Pletcher contingent drills for upcoming stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Spinoff, who competed in two legs of the Triple Crown, will switch surfaces for his next start when he runs in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park.

On Saturday morning, Spinoff put in his final breeze for the Belmont Derby when he worked a half-mile in 49.06 seconds over the Belmont turf. He worked in company with Social Paranoia, who will also represent Pletcher in the Belmont Derby. The two completed their final quarter in 23 seconds.

For Spinoff, who ran 18th in the Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Belmont Stakes, it was his second breeze on turf, both in company with Social Paranoia.

“I thought both of his turf works were good,” Pletcher said. “It’s something that’s always been in the back of our minds. Assuming everything is good coming out of it, we’re going to go ahead and go.”

Spinoff is a son of Hard Spun out of the Gone West mare Zaftig.

Pletcher said regardless of how Spinoff runs in the Belmont Derby, “It doesn’t mean he’s going to stay on the turf.”

Social Paranoia, after winning a maiden race by eight lengths on March 30 at Gulfstream, finished third in both the Grade 2 American Turf and Grade 3 Pennine Ridge.

“He’s run well all three times this year,” Pletcher said. “Just hoping the mile and a quarter is going to give him a little better chance. It’s a competitive race. On his best, he fits.”

Clint Maroon, who finished fifth in the Pennine Ridge, worked a half-mile in 48.69 seconds over the Belmont turf Saturday morning. He currently sits one deep on the preference list for the Belmont Derby and would need one defection to make the race. While Pletcher said he may enter in the Derby even if it means being on the also-eligible list, he entered Clint Maroon in Thursday’s $100,000 Manila Stakes going a mile.

Also Saturday, Pletcher worked the older horses he plans to run in the Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban. Marconi, winner of three straight stakes including the Grade 2 Brooklyn, worked a half-mile in 48.51 seconds in company with Vino Rosso, who is skipping the Suburban to await in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 3. The pair galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20 and six furlongs in 1:13.67.

“I don’t think six months ago he would have been capable of breezing with a horse as good as Vino Rosso and stay with him the whole way,” Pletcher said of Marconi. “He seems to be getting better and better.”

Wooderson, a half-brother to champion Rachel Alexandra, worked a half-mile in 50.28 seconds by himself over the training track in preparation for the Suburban, at 1 1/4 miles. He is coming off two allowance wins this year.

“Big-time pedigree, seems like he’s improved as he’s gotten a little older,” Pletcher said. “Both of his allowance wins have been pretty impressive. He won kind of idled down at Monmouth last time. Again, it seems like a horse that’s on the improve.”