R and R for East Hall, but not for Mr. Jordan

MIAMI – East Hall and Mr. Jordan, the two stars of Saturday’s Florida’s Millions Preview card at Gulfstream Park West, came out of their respective races in good order, although only Mr. Jordan is likely to race again this year.

Trainer Bill Kaplan said East Hall would be given a rest following his two-length victory over the 6-5 favorite Wildcat Red in the Florida Millions Preview Classic. The undefeated Mr. Jordan, an easy three-length winner of the Juvenile Sprint, could make one more start at 2. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said that could come at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 29 in the one-mile Smooth Air.

East Hall concludes his 3-year-old campaign with three wins in 11 starts and earnings in excess of $650,000. The son of Graeme Hall captured the Grade 2 Indiana Derby and the Ohio Derby during the second half of the season.

“We thought briefly about bringing him back in the Clark Handicap [at Churchill Downs], but decided he really deserved a little break after the year he’s had,” said Kaplan. “So we’ll give him a little time off and then point him for the Sunshine Millions Classic in January. He definitely continued to improve as the year went on and I think the best is in front of him. The mile and one-eighth of the Classic should be perfect for him, and I certainly wouldn’t be afraid to stretch him out to a mile and one-quarter as the year progresses.”

Plesa said he is looking forward to trying Mr. Jordan around two turns. Mr. Jordan, who received an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, overcame trouble on the turn to win the 6 1/2-furlong Juvenile Sprint.

Mr. Jordan won a maiden race at Monmouth Park in September in his only other start. Paco Lopez has ridden him in both his starts.

“When a horse runs as big as he did two times in a row, you have to say it wasn’t a freaky thing and that he’s the real deal, which I’ve believed all along,” Plesa said. “Paco thinks he’ll go long and I hope he’s right. We’ll likely find out in his next start, since if all goes right we’ll try him here at Gulfstream West going a mile at the end of the month.”

Plesa also said that he is dismissing Souper Colossal’s seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and will point him for the major 3-year-old races at Gulfstream this winter. Souper Colossal, a two-time stakes winner this year, disputed an extremely fast pace before fading late when stretching to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in the Juvenile.

“I think the fact he worked so fast five days before the race had to have an impact on him,” Plesa said. “I’ll send him to the farm for 30 days, bring him back with me on the 31st day, and if all goes well we’ll think about a race like the Holy Bull.”