Pletcher tries Thrilled in Plum Pretty Stakes
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by three stakes starters on the richest program of the Sunland Park meet on Sunday, and he’s more than familiar with the New Mexico track located just across the border from El Paso, Texas. His father, Jake, once based his training operation at Sunland.
“I grew up close to there until the seventh grade,” Pletcher said. “I went to Zach White Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School, was classmates with Joel Marr, obviously now a leading trainer in New Mexico. I wish that I could make a kind of homecoming trip. Unfortunately, I’m heading to Dubai on Monday. I’d love to get back. I have a lot of fond memories.”
Pletcher, racing’s all-time leading trainer in purse earnings with more than $300 million, can make some new Sunland memories Sunday. Gettysburg will start as a chief contender in the $415,000 Sunland Park Festival of Racing Stakes, while his runners on the undercard are Thrilled in the $200,000 Plum Pretty and Tiger Moth in the $100,000 Harry Henson.
The Plum Pretty, for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, replaces this year’s Sunland Park Oaks. The track canceled its Oaks while under quarantine due to an outbreak of the equine herpesvirus. The quarantine was lifted March 9. The Kentucky Oaks eligibility points that were attached to the Sunland Oaks will not be in place for the Plum Pretty. Thrilled will be part of a seven-horse field that includes Southern California invaders Family Tree and Where’s the D, along with the undefeated local K P Wildcat.
◗ Pletcher has an up-and-coming filly in Tiger Moth for the $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap, a one-mile race for fillies and mares. A field of 10 will go, including last year’s runner-up, Belleofthebeach, and Sunland stakes winner Warrens Puppy Love.
Tiger Moth was a first-level allowance winner in January at Gulfstream.
“She’s a filly that’s shown stakes-level ability at times, and we’re trying to accumulate black type for her,” said Pletcher, who trains Tiger Moth for her breeder, John Gunther.
◗ Dirt Monster goes for his third straight stakes win in the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. He won the local prep, the $75,000 Budweiser, and before that captured the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint. Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount for trainer Justin Evans.
◗ The program includes a pair of $100,000 routes for 3-year-olds bred in New Mexico, the Breeders’ Derby and the Breeders’ Oaks. Also on the card is the $85,000 La Coneja, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares bred in New Mexico.
Plum Pretty, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Thrilled, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 68-61-79
◗ She has proved effective on both turf and dirt and will remain on the main track for her first start at 3. Thrilled enters the Plum Pretty off a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on Nov. 28 at Aqueduct. It was her dirt debut, after a maiden win on turf at Saratoga and a pair of placings in grass stakes had sent her to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“She’s a filly that trained well on both surfaces last year, and we gave strong consideration to running her in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies but just felt like we should stick with what we already knew,” Pletcher said. “She has a blend of pedigree. Uncle Mo is doing it with all surfaces. The bottom side of her pedigree – I trained the mare and a few [others from the family] – and they generally have been a little better on the grass. As she’s physically matured, she’s gotten stronger and better on the dirt.”
◗ Thrilled will add blinkers for the Plum Pretty.
“We just felt like at times, she loses focus a little bit,” Pletcher said. “She’s a filly that sees a lot in morning training. We started training her in blinkers and liked what we saw.”
◗ Javier Castellano has the mount for Michael Tabor.
Family Tree, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-66
◗ She invades from Southern California, where she shows some strong works for her first start at 3. Last season, she placed in two stakes at Churchill Downs and Remington Park.
◗ Martin Garcia has the mount for Gary and Mary West and trainer Bob Baffert.
K P Wildcat, by Include
Last 3 Beyers: 54-76-61
◗ She is undefeated in three starts, with all of her wins coming in New Mexico. She accounted for a maiden special weight in October at Zia, a first-level allowance in January at Sunland, and the $75,000 Island Fashion on Feb. 26, also at Sunland.
◗ Ry Eikleberry has the mount for Karl Pegoia and trainer Weston Martin.