Solid work has Dr Post poised to run in Kentucky Derby
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A final decision on his participation in the Kentucky Derby was to be made over the weekend, but Dr Post signaled his preparedness for the race with a solid five-furlong workout in 1:00.75 on Friday morning over Saratoga’s main track.
Dr Post, runner-up to Tiz the Law in the Belmont Stakes and third behind Authentic in the Haskell at Monmouth, worked in company Friday with fellow 3-year-old Money Moves. Dr Post, on the outside, and Money Moves worked in splits of 12.61 seconds for the opening eighth, 24.64, 36.71, and got their final quarter in 24.04. Dr Post galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.78 and seven furlongs in 1:27.66.
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Regarding the Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher said owners Vinnie and Teresa Viola “want to evaluate everything, see how he is in the morning, and then make a decision.”
Tyler Gaffalione was aboard Dr Post, and Pletcher said that should Dr Post run in the Derby, Gaffalione will ride him.
“The horse looks great,” Pletcher said. “He’s been training as well as you could hope for. Got to weigh all the options.”
The other option for Dr Post would be the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on Sept. 5 at Saratoga, the same day as the Kentucky Derby.
Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner, acknowledged that this year’s postponed Derby “doesn’t have the same feel as usual, but it’s still a $3 million Grade 1, so you got to carefully consider it.”
“You could also say he’s here, run in the Jim Dandy, and take a fresher approach toward the Preakness,” Pletcher added.
Pletcher does plan to run Happy Saver and possibly Money Moves in the Jim Dandy.
Dr Post had been working the last several weeks with Basin, last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful winner. Pletcher said Basin is being pointed to next Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes here at six furlongs. Basin, formerly with Steve Asmussen, was scheduled to work over the weekend.