I'll Fight Dempsey faces challenge following impressive debut

I’ll Fight Dempsey came out punching when he scored a front-running 2 1/2-length victory in a six-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 29. Saturday, it’s round 2 for the speedy son of Into Mischief, who runs in a seven-furlong optional-claiming race that goes as race 11 on the 12-race program.

I’ll Fight Dempsey was sent off the 2-1 favorite in a 10-horse field in his only start, and despite breaking a step slowly from the rail under John Velazquez, I’ll Fight Dempsey got to the front soon after the start and was never seriously challenged, covering six furlongs in 1:10.64 and earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Todd Pletcher, who trains I’ll Fight Dempsey for Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable, said I’ll Fight Dempsey “lived up to and possibly exceeded expectations.”

“I was concerned when he drew the rail, but he had good tactical speed,” Pletcher said. “He’s a free-running horse. I was hoping he’d get away cleanly and once he did he performed really well. He’s come back and trained like a good horse and we’re hoping he continued to progress.”

Since the debut win, I’ll Fight Dempsey has fired three bullet half-mile workouts at the Palm Beach Downs training center.

“He’s always been very willing in the morning and he’s stayed that way after the race,” Pletcher said. “We haven’t allowed him to do as much as he wanted.”

With Velazquez not riding this weekend, Luis Saez rides from post 3.

Sonneman, a 3-year-old son of Curlin trained by Mark Hennig, runs Saturday for the first time since an off-the-pace victory going a mile at Belmont last Oct. 5.

Acre, a son of Blame, has not run since winning an off-the-turf maiden race at Saratoga last August. He gets Lasix for the first time. He is trained by Bill Mott.

I’ll Fight Dempsey will try to do Saturday what Money Moves did for Pletcher on March 27, which is validate a debut victory by beating winners.

Money Moves won his debut going six furlongs on Feb. 15, and successfully stretched out to a mile in winning a salty allowance race by 2 1/4 lengths. He covered a mile in 1:35.30 and earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

“That was a loaded allowance race,” Pletcher said. “For him to win the way he did from the one hole going a one-turn mile was an impressive performance, one that would be having you thinking about a stakes somewhere. Where and when I have no idea.”

Pletcher does anticipate stretching out Money Moves, a son of Candy Ride.

“I think two turns will be in his favor,” he said.