2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Annapolis leads Pletcher's 2-year-old workers
At Belmont Park on Thursday, trainer Todd Pletcher worked a quartet of 2-year-olds scheduled to run in Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar.
Annapolis, a top contender for the Juvenile Turf, worked a half-mile in 50.37 seconds in company with Nest, who was a late addition to the Juvenile Fillies field. The pair went their opening quarter in 25.84 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.51 over the training track.
Pletcher said he wanted to work Annapolis over the turf, but since the course was soft, he opted to keep him on the dirt.
As far as Nest, she will be attempting to stretch out from a debut win going six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles in the Juvenile Fillies.
“She’s a two-turn filly for sure. It’s just a matter of whether she has enough experience,” Pletcher said.
Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard for the work, has the mount.
Pletcher’s pair of Juvenile contenders, Commandperformance and Double Thunder, worked a half-mile together in 49.03. Commandperformance, the Champagne runner-up, was a little stronger on the gallop-out.
“We were looking for 49 with a little less of a gallop-out than the other day,” Pletcher said. “He had a really strong work the other day; this was more of a maintenance type and thought he did well.”
Double Thunder, who wore blinkers in the work, will wear them for the first time in the Juvenile. Flavien Prat has the call.