Aqueduct: Revolutionary staying in New York for Withers

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Regardless of how Notacatbutallama fared in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, trainer Todd Pletcher already has at least one runner pointed to next month’s Grade 3, $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

Revolutionary, an 8 1/2-length maiden winner here Dec. 28, will remain in New York for the winter and be pointed to the Withers on Feb. 2, Pletcher said.

Revolutionary, owned by WinStar Farm, is a son of 2007 champion 2-year-old War Pass out of the 1997 Alabama Stakes winner Runup the Colors. Though it took until his fourth try to win a maiden race, Revolutionary earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure for his Dec. 28 performance in which he ran a mile in 1:36.52.

Pletcher, who has a bevy of Kentucky Derby candidates based in south Florida, said he discussed leaving Revolutionary in New York for the winter with Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm. Walden did not object.

“The horse ran well over that track and with an improved program up there, there are some good options and the spacing of it is good,” Pletcher said.

While Pletcher hasn’t developed a serious Kentucky Derby contender in New York during the winter, he did leave Balto Star here in 2001. Last winter, Pletcher kept Love and Pride in New York for the winter, and she won two Grade 1 races later in the year.

Pletcher said it’s possible to leave a talented 3-year-old in New York for the winter and still have him develop him into a serious Derby contender.

“We brought Stay Thirsty up there for the Gotham and probably should have left him up there for the Wood,” he said. “Alpha” – who raced for Kiaran McLaughlin – “came up there and did well. With the improved program and the steady series of races, it’s very doable.”

Following the Withers, 3-year-olds can run in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham on March 2 and the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6.

Pletcher said it was frustrating that Revolutionary didn’t get his first win before Dec. 28, but added, “I’m glad we got it done now.”