Gouverneur Morris gets back to work while Pletcher considers options

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gouverneur Morris has eased back into training at Palm Beach Downs following a successful 3-year-old debut as trainer Todd Pletcher considers what will come next for his top prospect for the 146th Kentucky Derby.

Gouverneur Morris won a first-level allowance last Friday at Tampa Bay Downs in his first start since finishing second to Maxfield in the Breeders’ Futurity last October at Keeneland. A Constitution colt, Gouverneur Morris most likely will have just one chance to earn enough qualifying points to make the May 2 Derby, Pletcher said.

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“He came out of his race really good,” he said. “Right now, we’re just taking it all in. I feel like there’s no reason to commit to a specific race yet. We’ll see how the horse trains, keep all our options open.

“The great thing about this time of year is there’s a prep race every weekend. If we only run him one more time, we’ve got to make sure we’re totally happy with that race because it’ll be our one shot at the points. He’ll lead us in the right direction, I’m sure.”

Gouverneur Morris, owned by Team Valor International and WinStar Farm, earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the mile and 40-yard race by 1 1/4 lengths over Untitled. Team Valor president Barry Irwin said shortly after the race that the March 28 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park or the April 4 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct are logical spots, pending further discussion with Pletcher.

Meanwhile, another top Pletcher trainee will be making his own comeback at Tampa soon. King for a Day, best known for upsetting Maximum Security last June in the Pegasus at Monmouth Park, is being pointed to the $100,000 Challenger on the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby undercard. The 4-year-old Red Oak Stable homebred breezed five furlongs Sunday at Palm Beach, marking his sixth work since mid-January. He has not raced since finishing a well-beaten fifth behind Maximum Security in the Haskell in July.

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Also, Pletcher plans to run Spice Is Nice in the Davona Dale on the big Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth undercard at Gulfstream. The Curlin filly was a 12-length winner of a one-mile maiden race here Jan. 12 and has had three breezes at Palm Beach in the interim.

As for Maxfield, he was sent through his first breeze on Monday since his Breeders’ Futurity victory, going an easy three furlongs in 38.20 seconds at Palm Meadows.

“All went well,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “It’s nice to have him back.”

Bred and owned by Godolphin, Maxfield came to Walsh about a month ago after undergoing rehabilitation at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., following minor ankle surgery in November. The Street Sense colt is a winner of his only two starts, both from well off the pace, and was scratched off the program from the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when diagnosed with the ankle injury.