Belmont Stakes 2021: Pletcher works Known Agenda, Bourbonic, and Overtook
ELMONT, N.Y. – Known Agenda came out of his ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby so well that trainer Todd Pletcher briefly flirted with the idea of wheeling him back in two weeks in the Preakness Stakes.
“In light of the way the track was playing it probably wouldn’t have been the right set up for him,” Pletcher said. “But physically he’s done very well since the Derby.”
Pletcher liked what he saw from Known Agenda on Friday morning when the Florida Derby winner went five furlongs in 1:02.53 over the Belmont main track in preparation for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 5.
Known Agenda was one of three probable Belmont starters Pletcher worked on a gorgeous spring morning on Long Island. Bourbonic, the Wood Memorial winner, and Overtook, third in the Peter Pan Stakes, went a half-mile together in 48.85 seconds.
Pletcher has won the Belmont three times, twice with horses who ran in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness. Four of Pletcher’s six Belmont runner-ups also had five weeks from the Derby without a race in between.
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Known Agenda, who broke from the rail in the Derby, got shuffled back to 17th coming under the wire the first time. Pletcher liked how he fought on throughout the race to finish ninth, 10 3/4 lengths behind Medina Spirit.
On Friday, Known Agenda, with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. up, worked outside of 2020 Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr Post. Known Agenda started just off the flank of Dr Post and was on even terms after three furlongs in 38.00. The pair got their final quarter in 24.53 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.85. Pletcher had them continuing out seven furlongs in 1:27.20 and a mile in 1:41.20.
“Solid work, particularly the gallop-out was good,” Pletcher said.
Known Agenda has worn blinkers in his last three starts. Pletcher worked him in blinkers at least once at Churchill Downs, but did not work him in blinkers Friday.
“I think we get a little more bang for our buck if we don’t overuse him,” Pletcher said.
Dr Post, who came off a lengthy layoff to win the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes on May 2, is pointing to the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap on the same June 5 program.
Shortly after that pair worked, the team of Overtook and Bourbonic went a half-mile together. They went their opening quarter in 24.06 and got their second quarter in 24.79. They galloped out in 1:01.76, 1:14.10, and 1:28.10.
Noting that Overtook just ran in the Peter Pan two weeks ago, Pletcher didn’t feel the need to work him five furlongs.
Pletcher added that Bourbonic “doesn’t carry a whole lot of condition, I didn’t think he needed five-eighths. [The work] went a little bit backwards, they went off a little quick, but I like the way they galloped out.”
Manny Franco worked Overtook and will “most likely” ride him in the Belmont, Pletcher said. Kendrick Carmouche will retain his seat on Bourbonic.
About 45 minutes later, Pletcher worked Peter Pan winner Promise Keeper over the training track. Promise Keeper went a half-mile in 48.55, in company with Grade 1-winning turf horse Colonel Liam, with a solid gallop-out of five furlongs in 1:01.16 and six furlongs in 1:14.16. While Pletcher hasn’t totally ruled out the Belmont with Promise Keeper, he is leaning more toward the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby on June 26 at Thistledown.
Colonel Liam is targeting the Grade 1 Manhattan on the June 5 Belmont Park card.
Keepmeinmind to Ohio Derby
Keepmeinmind, seventh in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness, is expected to pass the Belmont Stakes and point to the Ohio Derby, trainer Robertino Diodoro said.
Diodoro said he’s happy with how the horse came out of the Preakness, but “he’s a big 3-year-old, and I think he’s still going through a growth spurt. A little extra time is going to help him in a couple of different ways,” Diodoro said.
Midnight Bourbon, sixth in the Derby and second in the Preakness, is “60-40” against running in the Belmont, according to David Fiske, racing manager for Ron Winchell, who owns the colt.
Provided Keepmeinmind and Midnight Bourbon don’t run in the Belmont, it will mean there won’t be a single horse who participated in all three Triple Crown races this year.
Rombauer has first gallop
Preakness winner Rombauer had his first gallop since the race on Friday morning, according to Jonathan Thomas, in whose barn the horse was shipped to on Monday.
Thomas has a long-standing relationship with Michael McCarthy, the trainer of Rombauer, from the days when both worked as assistants to trainer Todd Pletcher.
Of Rombauer, Thomas said, “he’s got a beautiful temperament, he’s a beautiful mover. It looks like he took his race well from what I can gather.”
McCarthy is due to fly from California to New York on Sunday.
◗ Rock Your World, the Santa Anita Derby winner who finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Friday morning at Santa Anita. He went in company with Campaign, who is being pointed to the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont on June 5.
After the move, trainer John Sadler confirmed Joel Rosario would ride the horse in the Belmont. He was aboard for the Kentucky Derby.
◗ As of Friday, 10 horses are considered definite for the Belmont Stakes: Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche), Brooklyn Strong (TBD), Essential Quality (Luis Saez), France Go de Ina (TBD), Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat), Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Overtook (Manny Franco), Rebel’s Romance (TBD), Rock Your World (Joel Rosario), and Rombauer (TBD).
– additional reporting by Steve Andersen