Pletcher eyeing stakes for Outshine, Orra Moor

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent the 3-year-olds Outshine and Orra Moor out to impressive allowance victories on Sunday.

Outshine, idle since a fifth-place finish in the Tremont Stakes last spring at Aqueduct, returned to post a two-length victory going seven furlongs against a strong field of entry-level optional-claiming rivals in Sunday’s main event. The son of Malibu Moon received an 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

“We had high hopes for him all along,” said Pletcher. “We had to stop on him for a little while, but he trained really well once he came back and we were optimistic coming into the race and glad he delivered a big performance.”

Outshine, who raced with blinkers for the first time, rallied from midpack four wide into the stretch before drawing away under John Velazquez.

“I thought it was an ideal trip from the standpoint that it was a good education for him,” said Pletcher. “[Velazquez] put him behind horses, maneuvered through some traffic, and taught him to do some things hopefully he’ll have to do in bigger races down the road.”

Pletcher said the plan would be to stretch Outshine out in distance and point for a stakes in his next start.

“There’s pretty much an option every weekend,” he said. “It’s just a matter timing-wise where he’ll run.”

Orra Moor, a 3 1/4 length winner of her debut on Dec. 22, remained perfect with an eye-catching 7 1/4 length allowance win, also with Velazquez aboard, earlier on the card. She earned a Beyer of 74.

“I thought it was very impressive,” said Pletcher. “This was one of those allowance races when I picked up the overnight I said, ‘Man, this is like a graded stakes.’ I thought this was a good class test and she handled herself well.”

As with Outshine, Pletcher will look for a two-turn stakes for Orra Moor’s next start.