Aqueduct: Overanalyze targets Gotham, Wood Memorial for Kentucky Derby preps

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though he will practice in south Florida, Remsen Stakes winner Overanalyze will play in New York to begin his 3-year-old season.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole both said Thursday that Overanalyze would most likely run in the Gotham and Wood Memorial at Aqueduct as his two prep races before the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

Though the New York Racing Association has yet to release its 2013 stakes schedule, the Gotham is expected to be run at 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct’s inner track March 2 and the Wood at 1 1/8 miles over the main track April 6.

“As much as you can plan these things four months out, it sort of makes sense with him having success on the outer track at Aqueduct,” Pletcher said Thursday. “Repole loves to run in New York. It’s the first choice, if everything goes according to plan.”

Repole joked: “I’m going to do that and then see if they’ll move the Kentucky Derby to Aqueduct.”

In 2011, Stay Thirsty spent the winter in Florida, but won the Gotham for Repole and Pletcher. However, he shipped back to south Florida and wilted in the heat running seventh in the Florida Derby before running 12th in the Kentucky Derby.

Stay Thirsty had shown a dislike for Churchill Downs when he ran poorly in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 2. Overanalyze finished third in the Iroquois at Churchill in October, but Repole felt that was more a product of the trip the horse got than liking or disliking the surface.

“He’s won at three different surfaces and ran good at Churchill, considering how he was ridden,” Repole said.

Repole said that Micromanage, who finished last in the Remsen, has remained in New York with Pletcher who will evaluate his training over the next few weeks before a decision is made on where he will winter.

“I want Todd to work him once here,” Repole said. “He was training with Stay Thirsty going head and head, and Stay Thirsty wins the Cigar Mile and Micromanage runs like that.”

Pletcher may run two in Queens County

Pletcher said he may run both San Pablo and Avenging Spirit in the $75,000 Queens County Stakes here Dec. 8.

San Pablo would be running back just 17 days after winning the Swatara Stakes at Penn National on Nov. 21.

Pletcher noted that San Pablo won the Grade 3 Philip Iselin on Aug. 18, 16 days after winning the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga.

“He is acting really well, sharp,” Pletcher said. “If he continues to behave the way he is right now, we’ll probably run.”

Avenging Spirit was claimed by Repole and Pletcher for $50,000 on Sept. 1 – off a year layoff – and won a optional claimer by 2 3/4 lengths at Belmont on Oct. 25 with a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.