Pletcher has three in Bridgetown Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Barbarossa was no match for stablemate Salmanzar when he finished third to him in the Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February.

On Saturday, Barbarossa will face two of his other Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates when he seeks his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Bridgetown Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct. The Bridgetown, run at six furlongs on the outer turf course, honors the seven-time stakes-winning turf sprinter trained mostly by Pletcher for Eugene Melnyk.

The Texas Glitter was run at five furlongs. Pletcher trains Barbarossa for Barry Schwartz, and he is hoping the added furlong of this race “might suit him pretty well.”

“His best race so far has been going seven,” Pletcher said. “This is the next-best option.”

All Systems Go, a son of Orb trained by Pletcher for owner Eric Fein, is coming off a debut victory Feb. 10 at Gulfstream, where he pressed the pace and drew away in the lane.

“It seems like the Orbs that we’ve had like the turf,” Pletcher said. “He’s out of a Fivestarday mare, looks like a sprinter. We worked him on the grass, he worked well, and he showed us some gate speed in the morning and indicated this is what he would be best at.”

Pletcher’s other entrant, Coltandmississippi, a son of Pioneerof the Nile, is trying turf for the first time.

The biggest threat to the Pletcher trio would appear to be Ambassador Jim, who makes his 3-year-old debut and is trained by Christophe Clement. He ran well at 2, finally winning his maiden by 1 1/2 lengths last Oct. 25 at Belmont Park.

“He always shows up in the morning, and in the afternoon he ran against horses that were a touch better than him,” said Christophe Lorieul, the assistant to Clement. “He’s a light-framed horse. We gave him some time from 2 to 3 and he’s come back well.”

A field of eight was entered in the Bridgetown. Trainer Wesley Ward entered the fillies Mentality and Nootka Sound, but he also entered both back for Sunday’s $100,000 Mizdirection, so it is uncertain whom Ward will run in the Bridgetown.

Black Stetson and Smooth B, neither whom has been on turf, complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Barbarossa, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-82

◗ Lacked some running room but once clear was not able to catch stablemate Salamanzar in the Texas Glitter. The added furlong and the race shape here would appear to be in his favor.

All Systems Go, by Orb
Beyer: 80

◗ Sharp debut winner ends up here off a two-month layoff after an allowance race at Gulfstream failed to fill.

◗ Showed good speed while in between horses in the debut.

Ambassador Jim, by Treasure Beach
Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-72

◗ Showed strong late foot in the stretch of his six-furlong maiden win.

◗ Gets Lasix for the first time.