Pletcher works two for Shuvee

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Reigning Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria threw in an uncharacteristically poor effort in her last start when she finished sixth in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps. But the three-time Grade 1 winner certainly gave every indication that she’s primed to make amends by working a strong half-mile in 49.01 seconds over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Monday.

Stopchargingmaria, the first horse to breeze after the renovation break, finished full of energy under a hold, shading 24 seconds for her final quarter-mile. She was allowed to gallop out with great energy into and around the turn, completing six furlongs in 1:14.42.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Stopchargingmaria is being prepared for the Grade 1 Shuvee at Saratoga on July 31.

“I thought it was a very good work,” said Pletcher. “She’s always seemed to train well up here, and she’s been training well since the Phipps. Like for a lot of horses, the track was playing a little peculiar that day, and she had an off day, threw in an off race for no reason we can identify. We’ll just regroup and try again.”

Pletcher also plans to run Curalina in the Shuvee. Like Stopchargingmaria, she didn’t run her best race in the Phipps, tiring late to finish fourth behind winner Cavorting as the 9-5 favorite. She also worked over the training track Monday, going four furlongs in 48.94 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:02.25.

Pletcher breezed several of his stakes performers on the training track Monday, including the team of Far From Over and Protonico, who went an easy half-mile in 50.31, and Sandiva, who worked four furlongs in 48.72.

An undefeated Grade 3 winner, Far From Over returned from a 16 1/2-month layoff to win an allowance race at Belmont Park and is being pointed for the Alydar at Saratoga on Aug. 7. A four-time graded stakes winner, Protonico has not started since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap last November at Churchill Downs.

Pletcher said he was happy with Far From Over’s comeback win.

“It was a big effort off the layoff,” he said. “He came out of the race well, had a good work this morning, and right now the Alydar will most likely be next. This was only Protonico’s fourth work back, so we took it kind of easy. We’ve still got a long ways to go with him.” Pletcher said he nominated seven fillies to the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 but is not sure if any will run. The CCA Oaks is scheduled to be the next start for division leader Songbird.

“I’ve got to assume it will be a short field, and if I feel the opportunity is right for one of our fillies to pick up some black type in a Grade 1 race, I’ll run someone,” he said. “I just don’t know who yet.”

Pletcher also said he is considering turning Rachel’s Valentina back to seven furlongs for the Grade 1 Test here on Aug. 6. Rachel’s Valentina finished fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose at Belmont on July 2.

“She’s coming up here next week, and I’m giving some thought to shortening her up for the Test since she won the Spinaway at seven furlongs here last year,” said Pletcher.