King for a Day follows Plan B to Sir Barton victory

BALTIMORE – Trainer Todd Pletcher was hoping to bring King for a Day back for his 3-year-old debut in an allowance race this week at Pimlico, but when it didn’t fill his next option was to go in the $100,000 Sir Barton on Saturday. It all worked out in the end, as King for a Day made a successful return while earning his first stakes win.

The heavy favorite facing four rivals, King for a Day settled into an ideal stalking spot outside early pacesetter Trifor Gold, seized command nearing the quarter pole of the 1 1/16-mile race, and maintained a safe margin to the wire for a 2 1/2-length victory under John Velazquez.

King for a Day was timed in 1:41.40 on a track that has played faster than par the last two days.

Tone Broke, who settled just behind the top two early, ran on for second, 4 1/4 lengths in front of third-place V.I.P. Ticket.

Trifor Gold faded to fourth, and Top Line Growth was last in the field of five after getting roughed up at the start. Pretty Good Year was scratched.

King for a Day ($2.80) won once in three starts last year, taking a maiden race in October at Belmont Park. He finished his 2-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, after which he got a lengthy vacation.

“He needed a little break,” Pletcher said. “He’s one we’ve always liked a lot.”

King for a Day got hit in his hind end when he and Top Line Growth bumped leaving the gate. King for a Day came back with a gash on the back on the lower part of his right hind leg. The force of the contact from one of Top Line Growth’s front legs was enough to cut through the rundown bandages King for a Day was wearing.

King for a Day, a colt by Uncle Mo, has now won twice in four starts. He was bred and is owned by the Brunetti family’s Red Oak Stable. He earned $60,000.

The Sir Barton is named for the first Triple Crown winner, whose feat was accomplished 100 years ago.