Montauk to sit out Breeders' Cup Juvenile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Montauk, who rolled to an impressive 11 1/4-length debut win Oct. 7 at Belmont, will not contest the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

After discussing it with the owners of Montauk – a group that includes Robert LaPenta, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Twin Creeks Racing – Pletcher said shipping cross-country to take on a horse like Bolt d’Oro, who is 3 for 3 including two wins at Del Mar, where the Breeders’ Cup will be run, wasn’t prudent.

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“We think he’s a very, very talented horse and we have long-term goals that hopefully include some of the spring classics,” Pletcher said Friday morning. “We felt like everything was against him. He’s had one start at seven furlongs; you’ve got to ship all the way across the country and run against more seasoned horses. He’s talented enough to consider it, but he was taking the worst of it from every angle.”

Montauk, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.97 in his debut and earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pletcher said no decision has been made on where Montauk would start next. The logical options include the Grade 2 Nashua on Nov. 5 at Aqueduct, the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs, or the Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct.

“We’ll figure out what the best approach is and try to develop him properly and hopefully it will pay off down the road,” Pletcher said.

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