Pletcher pleased with 3-year-olds' works

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher put together a couple of potent teams of 3-year-olds to work Sunday morning at Palm Beach Downs, Itsaknockout with Khozan and Daredevil in company with Competitive Edge, saying afterward he was very pleased with the performances of all four horses.

Itsaknockout and Khozan each went four furlongs in 48.80 seconds while Daredevil and Competitive Edge earned the bullet for five furlongs after completing the distance in 1:00. Itsaknockout is scheduled to run Saturday in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. Pletcher said Daredevil will make his 3-year-old debut a week from Saturday in the Grade 2 Swale while he's still searching for a spot to launch Competitive Edge's 3-year-old campaign.

"Both horses worked very well," Pletcher said when asked to comment on the pairing of Itsaknockout and Khozan. "Both are pretty kind horses. I thought they'd make good workmates. I was kind of thinking in my mind what I wanted both horses to do and was looking for a similar work from both of them. They’ve each moved forward nicely since their last races."

On Saturday, Pletcher worked Carpe Diem four furlongs in 59.88 at Palm Beach Downs and said he remains on target for the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.

Holy Bull winner Upstart had his final tune-up for the Fountain of Youth on Saturday at Palm Meadows, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:00.60 with exercise rider Vicki King aboard. Frosted, the runner-up in the Holy Bull, went a half-mile in 48.75 Sunday, also at Palm Meadows.

The Fountain of Youth will be drawn Monday. A field of 8 to 11 3-year-olds is expected to run. Along with Upstart, Frosted, and Itsaknockout, the field also figures to include Bluegrass Singer, Danny Boy, Frammento, and Gorgeous Bird, as well as Juan and Bina. Ami's Flatter, Divining Rod, and Morgans Harbour are listed as possible starters.

General a Rod, one of only two horses to run in all three legs of the 2014 Triple Crown, joined Pletcher’s stable at Palm Beach Downs last weekend, transferring from trainer Mike Maker at Gulfstream Park. General a Rod, who finished fourth as the odds-on favorite making his first start since the Belmont Stakes under allowance conditions Jan. 14, worked four furlongs in 48.80 Sunday at Palm Beach Downs.

"This was the first time we worked him,” said Pletcher. “I know the horse from having watched him run a little bit. He was very willing this morning, he was well in hand throughout, and I thought he worked very well."

Pletcher said he has nothing picked out for General a Rod at the present time.