Spinoff impressive in team work for Woodward

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Spinoff, winner of the Alydar Stakes here Aug. 9, and Moretti, winner of the Birdstone Stakes here Aug. 2, worked a half-mile together Friday in 49.06 seconds over the Saratoga main track preparing for a start in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes.

It was what Spinoff did after the wire that stood out. He gradually pulled away from Moretti after five furlongs in 1:01.95 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.59 and seven furlongs in 1:27.99.

“He seems to be training very well at the moment,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Spinoff and Moretti.

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Spinoff won the Alydar by 2 3/4 lengths and in the Woodward will be stretching out to 1 1/4 miles on dirt for the first time since he finished 18th in the 2019 Kentucky Derby over a sloppy track. He also tried that distance on turf in the Belmont Derby last year, finishing 11th of 14.

“I think he’s a different horse now than he was then,” Pletcher said.

Moretti will be cutting back to 1 1/4 miles from his victory in the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone.

The Woodward is expected to attract Global Campaign, Prioritize, and Tacitus.