Itsaknockout returns against high-class field in featured allowance
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Itsaknockout, who won the Fountain of Youth Stakes this year but has been idle since his ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, will make his much-anticipated return against a graded-stakes-quality field that includes older stablemate General a Rod in Thursday’s $45,000 allowance feature, to be run out of the one-mile chute at Gulfstream Park.
Itsaknockout opened his career with three straight wins, culminating with his controversial victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth that came via the disqualification of the favored Upstart. He finished well back in his only two subsequent starts – a distant fourth in the Florida Derby and 10 lengths behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah following an eventful trip in the Kentucky Derby, after which he was sent to the sidelines by trainer Todd Pletcher.
“After the Derby, he was kind of spent, so we just decided to give him some time off and regroup,” said Pletcher, who trains Itsaknockout for owner Starlight Stable. “I really like the way he’s come back, filled out. He looks good and is training well for his return.”
General a Rod, owned by Starlight Stable and Skychai Racing, also has been away for quite some time, having been idle since finishing 11th in his turf debut in the Grade 1 Manhattan nearly seven months ago. Pletcher had hoped to bring General a Rod back on the grass, but when that race did not fill, he put him in with Itsaknockout on Thursday.
“We’d just like to get him started and put him in a position to maybe look at some of the stakes later in the meet,” said Pletcher. “Whether it be the Donn or something like that, I don’t know, but at least I’d like to get a race under his belt to see where we are.”
The Pletcher duo will face some formidable opposition that includes Elnaawi, who has not started since finishing third in the 2015 Donn, and the Grade 2 winner Norumbega. Sr. Quisqueyano, Bluegrass Singer, and Just Call Kenny complete the compact but classy lineup.
Key contenders
Itsaknockout (Last 3 Beyers: 90-76-88)
* His last two workouts, both bullets going five furlongs, at Palm Beach Downs on Dec. 13 and 20 were his best two yet, according to the Daily Racing Form Clocker Report, which described the son of Lemon Drop Kid as “looking great” on both occasions.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Itsaknockout. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 13-1-3-2 with a $0.29 ROI over the past five years on dirt at Gulfstream Park following a layoff of 180 days or more with a jockey other than Javier Castellano or John Velazquez aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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General a Rod (Last 3 Beyers: 92-95-104)
* Like Itsaknockout, he ran in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 11th behind California Chrome in 2014. General a Rod finished second in the Fountain of Youth and third in the Florida Derby earlier that year.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 General a Rod. Trainer Todd Plecther is 13-5-1-2 with a $3.52 ROI over the past five years going turf to dirt following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Elnaawi (Last 3 Beyers: 103-103-93)
* Paired career-best Beyer Speed Figures of 103 in winning the Native Dancer Stakes and finishing third in the Donn Handicap, his only two starts this year.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Elnaawi. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 7-5-0-0 with a $3.28 ROI over the past two years on dirt at Gulfstream Park following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Sr. Quisqueyano (Last 3 Beyers: 63-77-109)
* The reigning Sunshine Millions Classic champion is coming off a very disappointing comeback race, finishing far back in the Harlan’s Holiday while making his first start in more than seven months.
“I was shocked he ran so poorly,” said trainer Peter Walder. “He was working better than he did last year coming into that last race.”