Pletcher gives Nearly, Renegade separate half-mile works

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – On the day before he was to find out if he has a Kentucky Derby contender in Jackson Hole, trainer Todd Pletcher on Friday at Palm Beach Downs put two of his more accomplished 3-year-olds through workouts as they prepare for stakes engagements later in March.

Breezing in different sets moments apart, Nearly, the Grade 3 Holy Bull winner, worked a half-mile in 50.17 seconds, getting his last quarter in 23.77 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.49, and Renegade, the Sam. F. Davis winner, covered the same distance in 50.29, galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.40. The works, both done in company, were somewhat obscured by an annoying fog that hovered around the far turn on an otherwise beautiful morning in South Florida.

For Nearly, it was his third workout since his victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Jan. 31. Nearly, who has already won three races at Gulfstream Park, is preparing for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream. There is a part of Pletcher who wishes he didn’t have to wait another month to run the son of Not This Time.

“I feel like it was the right thing to do to not run in the Fountain of Youth, but at the same time he’s doing so well you hope you can keep him in the same shape he’s in for another month,” said Pletcher, who was set to run Jackson Hole, 2 for 2, in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth.

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Pletcher said Nearly is “doing all the things you hope one would be doing at this time – putting on weight, eating really well, showing good energy every day. Very happy with him.”

Renegade, who worked with the 3-year-old Epic Desire, had his second breeze since he won the Sam F. Davis at Tampa by 3 3/4 lengths on Feb. 7. He is targeting the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.

“He’s a little different kind of horse, a little more laid back, easy horse to breeze, do whatever you ask him to do,” Pletcher said. “Same positive signs [as Nearly], appetite’s good, his energy level is good, daily training has all been good.”

Pletcher said provided he works well on Sunday, the maiden Powershift will run in the Grade 3, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7. Powershift, a son of Constitution, was beaten three-quarters of a length by Emerging Market in a mile and 40-yard maiden race on the Sam Davis card. Powershift earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.

Zany, the undefeated filly who won the Suncoast Stakes on that Feb. 7 card at Tampa, worked a half-mile in 49.17 on Thursday. She is still being pointed to the Grade 1 Ashland on April 3 at Keeneland.

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