Following Sea earns triple-digit Beyer – and spot in Dwyer
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher won the featured Grade 3 Wonder Again Stakes on Thursday at Belmont Park, but it was a horse who won earlier on the card for him that stole the show.
Following Sea, a 3-year-old son of Runhappy, won a first-level allowance race by 6 1/2 lengths, covering the distance in 1:15.28 and earning a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
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Following Sea dueled with Wudda U Think Now through a half-mile in 44.79 seconds, put that one away, and won under a hand-ride from Joel Rosario.
“He’s a fast horse that does it pretty effortlessly,” Pletcher said.
The performance likely earned Following Sea a start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Dwyer Stakes going a one-turn mile on July 5.
“The horse gives me the impression he’ll stretch out,” Pletcher said. “That would be a logical possibility.”
Following Sea was making his first start for Pletcher after having run his first two races for Bob Baffert, including a maiden victory by 5 3/4 lengths on April 10 at Oaklawn Park.
After Medina Spirit tested positive for an overage of the legal therapeutic medication betamethasone in the Kentucky Derby, owner Spendthrift Farm moved Following Sea to Pletcher and some 2-year-olds based in Southern California with Baffert to other trainers.
Con Lima also earned a chance to stretch out in distance with her half-length victory in Thursday’s $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes. She stalked her pacesetting stablemate Jouster and held off the late run of Plum Ali to win by a half-length.
Con Lima, who earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure for the win, improved her record to 6-4-0 from 11 starts. She is a daughter of Commissioner owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and others.
She will be pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on July 10.
“I thought she rated nicely and finished up well,” Pletcher said. “Being by Commissioner, you’d think she’d like more distance.”