Pletcher works Kentucky Derby possibles Cutting Humor and Spinoff

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher had to catch a flight out of town Friday. But before heading to the airport, Pletcher spent the early morning hours sending out more than two dozen horses to work at his winter-spring headquarters at Palm Beach Downs, a group that included potential Kentucky Derby starters Cutting Humor and Spinoff.

Cutting Humor was the first of Pletcher’s 25 horses to work on a picture-perfect spring morning in South Florida, going in company with fellow 3-year-old Federal Case. The pair breezed four furlongs in 48.09, completing a final quarter in 23.41 while going easily throughout before galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.16 and easing up three-quarters in 1:14.80.

The work was the first for Cutting Humor since his neck decision in the Sunland Park Derby on March 24, which earned the Starlight Stable colorbearer enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s really progressed since Sunland,” said Pletcher. “I like the way he’s doing physically. He seems to have put on a little condition and his coat is all dappled out and shiny – just the way you’d hope a 3-year-old would be progressing this time of year. I thought he put in a good, solid work this morning with a strong gallop-out. It looks like he’s really maintaining his good form.”

Spinoff, whose Derby status may still be in question with the 40 points he earned for his second-place finish in the Louisiana Derby, worked five furlongs on Friday in 1:01.49 in company with the older Wooderson. The pair cut out splits of 24.25 and 36.99 before going out six furlongs under some encouragement in 1:14.62. Spinoff then proceeded to leave his company and gallop out a full mile in 1:43 and change.

“Spinoff’s had a little less racing foundation, which is why he did a little more today and which is why we do a little different things with each one of them,” Pletcher explained. “I’m really happy with the way he looks and continues to develop. I liked the way he worked this morning. I thought he put in a strong gallop-out. He does everything so effortlessly and easily, I asked the rider to make him do a little more and I really liked the way he kept going out the mile.”

Among Pletcher’s other prominent workers Friday were Rally Cry, who went a solo six furlongs in 1:13.61 before pulling up one mile in 1:43.20, and Prince Lucky, an easy half-mile in 48.77 with a final quarter in 23.44.

“Rally Cry is going to the Charles Town Classic,” Pletcher said. “He hasn’t run since the Woodward, and this was his third six-furlong work. He’ll be running a mile and one-eighth off a long layoff, and I’m hoping he’ll be tight enough to give us a top effort. He’s a horse who has gone through all his conditions. There are no easy spots for him, so we felt why not take a shot at a big purse. He has good tactical speed and a style that is much like some other horses we’ve had success with at Charles Town in the past.”