Pletcher Wins Two Grade I Races at Saratoga Saturday
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Photo:
Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Todd Pletcher continued to close strongly in the waning days of the 147th Saratoga Race Course meet, sending out Liam's Map and Rachel's Valentina to Grade 1 victories on Saturday and vaulting past Chad Brown in the trainer standings to take a two-win lead heading into Sunday's card.
Liam's Map scored impressively in the $600,000 Woodward, taking the field gate to wire to win by 4 ¾ lengths for Teresa Viola Racing Stables in an exceptional final time of 1:47.44 for the 1 1/8 miles. The win was much deserved for the son of Unbridled's Song, who earlier in the meet suffered a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of Honor Code in the Grade 1 Whitney.
Also in the Whitney, Pletcher sent out Repole Stable's Coach Inge to a second-place finish after the son of Big Brown stalked the pace set by his stablemate and staved off a bid from Grade 1 winner Wicked Strong.
"I thought Liam's Map was fantastic and I thought Coach Inge ran a really big race, as well," said Pletcher, who also saddled Mylute (fifth) and Protonico (eighth) in the race. "I thought it was a good result."
Pletcher said Liam's Map will train up to either the Breeders' Cup Classic or Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, while Coach Inge is likely headed to the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational on October 3 at Belmont Park.
A homebred daughter of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, Rachel's Valentina stretched out successfully from six to seven furlongs to take the $350,000 Spinaway. The 2-year-old filly stalked the pace along the rail in the Spinaway before angling out at the top of the stretch, edging clear, and repelling a late challenge from fellow second-time starter Tap to It.
"I was very, very pleased," Pletcher said of the regally-bred filly's effort. "I thought she was away a little more alertly and put herself into the race and closed resolutely. She's really a quality filly."
Owned by Stonestreet Stables, Rachel's Valentina could show up next in the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette on October 3 at Belmont, the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland, or train up to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, according to Pletcher.
Designed for War, a debut winner at the Spa last summer, added to Pletcher's tally on Saturday taking the sixth race via disqualification. Entering Sunday, Pletcher held a 32-30 advantage over Brown, who had been atop the standings for the past few weeks.
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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