Mo Donegal getting the jump on his Pletcher-trained stablemates

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Todd Pletcher trains five of the 23 separately listed wagering interests in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which runs this Friday to Sunday. It’s a familiar position for a Hall of Fame trainer, whose 59 Derby starters is a record.

Mo Donegal, a last-out winner of the Dec. 4 Remsen, will be Pletcher’s only starter in the first major Derby prep of the year at Gulfstream Park, the Feb. 5 Holy Bull. The Uncle Mo colt has breezed every weekend at Pletcher’s winter base at Palm Beach Downs since Dec. 24.

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Commandperformance, second in the Champagne and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, “is a couple of weeks away from his first work back,” said Pletcher.

“I haven’t picked a comeback spot for him yet,” he said.

Emmanuel, an eye-catching winner of his only start, worked Saturday after being scratched from a two-turn allowance Jan. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs because of a mild fever.

“Hopefully there’ll be another allowance option for him fairly soon,” said Pletcher.

Major General, unraced since winning the Sept. 18 Iroquois at Churchill Downs, will breeze this weekend, his third work since he returned to training.

“We’re looking to start him back in early March, which puts the Fountain of Youth and a lot of other races into play,” said Pletcher.

The Fountain of Youth will be run March 5 at Gulfstream.

Varatti also could return around the same time, said the trainer. The Into Mischief colt had his first workout Monday since turning heads with a Sept. 30 debut romp at Belmont Park.