Competitive Edge returns in tough spot
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher was looking for a soft landing spot in which to return his Grade 1-winning 2-year-old Competitive Edge to the races. He did not find it in Friday’s $60,000 Tamarac Stakes at Gulfstream Park, which also happens to be the launching point for Mr. Jordan, another undefeated 2-year-old of 2014.
The Tamarac, which goes as race 2 on Friday’s 10-race card, makes for a nice little hors d’oeuvres for Saturday’s 14-race program, consisting of eight stakes topped by the $1 million Florida Derby. Six horses were entered in the Tamarac, though Pletcher indicated that Chipit, a debut winner here March 7, likely will scratch.
Competitive Edge was magnificent in two starts last summer at Saratoga. On July 26, he won a maiden race by 10 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.89. On Sept. 1, he galloped to a 5 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Hopeful at seven furlongs.
A few weeks later, he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of a hind leg that forced him to the sidelines. He returned to the work tab in early January, but Pletcher and his ownership group opted to take their time with the son of Super Saver.
Pletcher said he considered running him in the Swale Stakes on Feb. 28 but thought “it was a race that was coming up pretty tough. We were trying to avoid that situation, which I’m not sure we’ve done. This will be a good place to find out where we are.”
Mr. Jordan went 3 for 3 at age 2, capped by a 3 1/4-length victory in the Smooth Air Stakes going a mile at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 29.
In subsequent training, Mr. Jordan developed a “peg” on the back of his knee that was rubbing on the suspensory and had to be surgically removed. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. was eyeing a race in a few weeks at Tampa Bay Downs but altered course when this race came up.
Mr. Jordan will break from the rail under Gabriel Saez.
“I’m of the opinion in sprint races, it’s a disadvantage,” Plesa said. “I wish Todd’s horse wasn’t in the race, but we’re not going to back down.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Competitive Edge (Last 2 Beyers: 90-90)
◗ Has not raced since winning the Hopeful last Sept. 1, defeating the graded stakes winner I Spent It by 5 3/4 lengths.
“He’s training very well. We’re excited about getting him going,” Pletcher said. “It’s not an easy race with Mr. Jordan in there. I got a lot of respect for that horse, so we’ll see where we are with him.”
◗ Pletcher said a good performance could move Competitive Edge to the Pat Day Mile, formerly the Derby Trial, now run on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
John Velazquez rides from post 3.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Competitive Edge. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 50-10-7-11 with a $0.81 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Mr. Jordan (Last 3 Beyers: 97-88-84)
◗ Undefeated in three starts but hasn’t been out since Nov. 29 owing to an issue that required minor surgery.
Plesa said he believes Mr. Jordan “is as good as he’s ever been. I don’t think he’s lost a step. I really think my horse is something out of the ordinary.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Chipit. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 16-10-2-0 with a $2.46 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints at Gulfstream Park in the second career start following a winning debut. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan