Mindframe works easy at Saratoga, while Antiquarian and Disruptor impress

Trainer Todd Pletcher is in no rush to commit to where he intends to run Mindframe next off his game victory earlier this month in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes. Nor was Mindframe himself in any real rush when he breezed for the first time since that outstanding performance, cruising an easy half-mile in 52.48 seconds in company with Candytown over a “fast” but dull Oklahoma training track in unseasonably cold weather Friday morning at Saratoga.

“We were just looking for an easy first work back,” said Pletcher. “The track is not playing real fast at the moment and he just kind of clicked off 13s for each eighth while staying in control the whole way.”

Pletcher said he will nominate Mindframe to the Grade 1 Metropolitan here on June 7, a race he’s already targeted for Fierceness, arguably the leader of the handicap division at this point of the season.

“We will keep everything in play, including the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs,” Pletcher acknowledged. “We’d prefer not to run the two of them together right now while also keeping in mind what’s in the best interests for each horse. We’ll just play it by ear for the next week, see how their next breezes go – although I’m happy where both horses are at the moment.”

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Mindframe went in the first of four sets Pletcher worked after the first renovation break. It was a star-studded group that also included Disruptor, Antiquarian, and Gate to Wire.

Disruptor and Antiquarian were both particularly impressive. Disruptor was best in company with Gate to Wire, breezing an easy half-mile in 51.13 seconds before punctuating the move with a huge gallop-out. He readily drew off from his stakes-winning mate in 1:03.78 before easing up six furlongs in 1:16.42 over the cuppy surface.

Disruptor has been idle since finishing a troubled fifth behind Tappan Street in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

“[Disruptor] always trained really, really well and this was just another example – a good strong breeze over a dull track with an impressive gallop-out,” Pletcher enthused.

Pletcher said the seven-furlong, Grade 1 Woody Stephens here on June 7 or the Pegasus Stakes the following week at Monmouth Park are currently under consideration for Disruptor’s next start.

Antiquarian, an impressive allowance winner this winter at Gulfstream Park to kick off his 4-year-old campaign, also did his best running after the wire while breezing in company with El Rezeen. Antiquarian edged a couple of lengths clear after covering four furlongs in 50.13 seconds. He then readily extended that advantage going out five panels in 1:03.35 and was up in 1:16.81.

Pletcher has chosen the Grade 3 Blame at Churchill Downs on May 31 for Antiquarian’s next start as a possible stepping-stone to either the Stephen Foster on June 28 or the Grade 2 Suburban here on July 4.

Trainer Chad Brown was also very busy here Friday, working 22 horses over the Oklahoma track. This group included the familiar team of Raging Sea and Randomized, who were on the tab for the second time since finishing first and third, respectively, in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on May 2. The pair breezed an easy four furlongs on even terms in 49.20 before easing up after five-eighths in 1:02.60.

Among Brown’s other notable workers on Friday were Grade 1 winners Ways and Means and Zulu Kingdom. Both turned in maintenance-like half-miles, with Ways and Means going solo and Zulu Kingdom in company with stablemate Intellect.

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