Golden Lad targets Hal's Hope for comeback

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fl a. – Trainer Todd Pletcher has nominated six horses to Saturday’s Grade 3 Hal’s Hope but will start only one, Golden Lad, who’ll launch his comeback in the one-mile fixture after having been away since his eighth-place finish last May in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special.

Golden Lad went on a roll here last winter, posting three straight allowance victories before shipping to Oaklawn Park to dominate the Grade 3 Razorback by nearly seven lengths. But after disappointing outings in both the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and Pimlico Special, Pletcher sent him to the sidelines for the remainder of the year.

“He worked really well on Sunday, and it’s time to get his season under way,” said Pletcher. “He kind of tailed off. His last two starts just weren’t up to standard, so we just decided to give him a break, and he’s come back really well.”

A compact but competitive lineup is shaping up for the Hal’s Hope, which is a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 7. Other confirmed starters include the defending Donn champion, Lea, Confrontation, Looking Cool, and Valid.

Pletcher said that as many as four of his other Hal’s Hope nominees could launch their 2015 campaigns in the Donn, a powerful quartet that consists of Commissioner, Constituion, Liam’s Map, and Protonico.

Pletcher also added another name to his list of potential Kentucky Derby candidates prepping locally this winter following Itsaknockout’s convincing 5 1/4-length allowance victory going a mile Sunday. The win was the second in as many starts for Itsaknockout, a son of Lemon Drop Kid owned by Starlight Racing who earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for his performance. Itsaknockout had captured his debut by a nose over stablemate Old Mountain Lane going seven furlongs here four weeks earlier.

“Based on his pedigree and the way he’s trained, we thought that he’d improve stretching out,” said Pletcher. “It was an encouraging effort today, and we’ll just move forward from there. He showed he could rate today. He put himself in the perfect spot. Although the fractions were fast, he looked like he did it within himself.”

Pletcher said no decision has been made on where or when Itsaknockout might start next, but he all but ruled out the Grade 2 Holy Bull on Jan. 24, which he said “comes up just a little too quick.”

Saez leads jockey standings

Luis Saez assumed command in the jockey standings after posting five victories on Sunday’s card. Saez, a native of Panama City, Panama, has been on a roll since New Year’s Day, having won with 13 of his 37 mounts over the last five programs to take a 26-23 lead over three-time defending riding champion Javier Castellano into Wednesday’s program.

“It feels great,” said Saez after his fifth victory Sunday. “I had a good feeling today, and the horses all tried so hard.”

Saez, whose younger brother, Juan, died from injuries suffered in a spill at Indiana Grand in October, won a pair of stakes on Saturday’s card, the Grade 3 Old Hat with Ekati’s Phaeton and the Spectacular Bid aboard Barbados.

“When we started here, it was a little tough because of everything that happened with my little brother,” said Saez. “We came in here and have been working hard, and I have to say thanks to all the trainers who have given me this opportunity.”