Pletcher says Anchor Down will likely target Cigar Mile
Todd Pletcher's Super Saturday delegation have returned from their respective assignments at Belmont in good order, the trainer reported Sunday morning.
Alto Racing's Anchor Down, who earned a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his two-length victory in the Grade 2 Kelso, will likely target the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on November 26 at Aqueduct Racetrack, though Pletcher added a bid in the Breeders' Cup is not entirely out of the question.
"We're still probably leaning toward the Cigar Mile," Pletcher said, "but we'll leave all the options open now and play it by ear."
Pletcher said that Sumaya U.S. Stable's multiple graded stakes winner Protonico has checked out with no issues after being vanned off following his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
"Javier [Castellano] thought he seemed a little funny when he first pulled up so they took the cautious route and vanned him back, but he's been fine," he said. "We'll see how he is in the next few days but it probably won't alter anything at this point unless something shows up."
Grade 1 Champagne runner-up Syndergaard remains under consideration for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Sentient Jet Juvenile after losing a hard-fought duel with Practical Joke, coming up a nose short in his graded stakes debut.
"He looked good this morning," said Pletcher. "It was a tough beat. He went pretty fast early but showed a lot of courage. He dug in and fought hard. He was in front right before the wire and right after the wire. It's just one of those tough head bobs. We'll take a few days and discuss it with everyone, but I think he ran well enough to keep the Breeders' Cup in mind."
A noted Dallas Cowboys fan, Pletcher met with Noah Syndergaard, the All-Star pitcher for the New York Mets, and a fellow Texan, who was on hand at Belmont Saturday afternoon to cheer on his four-legged counterpart.
"I don't follow baseball as closely but I catch some of the games," said Pletcher. "He seemed like a really nice guy, a really humble guy. He came by the barn afterwards and kind of enjoyed just hanging out and seeing the horse. He was a good guy."
Source: NYRA Communications