Pletcher barn gearing up for Belmont undercard

ELMONT, N.Y. – In addition to his two potential Belmont Stakes starters – Vino Rosso and Noble Indy – trainer Todd Pletcher worked several other horses Friday ahead of stakes races on the June 9 Belmont card.

Hi Happy, the winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War, went a half-mile in 48.56 seconds over the Belmont training track in preparation for the Grade 1 Manhattan. Hi Happy worked with Driven to Compete.

“Liked what he did this morning,” Pletcher said. “Talked to the connections. Everyone is leaning towards the Manhattan. A mile and a quarter might be a tick short of his optimal distance, but he seems to be doing well and had a good run over the course.”

Pletcher is expected to run two in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps – Unbridled Mo and Ivy Bell. On Friday, Ivy Bell, second in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff going seven furlongs last out, worked a half-mile in 50.42 seconds in company with Outplay. The pair galloped out very well after the wire, going six furlongs in 1:14.57 and seven furlongs in 1:29.14.

“The half-mile time was slow, the seven-eighths gallop-out caught back up, so I think we got from a conditioning standpoint what we were looking for,” Pletcher said.

Outplay is pointing to the Grade 2 Brooklyn, where Pletcher also will run Hard Study. Hard Study on Friday worked a half-mile in 48.58 seconds in company with Patch.

Earlier in the morning, Vulcan’s Forge worked a half-mile in 48.84 in company with Blind Ambition. Vulcan’s Forge is possible for the Metropolitan Handicap.

Elate works, won’t make Phipps

Elate, a multiple Grade 1-winning filly as a 3-year-old last year, worked five furlongs in 1:02.39 on Thursday at Saratoga. It was her third breeze since resuming training this spring in Florida.

Trainer Bill Mott said Elate won’t be ready for the Ogden Phipps, and he’s not sure when she will make her seasonal debut.

Working backward from the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Churchill Downs, Mott said races like the Beldame at Belmont’s fall meet and the Personal Ensign in August at Saratoga are major targets.

Mott mentioned the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 16 as a potential return spot. He also said he could train Elate up to the Delaware Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on July 14.

The Shuvee at Saratoga on July 29 is another race that Elate is eligible for, but Mott said he probably won’t wait that long to run her.

“I don’t think it’ll take us that long to be ready,” Mott said.