Pletcher has busy workout morning at Palm Beach Downs

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – The Gulfstream Park Championship meet is over, but trainer Todd Pletcher still has a major presence in the area at his winter headquarters at Palm Beach Downs, where he worked more than two dozen horses on Friday morning. Several worked for upcoming stakes assignments around the country, and he also worked several sets of unraced 2-year-olds.

Among the stakes horses on the tab were Orra Moor, who went four furlongs in company with maiden winner Soldado in 48.44 seconds before galloping out best in 1:01.48; Clint Maroon, an easy half-mile with Empire of War in 49.75; Federal Case, five furlongs as much the best inside American Tattoo in 1:01.91; and Bellavais, a solo half-mile going easily throughout in 49.74.

Pletcher said afterward he’s pointing Orra Moor to the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park on April 12, Clint Maroon for the Woodhaven at Aqueduct on April 20, and Bellavais for Keeneland’s Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on April 13.

“I’m not sure what I’ll do with Federal Case. I could keep him down here for the Roar or wait for the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs,” Pletcher said.

Federal Case is coming off a second-place finish as the odds-on favorite going six furlongs in the Grade 3 Hutcheson in his last start.

“He didn’t break, but I thought he should have made a little more impact down the lane,” Pletcher said. “Six furlongs is probably a little too short for him. The Roar is at seven-eighths and the Pat Day Mile might even be better yet.”

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Pletcher was all smiles when asked to comment on Bulletin’s impressive 1 1/2-length victory Thursday in the opening day feature of the Keeneland meet in the Palisades Turf Sprint. The victory came in Bulletin’s first outing since his easy triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint five months earlier and earned the undefeated 3-year-old a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I was really pleased with his comeback,” Pletcher said. “He’s been ready for a while. We kind of took our time, making sure we didn’t get him ready too soon because he’s been here for a little while. But that was our target all along.”

Pletcher said the plan is to run Bulletin once more before sending him to Ascot for the Commonwealth Stakes in June.

“We have a couple of options, which would be to run him back opening night on the turf at Churchill Downs or wait and run him in the Paradise Creek going seven furlongs at Belmont,” he said. “That would be 27 days before the Commonwealth.”

Pletcher said he plans to keep horses at Palm Beach Downs through most of the spring.

“We’ll stick around for a little while,” he said. “I’m not sure when we’ll migrate north with everything, although I don’t plan to keep anything here in July and August, then we’ll come back right after Labor Day like we usually do. The logistics of running up north and keeping horses here during the summer as well just doesn’t work out.”

◗ Sunday’s main event is a optional claimer with a $47,000 purse scheduled at 1 1/8 miles on the turf for fillies and mares. The race drew a wide open field of seven, with Nikki’s Cause likely to be the slight favorite over recent statebred allowance winner Una Luna, Fast Track Kathern,and Curluck. Scatnap, Ladrona, and Dramamina complete the lineup.