Competitive Edge being considered for Haskell

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday that despite the imposing presence of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, he has the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational under consideration for Competitive Edge, who suffered his first defeat in five career starts when finishing sixth as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day.

“We’ve made no firm decision at this point,” said Pletcher. “He’ll breeze again this weekend. He’s definitely under consideration for the Haskell.”

Competitive Edge, a son of Super Saver, has posted two bullet works since shipping to Saratoga earlier this month.

“We’re not going to go unless we think the horse is doing well enough to run well,” said Pletcher. “Right now, the way he’s breezing, he might give anyone a run for their money. Talking to the connections, they don’t mind taking the shot. We’ll see if it still makes sense after we breeze him again.”

Pletcher also did not rule out the Aug. 2 Haskell as a possibility for Stanford, who won the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth on July 11.

“The Haskell is under consideration for Stanford, as is the West Virginia Derby,” said Pletcher.

Another of Pletcher’s top 3-year-olds, Two Weeks Off, worked after the renovation break Friday at Saratoga, going five furlongs in 1:02.40. He’s being pointed for the nine-furlong Curlin Stakes on July 31. Two Weeks Off finished fifth while never a serious threat during the latter stages of the Woody Stephens.

“He worked really well, finished up nicely, and I liked the gallop out quite a bit,” said Pletcher. “He didn’t break well, got down on the inside, and Javier [Castellano] said he didn’t take the dirt in his face well while getting outrun in a very fast race in his last start.”

Pletcher also confirmed that he’ll run Positively Royal, a daughter of Bernardini, in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day at Saratoga next Friday while awaiting the Grade 2 Amsterdam on Aug. 15 with the undefeated Tonasah. The pair worked four furlongs in company here Friday.

“I thought Positively Royal worked really well,” said Pletcher. “Tonasah was a little rank early on. We’ve got to work on that, so we’ll run Positively Royal in the Schuylerville and await the next one with Tonasah.”

Friday also was a busy morning for Pletcher on the Oklahoma turf course, with 2014 Champagne winner Daredevil among those to work around the dogs over the firm strip.

“His pedigree suggests he might handle it,” said Pletcher. “I just wanted to see, and I thought he handled it well. But he’s still got a couple of more breezes to go before he’s ready to run. Everything’s under consideration for him at this point.”