Sonic Mule likely to go in Swale Stakes

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s plans remain somewhat up in the air for this weekend’s two Grade 2 stakes races for 3-year-olds, the Holy Bull and Swale. On Monday, Pletcher said he was looking to run Sonic Mule, the winner of the one-mile Mucho Macho Man earlier this month, in the seven-furlong Swale, with Fact Finding or perhaps Tapwrit to go in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.

“Originally, I planned on running Fact Finding in the Holy Bull and Tapwrit in the Sam Davis the following week at Tampa,” Pletcher said. “But Fact Finding is also under consideration for the Sam Davis, so I’ll still have to talk to the connections of both horses before making a final decision. Right now, I think Sonic Mule is a little better suited to sprints than two turns, even though he gutted out a victory at a mile in the Mucho Macho Man.”

Two-year-old male champion Classic Empire and Delta Jackpot winner Gunnevera top a small field expected for the Holy Bull that may also include J Boys Echo, Shamsaan and Talk Logistics.

Trainer Jose Pinchin said Saturday he was still considering Three Rules for the Holy Bull, although he is leaning toward launching that horse’s 3-year-old campaign in the Swale. Three Rules breezed five furlongs in 1:01.69 at Gulfstream on Saturday, a work that pleased Pinchin but which was not without incident. Three Rules picked up some unexpected company less than a quarter-mile in when joined inadvertently and passed by a worker from the barn of trainer Luis Duco.

“I got a little anxious when that other horse joined in,” Pinchin said. “But he [Three Rules] stayed nice and relaxed, even took a little dirt in his face, so it was a good schooling for him. I especially liked the way he switched to the outside and passed the other one on the gallop-out. Right now, I’m leaning toward the Swale, although I like the fact we have the home-court advantage no matter which race we go in.”

Three Rules was perfect in five starts at Gulfstream during his 2-year-old campaign, including a sweep of the three-race Florida Sire Series.

Greenpointcrusader impresses

One performance of note lost in all the excitement of Pegasus weekend was the impressive allowance victory here Friday by Greenpointcrusader in his first start since being transferred to Pletcher’s barn late last year. Greenpointcrusader, the winner of the Grade 1 Champagne at 2 and second here last winter in the Holy Bull, rallied to a popular 2 3/4-length optional-claiming/allowance triumph going a mile while matching his career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“I thought he put himself in a perfect spot, finished up well, did everything perfect,” Pletcher said. “The way he handled a mile today puts us in position to do almost anything. I think he’ll stretch out farther, but he’s tactical enough to back him up to seven-eighths if we want to.”