Pletcher holds My Miss Sophia out of Test

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Todd Pletcher entered two fillies for Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, but they weren’t necessarily the two whom many expected.

Pletcher entered Sweet Whiskey, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Acorn, and the speedy Red Velvet, the winner of the Jersey Girl Stakes two starts back at Belmont Park, in the seven-furlong Test. Pletcher did not enter My Miss Sophia, the runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks and the seventh-place finisher as the favorite in the Acorn.

“For whatever reason, she just hasn’t had the sparkle that she had before the Oaks,” Pletcher said. “I’m still kind of puzzled by the Acorn performance. I thought in her breezes for what was going to be the Coaching Club, they were okay, but they weren’t her at her best.”

Each entrant will have to be at her best to compete in the Test, which drew the likes of Acorn winner Sweet Reason, who is 2 for 2 at Saratoga; Fiftyshadesofgold, the winner of the Eight Belles; Street Story, the winner of the Victory Ride; and Southern Honey, the winner of the Winning Colors.

Sweet Whiskey won the Grade 3 Old Hat at Gulfstream but was dismissed at 32-1 in the Acorn. She rallied to make the lead in midstretch but was run down by Sweet Reason.

“I think she’s shown with her Old Hat win and some of her other races that she’s a real high-quality filly,” Pletcher said. “I think seven-eighths suits her well. I thought she ran great in the Acorn.”

Sweet Whiskey drew post 3.

Pletcher had Red Velvet entered in the Honorable Miss but scratched her because he felt there was too much speed in the field.

“I decided to opt for this spot, which on paper might not have quite as much speed,” Pletcher said. “I think speed is her weapon; let her do her thing.”

Red Velvet will break from post 10 under Paco Lopez.