Gulfstream Park: Pletcher barn enjoys banner day with Constitution, In Tune

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – About 4 1/2 hours before trainer Todd Pletcher watched Constitution fight his way into the Kentucky Derby, he witnessed In Tune do the same for the Kentucky Oaks.

In her stakes debut, In Tune held off a prolonged challenge from House Rules to win the Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks by a neck to remain undefeated in three career starts and secure a spot in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on May 2.

Constitution, in his stakes debut, outfought Wildcat Red in the Florida Derby to improve to 3 for 3 and secure a spot in the $2 million Kentucky Derby on May 3.

“We were fortunate to have two horses yesterday basically repeat the exact same thing,” Pletcher said at eerily quiet Palm Meadows training center. “It was fun for us to see these horses be able come that far in a short period of time.”

In Tune, who earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for her Gulfstream Oaks performance, did not have as difficult a trip as did Constitution, who had dirt kicked in his face before rallying along the rail in the stretch and outlasting Wildcat Red. In three starts, In Tune has been on or near the lead and likely will be a pace factor in the Oaks as well.

“I don’t think we’ll be going to the Oaks and looking to take her back,” said Pletcher, who won last year’s Oaks with the late-running Princess of Sylmar.

Last year, Pletcher ran four horses in the Oaks. Right now, In Tune is his lone representative, but he will have multiple runners in upcoming stakes. On Saturday, he will send out Got Lucky and My Miss Sophia in the Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct. Also on Saturday, Pletcher will run Stopchargingmaria in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Candy Kitty and Seeking Her Glory in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

On Sunday at Palm Meadows, My Miss Sophia worked four furlongs in 47.57 seconds in company with the 3-year-old colt Harpoon, who is targeting the Wood Memorial on Saturday. My Miss Sophia started a length in front of Harpoon and refused to let that one by, with Pletcher noting that each time Harpoon got close to the filly, My Miss Sophia got really competitive. John Velazquez took a hold of Harpoon so as to not overdo it in the work.

“She was pretty impressive today,” Pletcher said.

My Miss Sophia, a daughter of Unbridled’s Song, was an 11-length winner in her second start after finishing second in her debut. The Gazelle, at 1 1/8 miles, will be her stakes debut.

On Saturday, Pletcher won a pair of stakes with his older males. Palace Malice, last year’s Belmont Stakes winner, soundly defeated Normandy Invasion in the New Orleans Handicap, earning a 114 Beyer.

“Really delighted with the way he ran,” Pletcher said. “Everything unfolded kind of the way we thought it would. He got into a good, comfortable rhythm, kind of blew the race open when they turned for home, and finished up powerfully. I thought it was an excellent performance.”

Pletcher said his midyear goal with Palace Malice is the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 2. He mentioned races like the Alysheba at Churchill, the Pimlico Special in Baltimore, and the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park as possible options for the 4-year-old’s next start.

Also Saturday, Micromanage won the Grade 3 Skip Away at Gulfstream by 4 1/4 lengths, earning a career-best 103 Beyer.

“Hopefully, that was his breakthrough race,” Pletcher said.

Noting that Micromanage’s dam, Catnip, is related to Belmont Stakes winner Editor’s Note, Pletcher mentioned the $500,000 Brooklyn at 1 1/2 miles on the June 7 Belmont Stakes card as a target for Micromanage.

Revolutionary, third in last year’s Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Belmont, worked a half-mile in 49.45 seconds Sunday at Palm Meadows. He is targeting the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 12.