Gulfstream Park: Pletcher, Prado have autumn plan

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Todd Pletcher and the rest of his training colleagues from up North will not start running horses at Gulfstream Park in earnest until the championship meeting begins Nov. 30. But there were some early signs of winter around here last weekend, when Pletcher and jockey Edgar Prado teamed up to win a pair of races, including Saturday’s main event, the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Preview, with Mordi’s Miracle.

Mordi’s Miracle, a 4-year-old son of Lawyer Ron, has been consistent for Pletcher all season but had not registered a victory since opening the campaign with an optional-claiming win over the Aqueduct inner course in February. But with Prado orchestrating a perfect trip just behind the embattled leaders, Mordi’s Miracle notched his first stakes victory when rallying to an easy three-length decision over 6-5 favorite and New York invader Souper Speedy.

“Hopefully, we can come back in the Classic with him,” Pletcher said of Mordi’s Miracle. “He’s a horse we always thought had a lot of talent, and we were kind of waiting for that breakthrough win. Hopefully, this was it. He’s done some stuff in the mornings to give us confidence he’s better than he’s accomplished in the afternoons, and it was nice to see him win a decent race.”

The Sunshine Millions Classic will be run Jan. 18.

Pletcher and Prado returned 48 hours later to take the main event on Monday’s holiday card with the Brazilian-bred turf specialist Viva Rafaela, who rallied to a 1 1/2-length allowance victory, her first win since launching her U.S. career this summer at Saratoga.

“She certainly came with a big reputation from Brazil,” Pletcher said, referring to the fact that Viva Rafaela was a Group 1 winner in South America last year. “She’s been a little disappointing and a little tricky to ride, but the more time she’s had to acclimate, the better she’s gotten. She got a good trip [Monday], and hopefully this is a step in the right direction.”

Prado, who lost his best chance for a Breeders’ Cup victory when Graydar was withdrawn from consideration for the Dirt Mile a week before the race, said he plans to fly back and forth from New York on weekends to ride and also work horses for Pletcher until remaining in south Florida on a permanent basis once the championship meet opens.

“My agent [former trainer Bob Klesaris] and I presented [Pletcher] the plan right before the Breeders’ Cup, he liked it, and so far, we’re off to a pretty good start, winning with three of the first four horses we’ve had together,” Prado said.

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., like Pletcher, is stabled at the Palm Meadows training facility and also had a big weekend, winning four races, topped by his exciting 2-year-old filly prospect Puddifoot’s six-length triumph in the Sunshine Millions Juvenile Filly Sprint Stakes. Plesa also won an optional-claiming race with his Grade 2-placed 3-year-old Speak Logistics and maiden races with Prudhoe Bay and Hot Stuff.

Puddifoot is unbeaten and untested in two starts, and Plesa said his phone has been ringing off the hook since Saturday with offers to purchase the filly.

“I’ve always thought she was a quality horse,” Plesa said. “I’m sure she’ll go around two turns, so we have a lot to look forward to. We’ll probably wait a bit with her now, but I can’t wait for her 3-year-old year to come up.”

Speak Logistics, ridden by Paco Lopez, rallied to a half-length decision over a game Jay Eye See in Sunday’s feature while making his first start since finishing a distant seventh in the Pennsylvania Derby in September.

“He had a little bit of a break, we got him an easier spot, and I thought he won a little easier than the final margin suggests,” Plesa said. “I don’t think Paco really beat him up at the end. I was very satisfied with his performance.”

Starship Truffles retired

Trainer Marty Wolfson said Starship Truffles, winner of the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder this summer, has been retired. She finished last after showing brief speed in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She got the thumps in the race, which is why she ran so poorly,” Wolfson said. “She’ll go home and become a broodmare, and I believe the plan right now is to breed her next season to War Front.”

Starship Truffles, purchased privately by Castelton Lyons following the Princess Rooney, is a former $6,250 claimer who retires with 14 victories in 27 starts and earnings of $445,035.