Pletcher seeks more stakes glory at Aqueduct

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After taking the weekend stakes with Heart Butte and Quiet Giant, trainer Todd Pletcher’s stable will seek some more stakes success with Driven by Success in Friday’s $60,000 Mr. International Stakes for New York-breds and Calibrachoa in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Toboggan.

Driven by Success also was entered in the Toboggan but is expected to try and stretch out around two turns in the Mr. Internatinal at a mile and 70 yards. In 2008, Driven by Success twice raced around two turns, finishing second in a pair of maiden races over the inner track in his second and third career starts.

Since then, Driven by Success has raced exclusively around one turn, winning several stakes and most recently finishing second to Calibrachoa in the Gravesend.

Driven by Success will face five opponents in the Mr. International, led by Saginaw and Spa City Fever.

The Toboggan, the only graded race run over the inner track until March 5, drew a field of eight led by Calibrachoa, who won the Gravesend in his first start for Pletcher and owner Mike Repole after they claimed him for $40,000. Calibrachoa drew post 7 and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez.

On Sunday, Calibrachoa breezed four furlongs in 48.55 seconds over the Belmont training track in a work that assistant trainer Jonathan Thomas called “exceptional.”

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez entered both Endless Circle and Temecula Creek in the Toboggan. Others entered include Fastus Cactus, Flat Bold, Independence War, and Jack on the Rocks.

Meanwhile, Pletcher said via e-mail that Heart Butte and Alma d’Oro, the 1-2 finishers from Saturday’s Evening Attire Stakes, would be pointed to the Stymie Stakes at 1 1/8 miles here Feb. 26. Quiet Giant, who earned a 96 Beyer winning Sunday’s Lady On the Run Stakes by three lengths, will be pointed to the $65,000 Rare Treat on Feb. 20.