No BC Juvenile Turf contestant for Pletcher

ELMONT, N.Y. – Todd Pletcher will not have a runner in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 3 after two potential candidates were deemed to need additional time and a third did not work to satisfaction Thursday morning over the Belmont turf course.

Seabhac, winner of the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes on Sept. 30, is getting a break at WinStar Farm in Lexington, Ky. Pletcher said the horse will resume training on Dec. 1 and rejoin his stable at Palm Beach Downs shortly thereafter. Maruad, third in the Pilgrim, developed a temperature about 10 days ago that will force him to miss the Breeders’ Cup.

On Thursday, Pletcher worked Hazit on the turf in company with Orbolution, but Pletcher didn’t feel Hazit’s work was up to par to run in the Breeders’ Cup. Hazit, a son of War Front, is coming out of a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Champagne.

“He seemed a little green out there for the first time,” said Pletcher, who trains Hazit for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and the Coolmore connections. “I’ll run it by everyone, but I think he might need a little more time before he runs back.”

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Pletcher did like the way Orbolution worked, as she was in control of the half-mile breeze with Hazit, which Daily Racing Form timed in 47.74 seconds. Orbolution is pointing to the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“I thought she breezed very well,” Pletcher said. “She looked good, finished up well, and galloped out well.”

Pletcher also plans to run Stainless in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Stainless finished second to Rushing Fall in the Jessamine at Keeneland. She will remain at Keeneland before shipping to Del Mar on Oct. 30.

Keen Ice, Pletcher’s candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, will have just one work – next Friday – before the Breeders’ Cup.

“He’s been galloping pretty strongly,” Pletcher said. “I think one breeze will get him there.”

Pletcher had a conference call Thursday afternoon with the owners of Montauk to discuss whether to run him in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Montauk won his debut by 11 1/4 lengths on Oct. 7.

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