Pletcher says it's on to the Hopeful Stakes for Sombeyay

Sombeyay came out of his neck victory over Silver Strike in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford in good order, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning.

In the six-furlong sprint, Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano kept Somebeyay near the pacesetters, sitting off Bano Solo by one length a quarter-mile in and one length behind Silver Strike at a half mile before outkicking Strike Silver in a race for juveniles.

"He came back well, I was pleased with the way he did everything," Pletcher said. "The thing that pleased me was having him as close to the pace as he was. The track was trending towards being close to the pace and my concern going in was that he'd get shuffled back and be a bit further back than he wanted to be. He actually put himself in a good spot. He was a touch keen at one point there but then Javier was able to tip him outside." 

Somebeyay, who has two wins in three career starts, could be targeting the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful on Saratoga's Closing Day on September 3.

Ivy Bell, who breezed a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.18 on Saturday on the Oklahoma training track, remains on schedule for the Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Handicap on July 29. The 5-year-old Kentucky bred, who finished second to Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 9 at Belmont, has one win and four runner-up efforts since November.

"She worked very well and came out of it in good order and targeting the Shuvee," Pletcher said.

Hi Happy remains bound for the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green on July 28. The Argentinian-bred put in his final work before the 1 3/8-mile turf route, going four furlongs in 49.66 seconds on the Oklahoma dirt track on Saturday. 

"He's ready to go in the Bowling Green," Pletcher said. "He's been a model of consistency and seems adaptable to multiple pace scenarios and multiple distances. He's easy to train; very straightforward and professional."

Hi Happy was third last out in the Grade 1 Manhattan on June 9, which came on the heels of back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 31 at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 1 Man o' War on May 12 at Belmont.