Pletcher Has Multiple Spinaway Entrants

Trainer Todd Pletcher has nine 2-year-old fillies nominated to Sunday’s Grade 1 Spinaway, but is likely to start “only” four – Valiant Passion, Sky Hosoya, Stopspendingmaria and R Heat Lightning.

“I would be surprised if Sky Hosoya were not the pacesetter,” said Pletcher of the Bluegrass Cat filly, a 9 ¾ length maiden winner at the Spa on July 29. “With Stopspendingmaria, in her last race [Grade 3 Schuylerville] she had to gun from the rail over a sloppy track, we’ll look to let her settle into a rhythm.”

Pletcher, who has saddled three Spinaway winners in Adieu (2005), Ashado (2003) and Circle of Life (1999) said that Javier Castellano would be aboard Sky Hosoya, John Velazquez on Stopspendingmaria, Julien Leparoux on Valiant Passion, and Garrett Gomez on R Heat Lightning.

The trainer said that Summer Laugh, who had been under consideration for the seven-furlong race, would instead await an overnight stakes at Belmont Park.