Coltandmississippi ships in for Not Surprising Stakes

Trainer Todd Pletcher had two options when choosing Coltandmississippi’s first start following his third-place finish in the Grade 2 Penn Mile – either the smaller field but tougher competition of Wednesday’s Manila Stakes at Belmont Park or Saturday’s $100,000 Not Surprising Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where he knew the opposition would not be nearly as tough but the starting gate figured to be full to overflowing.

In the end, Pletcher chose to ship Coltandmississippi back to South Florida for the Not Surprising at one mile on turf, which lured a field of 14 3-year-olds and will share top billing on Saturday’s 12-race card with its filly counterpart, the $100,000 Martha Washington.

Coltandmississippi made his first six starts on dirt, finishing third in the one-mile Jerome at Aqueduct in his 3-year-old bow. But the son of Pioneerof the Nile has shown an affinity for the turf since switching surfaces to finish third in the Bridgetown Stakes on April 14 at Aqueduct. In the Penn Mile, Coltandmississipi saved ground while racing within easy striking distance of the leaders before rallying mildly to be third, 3 1/4 lengths behind the once-beaten 7-5 favorite Hawkish.

“He’s had two very productive races on the turf,” Pletcher said. “I thought he ran very well in the Penn Mile, so we kicked around the idea of running in the Manila before deciding instead to ship him down there for this race, which won’t be as tough but where we will have a very large field to contend with. The trip will be the key and, hopefully, he’ll be able to find himself in good position around the turn.”

Coltandmississippi, who is owned by Teresa Viola Racing Stables and St. Elias, will break from post 11 in the 14-horse field with Tyler Gaffalione aboard. He could face his stiffest challenge from Silent Citizen, who is well drawn on the rail and has finished first in 5 of 6 career starts, including the Stanton Stakes on June 13 at Delaware Park. The former claimer was disqualified out of one of those victories this winter at Tampa Bay Downs.

Other key contenders include Tactical Pursuit, Gemonteer, The Green Mo’ster, Big Possible, and Shana Tova.

Camila Princess a big favorite

Camila Princess should be heavily favored to defeat eight other 3-year-old fillies in the Martha Washington. The daughter of Animal Kingdom was overmatched in the Grade 3 Wonder Again last out at Belmont Park after registering an impressive 2 3/4-length victory in the Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream five weeks earlier.

Camilla Princess will carry high weight of 123 pounds including jockey Miguel Vasquez under the allowance conditions of the race. She is one of two horses trainer Oscar Gonzalez entered in the Martha Washington, along with the stakes-placed Unstablenthemorning, who figures to be among the extreme outsiders off her recent form.

Restricted stakes winner Silver Bay, who’ll compete with blinkers for the first time, Midnight Soiree, and Kathy’s Clown could wind up battling for the minor prizes.