Pletcher targets Withers Stakes for Marconi

Trainer Todd Pletcher doesn’t plan to run anything in Monday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, but he is already looking forward to the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 3, where he plans to run the $2 million auction purchase Marconi.

Marconi, a son of Tapit, won his maiden in his second start Dec. 15 at Aqueduct, drawing off to win by 5 1/2 lengths with blinkers added. He broke slow, then made a strong middle move to go from last to third before having to steady at the 4 1/2-furlong marker. Tipped four wide by Javier Castellano, Marconi took control in upper stretch and drew away.

Pletcher deemed the race an improved effort from his debut, also at 1 1/8 miles, when second to stablemate Biblical.

“I thought it was certainly a step in the right direction,” Pletcher said. “He’s a work in progress, has a ton of natural stamina, and that’s why we started him out at a mile and an eighth and we’ll keep him at a mile and an eighth for now. I thought the blinkers made him focus a little more. The further he went, the stronger he was getting. He’s continuing to come around.”

Despite the cold temperatures in New York, Pletcher has elected to keep Marconi training at Belmont Park. He is likely to ship to Florida following the Withers, Pletcher said.

The Withers also is expected to attract Avery Island, the Grade 3 Nashua winner who finished second in the Remsen. Avery Island, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is in training at Palm Meadows in south Florida.