No stretch yet for Dr. Pleasure

ELMONT, N.Y. - The connections of the champion mare Beautiful Pleasure felt they might have rushed her through her 2-year-old season in order to make the Breeders' Cup. They don't want to make the same mistake with her first foal, Dr. Pleasure.

So, instead of stretching out in distance in next Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne, Dr. Pleasure will make his next start in Sunday's $75,000 Cowdin Stakes at Belmont Park. The Cowdin is run at 6 1/2 furlongs, the same distance at which Dr. Pleasure won his maiden at Saratoga on Sept. 2.

"The second step is to get experience," said Donna Ward, assistant trainer to her husband, John, who trained the champion Beautiful Pleasure. "He's had one race, and one race does not make seasoning. It's a chance to get some seasoning and not to change distances on him. In fairness to him, that's the best step to take."

It may not be fair to his five rivals, whose connections were probably hoping the Cowdin would come up a little lighter than this. The field also includes He's Got Grit, who is 3 for 3, including a victory in the Grade 3 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth.

Like his mother, debuted impressively going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga as an 11-10 favorite. Breaking from the rail, Dr. Pleasure actually broke last, was guided to the outside, and made a three-wide sweep to the lead en route to a 7 1/4-length win. He covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.67 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

"I think he handled the other race fine. He handled the distance fine," Ward said. "He's done everything we've asked him to do so far, and he's done it professionally. It was nice for him to show he has ability."

Edgar Prado will ride Dr. Pleasure from post 4.

Trainer Steve Asmussen skipped last month's Grade 2 Futurity with He's Got Grit because felt the horse needed more time to recover from his Sapling performance, a race he won by 8 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.69.

"He ran his race in the Sapling, that's as good as he can be right now," Asmussen said. "That's what we're concentrating on now. He's a talented little horse, but he's a little horse."

After winning his maiden first out at Belmont in July, Trippi Appeal has run second behind subsequent graded stakes winners First Samurai and Private Vow. Town Council won his maiden at Monmouth Park with blinkers added. Jimmy's Pride was a good-looking, well-bet debut winner at Saratoga, while Winning Minister comes off a fifth-place finish in the Hopeful.