Pletcher's Third Day stretching out for Just One More Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Todd Pletcher’s cup of 3-year-old prospects seems to runneth over of late. On Wednesday, he’ll hope to add “just one more” to that list when he sends out Third Day against five rivals in the $60,000 Just One More Stakes, an overnight test carded at a mile for 3-year-olds who have never won a sweepstakes.

Third Day made his only start as a 2-year-old on July 31 at Monmouth Park, rallying to an easy 2 1/4-length victory going 5 1/2 furlongs over a sloppy track, a performance for which the son of Bernardini was awarded a modest 71 Beyer Speed Figure. Third Day spent the remainder of his juvenile campaign on the sidelines, but has trained forwardly for his return with a steady string of workouts on his resume’ that includes a trio of bullet five-furlong drills last month at Palm Beach Downs.

“He was very impressive in his debut,” Pletcher said. “I don’t think the wet track really had anything to do with the way he ran the first time. He trained well going into the race. We gave him some time off afterwards and he’s been training well since then. Seven furlongs would be ideal to bring him back, but looking at the options available, we just felt this looked like the best spot.”

Should Third Day not prove up to the task of stretching out off the layoff, there are several others worthy of becoming stakes winners for the first time in the compact but seemingly well-matched lineup.

Basha is already stakes placed, having finished a distant second behind Pletcher’s undefeated, Sam Davis-bound Fact Finding in the one-mile Smooth Air in his 2-year-old finale. Basha proved a popular winner of his first two starts, cruising to an easy victory going 5 1/2 furlongs in his debut here Sept. 11 before overcoming a brutal trip to prove a game first-level allowance winner when stretching to seven furlongs five weeks later across town at Gulfstream Park West.

Barry Karafin Bets and Wait are both coming off well-graded victories earlier in the meet. The former earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure rallying to an easy 3 1/2-length decision over starter allowance competition Jan. 15, making him the only other member of the field aside from Basha with more than one career win.

Wait has continued to improve with experience, kicking off his 3-year-old campaign with an easy 5 1/2-length maiden special weight triumph against state-bred competition one month ago. The Arindel homebred has switched barns since graduation day, having since joined the stable of veteran horseman Stanley Gold.

Woodrow, haltered from Pletcher for $50,000 out of a popular debut win Dec. 31, and another last-out maiden winner, Quinientos, complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS
Third Day, by Bernardini
Beyer: 71
- Over the last five years, Pletcher owns a 32 percent success rate with 3-year-olds making their second career start while also maintaining nearly the same mark, 31 percent, when adding in a layoff of 180 days or longer, according to Daily Racing Form Formulator stats.

Basha, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 67-70-73
- Trainer Gilberto Zerpa is in the midst of a terrific meet, sporting a 30 percent win mark with 7 victories from 23 previous starters dating back to opening day Dec. 3.