at the time he made the right decision when he opted to go outside. They kind of kept fanning him out and fanning him out. He said if he had a do-over, he would've stayed inside. I don't think he was going to beat Diversify that day, but I do think he would've been closer."
Tapwrit, installed at 6-1 on the morning line, will be ridden for the first time in the Whitney by Hall of Fame jockey and four-time Whitney winner John Velazquez.