Pletcher sends out first 2-year-old of 2020

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who like Chad Brown is awaiting word on when he can start shipping horses back to New York, will send out his first 2-year-old starter of the year in Friday’s second race at Gulfstream. Pletcher entered a pair of juveniles in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight dash, Prisoner and Restored Order, although the latter is buried well down the also-eligible list.

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Prisoner, a son of Violence out of the stakes-winning mare Al Max Diner, is owned by Repole Stable and was purchased for $175,000 at the OBS March sale. He has worked five times, all at Palm Beach Downs, including a bullet 48.40-second half-mile at the training center on April 17. Prisoner will face a lineup that includes a pair of first-time starters from the barn of trainer Wesley Ward – Breakthrough, a half-brother to the Grade 1-placed Red Vine by Nyquist, along with the Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred Chasing Artie.

◗ Saturday’s lone stakes is the $75,000 Sunshine Forever at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The race lured a graded stakes-caliber list of 37 nominees and could feature the 2020 debuts of both reigning Preakness champion War of Will and Grade 2 grass winner Hawkish. Both have been working regularly at Palm Meadows. Trainer Mike Maker nominated seven horses to the race.