Prospect Watch: Pletcher unveils 5 new sophomores
It’s not uncommon for trainer Todd Pletcher to win a large number of maiden races during Florida’s winter racing season. At both Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, Pletcher trainees – especially 3-year-olds – are dangerous at this time of year.
On Saturday, Pletcher is slated to unveil five unraced sophomores in Florida, including four at Gulfstream Park. We’ll highlight the Pletcher quintet plus one Shug McGaughey trainee in this week’s Prospect Watch.
Gulfstream Park Race 4: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:27 p.m. EST)
No. 3 Carronade
Age: 3
Pedigree: Lord Nelson–Honour Colony, by Honour and Glory
Purchase price: $75,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Carronade might not be the most expensive youngster debuting this weekend, but that doesn’t mean his pedigree lacks potential. Sire Lord Nelson won a trio of Grade 1 stakes sprinting, while dam Honour Colony was sufficiently long-winded to win the Lady Canterbury racing about one mile over the Canterbury Park turf course.
Pletcher wins at an excellent 21 percent rate with horses debuting in maiden special weights, and Honour Colony has produced five winners from seven starters. So don’t be surprised if Carronade produces a competitive effort in his first run under colors. Take note, he wrapped up his pre-race training with a bullet half-mile from the Palm Beach Downs starting gate in 48.6 seconds.
No. 9 Iron Works
Age: 3
Pedigree: Distorted Humor–Silverpocketsfull, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: $550,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Purchased for more than half a million dollars at age 2, Iron Works arrives at Gulfstream off a steady string of workouts at Palm Beach Downs, including a couple of bullet five-furlong moves. His sire, Distorted Humor, is best known for siring 2003 Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner Funny Cide and 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer, so there’s potential for Iron Works to develop into a classics type.
The dam side of Iron Works’ pedigree also holds promise, since Silverpocketsfull was good enough to place in the Ashland (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Jockey Luis Saez (a 40 percent winner when teaming with Pletcher in the last two months) is named to ride, so don’t be surprised if Iron Works produces a winning effort on Saturday, with even better to come down the road.
Gulfstream Park Race 7: Maiden special weight (one mile, 3:05 p.m.)
No. 2 Charge It
Age: 3
Pedigree: Tapit–I’ll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
It’s safe to say Charge It is bred like an elite racehorse. The gray colt is a son of three-time leading sire Tapit out of I’ll Take Charge, a daughter of the three-time Grade 1-winning mare Take Charge Lady. This means I’ll Take Charge is a half-sister to champion Will Take Charge, Grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy and Charming, the dam of champion Take Charge Brandi and three-time Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach. Take Charge Brandi, in turn, is the dam of recent Jerome winner Courvoisier.
With this spectacular pedigree in tow, Charge It has the potential to develop into a Grade 1-winning route runner. The Todd Pletcher trainee has put together a solid work tab and will be ridden by Luis Saez. What’s not to like? This Whisper Hill Farm homebred looks ready to roll on debut.
No. 6 Calipari
Age: 3
Pedigree: Curlin–Centrique, by Malibu Moon
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
The second Pletcher trainee in this field also has put together an encouraging work tab, highlighted by a bullet half-mile from the Palm Beach Downs starting gate in 48.6 seconds. Three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz is named to ride the stoutly bred son of Curlin, whose dam Centrique won the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper and placed in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2).
Calipari’s pedigree blends speed (Centrique) with stamina (Curlin), so he has the potential to develop into an effective classics contender. I’m excited to see how he performs.
No. 9 Trending
Age: 3
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Theyskens’ Theory, by Bernardini
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
A son of champion and successful sire Uncle Mo, Trending was produced by Theyskens’ Theory, a daughter of Preakness hero Bernardini. Although this pedigree is largely geared toward success on dirt, it’s interesting to note that Theyskens’ Theory placed multiple times at the Grade/Group 1 level on turf.
Theyskens’ Theory has yet to foal a stakes winner from five starters, although four have at least visited the winner’s circle. Shug McGaughey is off to a hot start at Gulfstream (winning at a 20 percent rate), and Trending is bred top and bottom to thrive running long. So this one-mile maiden heat looks like a perfect spot for Trending debut.
Tampa Bay Downs Race 8: Maiden special weight (one mile and 40 yards, 3:55 p.m.)
No. 6 In the Union
Age: 3
Pedigree: Union Rags–Munusara, by Bernardini
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Classic winners dot the pedigree of In the Union. Sire Union Rags won the Belmont Stakes, while dam sire Bernardini – as mentioned previously –counted the Preakness as his signature triumph. In the Union has shown speed at Palm Beach Downs, most notably clocking five furlongs in 1:00.20 seconds, and he’ll be ridden on Saturday by hot jockey Daniel Centeno.
Since 2017, Pletcher has gone 21-for-58 (36 percent) saddling 3-year-olds at Tampa Bay Downs, including a maiden victory by 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. Only time will tell if In the Union can follow the same path as Always Dreaming, but at the very least, a competitive debut effort should be in the offing.