Dornoch, Mindframe put in solid works for rematch in Haskell
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Belmont Stakes top two finishers Dornoch and Mindframe both put in their final workouts Saturday at Saratoga for an expected rematch in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes next Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Dornoch, working outside of Matt Winn Stakes winner Society Man, went a half-mile in 47.88 seconds over Saratoga’s main track. Nearly two hours later, Mindframe went a half-mile in 49.50 seconds in company with the turf stakes winner Surprisingly.
For Dornoch, it was his third work since the Belmont and his fastest as he gears up for the second half of the season.
Gargan said he was looking for a half-mile in 48 seconds and had a two-way radio to communicate with exercise rider Priscilla Schaefer, who was aboard Society Man. Luis Saez worked Dornoch.
“We put Society Man to be the target, obviously I had the radio on Priscilla and I told Luis to stay next to her,” Gargan said. “They worked good, they looked good.”
Gargan’s plan to is to run Dornoch in the Haskell but he plans to nominate him to the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy here on July 27 as backup in case weather became an issue. Gargan said Society Man could run in the Jim Dandy depending on the complexion of the field, though the $750,000 West Virginia Derby on Aug. 3 is a more likely spot.
Meanwhile, Mindframe was one of a trio of 3-year-olds trainer Todd Pletcher worked Saturday with the Haskell in mind. Mindframe came home in 23.80 seconds in his work, galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.71, and six furlongs in 1:16.04.
“He looked like he was just in an open gallop,” Pletcher said. “I expected to look down on my watch and see 50-and-change. I had him in 49-and a couple and he couldn’t have done it any better.”
Fierceness, last year’s juvenile champion who finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:00.59 in company with the turf horse Emmanuel. Fierceness was under a pretty good hold from exercise rider Danny Wright as he got his last three furlongs in 36.88 seconds.
“He did it easily and looked good doing it,” Pletcher said. “Danny Wright has been doing a really good job breezing him. We wanted to make sure he’s happy and make sure we didn’t overdo it, at the same time being mindful he hadn’t run since the Kentucky Derby.”
Fierceness could very well be entered in the Haskell when entries are taken and post positions are assigned Wednesday, but he is also going to be considered for the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. Both horses count Mike Repole as whole or part owner.
“For me, I hate running stablemates against each other when there are other options,” Pletcher said. “The problem is the other option isn’t a Grade 1. A Grade 1 is meaningful for both horses.”
Tuscan Sky, who dominated the Pegasus Stakes in his last start for Pletcher, went a half-mile in 50.03 seconds in company with Artempus, a maiden who is winless in four tries on turf. Tuscan Sky is virtually certain to run in the Haskell.
“Tuscan Sky did fine, he’s the least eager of the horses that worked this morning but Javier [Castellano] was very happy with him. Once he got him going, he sat against him the whole way.”
Honor Marie, the Louisiana Derby runner-up and fourth-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes, worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds in company with Zadorsky, a recent starter allowance winner at Churchill Downs.
Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard Honor Marie, who is training up to the Travers, according to trainer Whit Beckman. There is no confirmed rider for Honor Marie, who was ridden in the Belmont by Florent Geroux.
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