Pletcher plans to run two in Hal's Hope

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he'll likely run two of his top handicap performers, Quality Road and Harlem Rocker, in Sunday's $100,000 Hal's Hope Handicap at Gulfstream. The Grade 3 Hal's Hope highlights the opening-day program of the 2010 Gulfstream meeting.

"Quality Road will definitely start," said Pletcher. "I'll have to talk to Mr. [Frank] Stronach regarding Harlem Rocker but I think he'll probably go to. I hate to run two horses of this quality against one another, but I have to consider what's best in the long run for each individual horse. Hopefully we'll be able to separate them again later this winter."

Pletcher said Quality Road would be ridden by John Velazquez, while Eibar Coa will be aboard Harlem Rocker if he goes. Quality Road worked four furlongs in 49.45 at Palm Meadows on Monday. Harlem Rocker also had his final prep for the Hal's Hope on Monday, breezing five-eighths in 1:03.90 at Palm Meadows.

Another top candidate for the Hal's Hope, You and I Forever, had his final prep on Monday, drilling a bullet half- mile in 48.20 at Calder for Wolfson.

Pletcher also reported that the newest addition to his 3-year-old division for 2010, Discreetly Mine, would probably make his first start for him in the six-furlong Spectacular Bid on Jan. 9 at Gulfstream. Discreetly Mine was recently transferred to Pletcher by his owner, Joyce Robsham.

Discreetly Mine closed out his juvenile campaign finishing second in both the Futurity at Belmont and Champagne for his former trainer Stan Hough.