Dwyer-bound Charge It one of many Pletcher stakes runners to work
ELMONT, N.Y. - Charge It, the seemingly forgotten 3-year-old in the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, on Friday had his third workout since the Kentucky Derby and is pointing to the Grade 3 $250,000 Dwyer Stakes on July 2 at Belmont Park, the Hall of Fame trainer said Friday.
Charge It worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 by himself over the Belmont training track. He got his last quarter in 23.40 seconds.
“I thought it was a very good work, good finish, good gallop-out, I’d say he’s maintained his fitness well,” Pletcher said.
Following a dominant maiden victory in his second start at Gulfstream Park, Charge It finished second to White Abarrio in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. In the Kentucky Derby, he finished 17th, 28 lengths behind Rich Strike.
Pletcher believes Charge It displaced his soft palate and the horse underwent a minor throat procedure while still in Kentucky before shipping to New York a few weeks after the Derby.
For Charge It, the Dwyer represents a cutback to a one-turn mile, the distance of his first two starts, including his 8 1/2-length maiden victory.
“It’s more about it’s just a starting point,” said Pletcher, who could stretch the 3-year-old son of Tapit back out in distance later this summer in something like the Jim Dandy at Saratoga.
Meanwhile, Pletcher said his Belmont Stakes one-two finishers Mo Donegal and Nest have emerged from their races well and resumed galloping. The summer goals are the Travers for Mo Donegal and the Alabama for Nest, with decisions coming later if either horse has a run before then.
“Seem good so far,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher’s top 3-year-old turf horses Annapolis and Emmanuel worked a half-mile in 48.12 seconds together over Belmont’s inner turf course Friday. Annapolis, last year’s Grade 2 Pilgrim winner who finished second in the Grade 2 Penn Mile at Penn National on June 3, and Emmanuel, winner of the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Belmont on June 4, are both being pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational on July 9.
Pletcher is also pointing Grand Sonata, winner of the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy at Gulfstream in February, to the Belmont Derby. That horse, who most recently finished third in the Audubon at Churchill Downs, worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds at Churchill.
Between New York and Kentucky, Pletcher on Friday worked several of his top older dirt male runners for upcoming stakes engagements.
At Belmont, Life Is Good worked a half-mile in 48.99 seconds with a six-furlong gallop out of 1:13.92 as he remains on target for the Grade 2 John Nerud here on July 2.
Vindictive and Untreated, second and third, respectively in the Pimlico Special, worked a half-mile in 49.00 seconds together. Both are being considered for the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban on July 9 or the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows the same day.
Pletcher also has Dynamic One, winner of the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs, on schedule for the Suburban. Fearless, the Brooklyn Stakes winner is possible for the Suburban as well.
Meanwhile, Pletcher said Americanrevolution, fourth in the Blame, is strongly being considered for the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill on June 26.
Americanrevolution and Dynamic One worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds together at Churchill Downs.