Pletcher mulling plans for Prince Lucky, Copper Town

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher reported both Prince Lucky and Copper Town came out of their one-two finish in Saturday’s Grade 3 Hal’s Hope in good order. Prince Lucky turned in easily the best performance of his career, winning by six lengths under jockey John Velazquez while earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

“I thought Prince Lucky ran terrific,” Pletcher said. “He’d been training well, but you’re always concerned coming off a long layoff like that going into a graded stakes. He actually ran even better than we could have hoped for. We’ll see how he trains, but right now we’re looking at that race on Florida Derby Day.”

Pletcher was referencing the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile.

Copper Town stumbled briefly after the start of the Hal’s Hope, then rushed forward to contest the pace but never threatened the winner while finishing on his left lead down the stretch.

“He stumbled again, he was on his left lead at the end, but was pretty much second-best on the day,” Pletcher said. “We have a couple of options, one being to shorten him up in distance a little bit.”

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. bounced back from a leg injury sustained in Saturday’s sixth race to register a hat trick on the card that included a victory aboard Yes I Am Free in the Texas Glitter Stakes. However, it was his brother Jose who stole the show over the weekend by winning eight races, four apiece on both Saturday and Sunday’s programs.

◗ There will be a carryover of $398,431 in the Rainbow 6 pool when racing resumes Wednesday. The Rainbow 6 has been hit seven times since the meet began Dec. 1, the most recent payout was $227,505 on Feb. 15.