Audible looking to return in Cherokee Run Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Audible, the Grade 1 Florida Derby winner and third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, could return to the races in the $200,000 Cherokee Run Stakes on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

The Cherokee Run is restricted to 3-year-olds and run at seven furlongs.

“It might not be his ideal distance, but it might be a good starting point,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said the Cherokee Run could be a stepping-stone to the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday on Dec. 15 at Gulfstream Park, which leads to the $9 million Pegasus Stakes there Jan. 26.

On Friday at Belmont Park, Audible worked five furlongs in 1:01.13 in company with Patch. Audible got his last quarter-mile in 24.21 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.46 and seven-eighths in 1:26.42. It was his sixth work since resuming training after a summer freshening.

“He worked very well this morning, seems like he’s rounding into form,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher also worked a pair of his Breeders’ Cup horses Friday. Blind Ambition (Turf Sprint) and Opry (Juvenile Turf) went a half-mile together in 48.58, with Blind Ambition seemingly going the better of the two at the end and on the gallop-out.

Blind Ambition is coming off a second-place finish to Disco Partner in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational.

“I thought he worked very well; he seems like he’s come out of the race very well,” Pletcher said. “I thought he ran very well the other day to a horse that loves this turf course. The one thing he’s started to do is settle a little better the early part of his races, so if he can get a wicked-hot pace up front, which is very likely, he could come with a run.”

Opry, coming off a fourth in the Pilgrim, likely will work back on turf next weekend.