Pletcher seriously considering Woodward for Vino Rosso

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Vino Rosso may have convinced his connections to run him in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes next Saturday at Saratoga with a very strong five-furlong workout Friday morning over the main track.

Working after the renovation break and over a glib surface, Vino Rosso drilled five furlongs in 58.69 seconds under jockey John Velazquez. Vino Rosso started two lengths behind workmate Noble Indy, was on even terms after three furlongs in 35.69 seconds, and came home in 23.00 while finishing slightly ahead of his partner. Vino Rosso galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.11 and seven furlongs in 1:25.46.

“We wanted to see a work good enough to try and convince us that he likes Saratoga,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I think that put that uncertainty to rest, as much as it can in a morning workout anyway.”

The dilemma is that Vino Rosso is 0 for 3 at Saratoga. He ran spotty when finishing third in the Jim Dandy Stakes last year. He finished fifth in the Travers, a race Pletcher felt was run in a “merry-go-round” fashion. In his most recent start at Saratoga, Vino Rosso finished third, 6 1/2 lengths behind McKinzie, in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 3.

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“I thought he ran good in the Whitney, but maybe not his best,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher is trying to figure out the best route to get to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. Vino Rosso has already won at Santa Anita, taking the Grade 1 Gold Cup in May. Pletcher and owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola are deciding between the Woodward, at 1 1/8 miles, and the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup going 1 1/4 miles at Belmont on Sept. 28.

“I think he’s probably at his best at a mile and a quarter, but if you run here then maybe you can take your best shot at the Breeders’ Cup Classic having a little more space in between,” Pletcher said. “Just trying to weigh all those factors and see what the correct move is.”

Pletcher is also considering Wooderson and Bal Harbour for the Woodward. On Friday, Wooderson, who finished second in the Alydar Stakes here on Aug. 2, worked a half-mile in 47.52 seconds under exercise rider Amelia Green. The work nearly turned into a race as horses who broke off behind Wooderson came to the horse’s inside and outside in the stretch. Wooderson got carried out very wide on the gallop-out.

“I thought Amelia did as good a job as you can do under difficult circumstances,” Pletcher said. “The horse worked well. He generally works by himself because he’s a forward work horse, but he seemed to stay relatively relaxed during all that despite having all the company and kickback and one coming out in front of him on the gallop-out.”

Bal Harbour, second in the Monmouth Cup last out, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds Friday morning at Belmont.

Though Coal Front and Spinoff are both nominated to the Woodward, neither one will run, Pletcher said. Coal Front is pointing to the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso at Belmont on Sept. 21, while Spinoff is pointing to the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx the same day.

Those pointing to the Woodward include Mr. Buff, Preservationist, Tom’s d’Etat, and Yoshida.