Destin could give Pletcher third Clark victory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A gutsy triumph by Destin in the Grade 2 Marathon Stakes on the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup undercard at Del Mar was enough to encourage the 4-year-old colt’s connections to return to more commonly run distances. So here is Destin, turning back from that 1 3/4-mile race to the 1 1/8 miles of the Clark Handicap on Friday at Churchill for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“We really feel like he’s turned the corner the last couple of months and is very focused right now,” said Randy Gullatt, whose Twin Creeks Racing shares ownership in Destin with the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners of Aron Wellman.

Gullat said the Pletcher was impressed with how Destin was doing after his last work, a half-mile in 49.90 at Belmont on Nov. 17.

“We know he has plenty of talent and stamina, and [Pletcher] is quite happy with how he’s doing,” Gullatt said. “After the last work, he said, ‘Look, we need to take a shot with him somewhere.’ So this is the spot we picked out.”

A mild upset by Destin would give Pletcher his third victory in the race and tie him for most wins by a trainer in the Clark with three others: Ben Jones, Smiley Adams, and Bob Baffert. Pletcher won in 2005 with Magna Graduate and 2007 with A.P. Arrow.