Pletcher works three Kentucky Derby contenders

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out three of his potential Kentucky Derby starters to work at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday, including Florida Derby winner Materiality, who looked razor-sharp breezing a half-mile in company with Louisiana Derby runner-up Stanford.

Fountain of Youth winner Itsaknockout also breezed four furlongs at the training center earlier in the morning.

Materiality certainly showed no ill effects from his grueling victory over Upstart on a deep and tiring track at Gulfstream Park in the Grade 1 Florida Derby two weeks earlier. Working nearest the rail, Materiality cruised through a 25.91-second opening quarter-mile with Stanford lapped right on his outer flank. Pletcher, via the walkie-talkie, instructed his riders to pick up the pace at bit turning into the stretch, and with just a hint of prodding, the pair accelerated instantly, coming down the lane in 22.50 to complete four furlongs in 48.41 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.30, with Materiality appearing slightly the stronger of the duo at the wire.

"I thought that was a borderline sensational work for Materiality," said Pletcher. "They were going a little bit easy, so I asked them on the radio to pick it up, and they picked it up a little more than I wanted them to. I tried to slow them down at midstretch, but at that point, they had a head of steam. It was a very impressive work."

Pletcher described Materiality, who is undefeated in three starts, as "a big, strong horse" and said he was "just amazed" at how well he came out of the Florida Derby.

"He hasn't missed a beat or an oat and couldn't look any better," said Pletcher. "His condition, his coat, his attitude, everything is good."

Pletcher also was enthused about the effort Stanford gave, more than holding his own with Materiality throughout the brilliant drill.

"The other horse has become a very good work horse; that's why we were sort of ambitious with him," Pletcher said, referring to running Stanford in the Louisiana Derby. "He wasn't a particularly good work horse at 2 and has surprised us how much he's improved at 3. I was very happy with both horses."

Itsaknockout worked in company with another undefeated 3-year-old in the Pletcher stable, Competitive Edge, the pair breezing four furlongs in 49.06, their final quarter in 23.41, shortly after dawn. Both looked to have plenty left at the wire before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.88.

"I thought he worked well,” Pletcher said. “It was a good, progressive work, started off easy, finished up strong, galloped out pretty well and held his own with a pretty good horse in a well executed work. He gave me everything I was looking for today, and this keeps him moving forward. We'll just see how he does as we keep moving closer [to the Derby]."

Pletcher had originally planned on shipping his Derby trio from south Florida to Kentucky on Tuesday but revised the itinerary Saturday, deciding to work them all one more time at Palm Beach Downs before sending them to Churchill Downs on April 21.

"I've been thinking about this a lot, trying to decide what's best for each individual horse," said Pletcher. "Right now, Carpe Diem is in a good groove at Keeneland, and I didn't think it was right to take these horses from here to Keeneland and train them there. But I also hate to be split up between Churchill and Keeneland. Looking at the 10-day forecast, it looks very consistent here, while there's potential for six or seven days of rain during that same period up there, and I'd hate to ship to Churchill and have to train over an off track."

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Pletcher also had several of his other stable stars out to work at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday, including Palace Malice, who went five furlongs in 1:02.20 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.19, his final quarter in 23.48 while just tapped on lightly with the stick a couple of times to keep his mind on business through the final furlong.

“That was a typical Palace Malice breeze; he just got better and better with every furlong,” said Pletcher. “He finished up in 23 and change and galloped out really well. He seems like he’s in great form. He’ll work here one more time and go to New York for the Westchester.”

Dame Dorothy and Sweet Whiskey both breezed five furlongs, the former in 1:02 and Sweet Whiskey in 1:03.98 after walking through her opening quarter in just under 28 seconds. Pletcher said he is considering the Humana Distaff and La Troienne at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend for both fillies.