Kentucky Derby: Money Moves is Pletcher's most likely starter

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher worked a trio of 3-year-olds Friday at Saratoga with Money Moves still seeming to be the one he would run in the Derby if he runs one at all.

Since he has no qualifying points, Money Moves would need 19 or fewer other horses to be entered in the Derby to make it into the field. On Friday, he worked five furlongs with You’re to Blame in 1:00.14, getting his last quarter in 24.13 with a strong gallop out of 1:12.99, 1:26.09, and a mile in 1:40.34, indicative of a pre-Derby type of work for Pletcher.

Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr Post, who seems unlikely to run in the Derby, worked four furlongs in 49.64 seconds in company with the 3-year-old Happy Saver. Pletcher indicated those horses could be split up between the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Sept. 5 and the Federico Tesio at Laurel on Sept. 7. The Tesio is a Win and You’re In for the Preakness on Oct. 3

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◗ First Line, a recent maiden winner, will stay in New York for the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy Stakes as opposed to shipping for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Orlando Noda said Friday.