Spinoff quick in first work back

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Just 11 days after finishing a game second, less than a length behind By My Standards in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, Spinoff was back on the work tab Wednesday morning at Palm Meadows, breezing four furlongs in 48.77 seconds in company with 2018 Louisiana Derby winner Noble Indy.

“It was a last minute deal moving the work up to this morning,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He’s doing so well, I just felt like it was time to let him stretch his legs a little bit and I thought he breezed well.”

Pletcher said he loves the progress he’s seen with Spinoff, whose only other start this winter was an 11 3/4-length allowance victory at Tampa Bay Downs going a mile and 40 yards on Feb. 22. Spinoff, a son of Hard Spun, earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure for his runner-up performance in the Louisiana Derby.

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“I felt like he was a tick behind schedule starting the year, but he has trained so forwardly and so well we got to the Tampa race sooner than I would have expected,” said Pletcher. “That seemed to lay a good foundation and set him up pretty well for the Louisiana Derby, and I’m thinking his third race off the layoff should be his best one.”

The third race off the layoff Pletcher was referring to is the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

“I love the way he’s handled everything mentally and physically and he just seems to be blooming at the right time,” said Pletcher.

Pletcher added that he has no immediate plans for Noble Indy, who contested the early pace before finishing a tiring sixth in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap on the Louisiana Derby undercard on March 23.