Havana Might Return in Swale

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he is considering bringing back Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Havana in the $150,000 Swale (G3) on March 1 rather than the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (G2) on Feb. 22.            

The Swale is run at seven furlongs, while the Fountain of Youth is contested at a mile and a sixteenth. Havana captured the one-mile Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park on Oct. 5 in his second career start.            

“I think I’m going to be in the Swale with him,” Pletcher. “I just missed too much time and got behind schedule a touch. I’m hoping to make the work tab with him probably later this week and then point for the Swale.”            

Pletcher said Havana, who took a lead into the stretch before settling for second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by New Year’s Day, is still a Kentucky Derby candidate.            

“If he were to run well in the Swale and then come back, I think that gives him time for two preps,” he said. “Only one of them will be around two turns, that’s all.”            

Commissioner, who pushed his win streak to two races in an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream on Jan. 3, will make his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth, while Intense Holiday is also a consideration for the race off his third-place effort in the $400,000 Miller Lite Holy Bull (G2) on Jan. 25.

Undefeated Catron will step up to stakes company for the first time in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) on Feb. 8, but unbeaten stablemate Zaikov will miss the race, Pletcher said. Owned by Arindel Farm, Zaikov returned from a nine-month layoff to win an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream on Dec. 13 but has had only two works since, on Dec. 29 and Jan. 13.            

“I’ve missed a little bit too much time,” Pletcher said of Zaikov, who he would like to find another race during the meet. “We need to get him back on the work tab this weekend, hopefully.”