Dr Post points to Pacific Classic, Happy Saver eyes Jockey Club Gold Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In looking to separate two of his top older male dirt horses, trainer Todd Pletcher will likely send Dr Post to the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 21 while keeping Happy Saver home for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Sept. 4, the Hall of Fame trainer said Sunday.

Dr Post, runner-up to Tiz the Law in the 2020 Belmont Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, most recently won the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at Monmouth Park on July 17. It was his first race equipped in blinkers.

“Just have to work out the logistics, but we’re leaning that way,” Pletcher said of the Pacific Classic. “Lot to gain. It’s a million dollar, Grade 1 race with a horse that’s doing really, really well. You get a run over the track that they run the [Breeders’ Cup] Classic on. I think we’ll learn something. Most importantly, the timing is good off the last race. It looks like a race he fits in.”

Dr Post is a son of Quality Road owned by Vinnie and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable. In three starts this year, Dr Post has won the Grade 3 Westchester over a sloppy track, finished fifth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap - a race in which Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney winner Knicks Go finished fourth - before winning the Monmouth Cup.

On Saturday, Dr Post worked five furlongs in 1:00.28 over Saratoga’s main track.

Meanwhile, Pletcher said Happy Saver, who won last year’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup when the race was held at Belmont Park, will seek a repeat victory in that 1 1/4-mile race which this year will be held at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

Happy Saver, who went 4 for 4 last year, won an allowance race to begin his 4-year-old season before running third behind Max Player and Mystic Guide in the Suburban on July 4 at Belmont Park. Max Player is likely to make his next start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup as well.

On Sunday, Happy Saver worked a half-mile in 49 seconds over Saratoga’s main track.

Also Sunday, the undefeated 3-year-old Life Is Good breezed five furlongs in 1:01.01 by himself over the Oklahoma training track. He got his last quarter in 23.70 while continuing out six furlongs in 1:14.06, seven furlongs in 1:26.85, and pulling up a mile in 1:41.35.

“Well-executed breeze, powerful through the lane, big gallop-out,” Pletcher said. “Looks like his fitness level is higher than his work tab would suggest. He’s a very impressive horse to watch train.”

Life Is Good, among the top 3-year-olds in the country during the winter before getting injured, is pointing to the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 28 at Saratoga. It is a race in which he will meet Grade 1 winner Jackie’s Warrior.

“You hate to come back in a race where you know they’re going to fly,” Pletcher said. “At the same time, he’s an awfully good horse. We’ll just have to see how the next couple of weeks go.”

Wit, Pletcher’s undefeated 2-year-old colt, worked a half-mile in 49.84 on Sunday in company with Arham. Wit, winner of the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes, is pointing to the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 6.