Pletcher could have two contenders in Cigar Mile 2017
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Photo:
Lauren King
Trainer Todd Pletcher said Qatar Racing and Starlight Racing's Neolithic came out of his Friday breeze in good order as he readies for the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap.
Neolithic, who is coming off a second-place effort in the Grade 2 Fayette on October 28 at Keeneland, was clocked in 48.81 seconds on Belmont Park's training track, working in company with Vulcan's Forge.
"He worked good. We'll talk to the connections and see what they want to do and find out about jockey assignments," said Pletcher.
Vulcan's Forge, a 4-year-old Giant's Causeway colt, is also a possibility for the Cigar Mile after finishing second in an optional claimer on November 12 at the Big A, though Pletcher said he will talk to the connections to determine final plans. Vulcan's Forge is owned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Team Valor International.
Neolithic, who is coming off a second-place effort in the Grade 2 Fayette on October 28 at Keeneland, was clocked in 48.81 seconds on Belmont Park's training track, working in company with Vulcan's Forge.
"He worked good. We'll talk to the connections and see what they want to do and find out about jockey assignments," said Pletcher.
Vulcan's Forge, a 4-year-old Giant's Causeway colt, is also a possibility for the Cigar Mile after finishing second in an optional claimer on November 12 at the Big A, though Pletcher said he will talk to the connections to determine final plans. Vulcan's Forge is owned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Team Valor International.
Neolithic has finished in the money in his last three races since a layoff of more than four months following his third-place effort in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 25.
The 4-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday won against optional claiming company in his return on August 5 at Saratoga and ran third in the Grade 1 Woodward on September 2 before earning a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in the Fayette last month. Both graded stakes were contested at 1 1/8 miles.
"He got kind of sick when he first came back out of the World Cup - he had a little temperature - so we were forced to give him some additional time off," Pletcher said. "But he's come back with three good races. This will be kind of a new twist for him; a one-turn mile. He's had success at seven-eighths and he's also had success going a little bit further. Hopefully, he's tactical enough to be behind the main speed and ahead of the main closers and find that spot. It'll be interesting to see."
Neolithic will be running at Aqueduct for the first time since running second in the 2016 Grade 3 Discovery. The Kentucky-bred has plenty of experience against top-level competition, finishing third to Shaman Ghost and Arrogate in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 28 at Gulfstream Park.
"He's pretty versatile and he shows up and runs hard wherever you take him," Pletcher said. "He's followed up with a couple of good, quality purse-earnings against some of the best horses in the world. I like the fact that he's run well at whatever distance and whatever track we've been at."
Calumet Farm's Biblical continues to train well heading into his stakes debut in the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen for juveniles on Cigar Mile Day, Pletcher said. The Tapit colt broke his maiden in his third race last out, rallying from fifth to post a 1 ¾-length score on November 17 at Aqueduct at the Remsen distance of 1 1/8 miles.
"He didn't break great that day, he kind of veered in and it compromised his early position," Pletcher said. "We're looking forward to seeing him step up."
Marconi is listed as a possibility for the Remsen, though Pletcher said he will likely target either a mile and an eighth race later this year at Aqueduct or race at Gulfstream after running second in his debut on November 17 at Aqueduct, adding that the two-week turnaround time might be too much at this stage.
"He's still a maiden and he's only run once, so we're learning towards giving him some more time," Pletcher said.
Source: NYRA communications
The 4-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday won against optional claiming company in his return on August 5 at Saratoga and ran third in the Grade 1 Woodward on September 2 before earning a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in the Fayette last month. Both graded stakes were contested at 1 1/8 miles.
"He got kind of sick when he first came back out of the World Cup - he had a little temperature - so we were forced to give him some additional time off," Pletcher said. "But he's come back with three good races. This will be kind of a new twist for him; a one-turn mile. He's had success at seven-eighths and he's also had success going a little bit further. Hopefully, he's tactical enough to be behind the main speed and ahead of the main closers and find that spot. It'll be interesting to see."
Neolithic will be running at Aqueduct for the first time since running second in the 2016 Grade 3 Discovery. The Kentucky-bred has plenty of experience against top-level competition, finishing third to Shaman Ghost and Arrogate in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 28 at Gulfstream Park.
"He's pretty versatile and he shows up and runs hard wherever you take him," Pletcher said. "He's followed up with a couple of good, quality purse-earnings against some of the best horses in the world. I like the fact that he's run well at whatever distance and whatever track we've been at."
Calumet Farm's Biblical continues to train well heading into his stakes debut in the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen for juveniles on Cigar Mile Day, Pletcher said. The Tapit colt broke his maiden in his third race last out, rallying from fifth to post a 1 ¾-length score on November 17 at Aqueduct at the Remsen distance of 1 1/8 miles.
"He didn't break great that day, he kind of veered in and it compromised his early position," Pletcher said. "We're looking forward to seeing him step up."
Marconi is listed as a possibility for the Remsen, though Pletcher said he will likely target either a mile and an eighth race later this year at Aqueduct or race at Gulfstream after running second in his debut on November 17 at Aqueduct, adding that the two-week turnaround time might be too much at this stage.
"He's still a maiden and he's only run once, so we're learning towards giving him some more time," Pletcher said.
Source: NYRA communications
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