Strong works for Super Saver and Quality Road

ELMONT, N.Y. - Two days before they are to ship to Saratoga for the summer, Quality Road and Super Saver, two of the stars of trainer Todd Pletcher's barn, put in strong workouts Sunday morning over Belmont Park's main track.

Though Quality Road's work didn't go as planned, the leading older horse in the country still went five furlongs in 58.78 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form. It was the fastest of 32 works at the distance.

Quality Road was scheduled to work in company with a stablemate, but about a furlong away from the start of the work, the stablemate wheeled, unseated his rider, and ran off for about three furlongs before being corralled by an outrider. The horse was quickly taken off the track and returned to the barn, unharmed, according to Pletcher.

Meanwhile, Pletcher contacted exercise rider Patty Barry by cell phone to tell her to work Quality Road by himself. Earlier the work had been delayed when a horse of trainer Seth Benzel's got injured near the finish line of a workout and needed to be vanned off by an equine ambulance.

Quality Road went in fractions of 12.52 seconds, 24.17, 35.45, and got his last quarter in 23.33. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60, and seven-eighths in 1:25.42.

"He actually worked faster on his own than he would have in company," Pletcher said. "She wanted to make sure she got him into the bridle and focused and he was very focused. I think he worked as well as a horse could possibly work. It was a monster work."

Quality Road, who is 3 for 3 this year including victories in the Hal's Hope, Donn Handicap, and Metropolitan Handicap, is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 7. He is scheduled to ship to Saratoga on Tuesday, Pletcher said.

Earlier Sunday morning, Pletcher worked Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in company with recent allowance winner Aikenite. Super Saver, who started about 1 1/2 lengths behind Aikenite and finished about 1 1/2 lengths in front, was timed in 1:00.02 for five furlongs. Aikenite was timed in 1:00.66.

"He needed a good solid work today," Pletcher said of Super Saver, who is pointing to the $1 million Haskell at Monmouth on Aug. 1. "We've been able to gradually pick it up; each work has been progressively better. I thought today was the best I have ever seen him work since we got him. He's filled out well, he's matured, he seemed settled more in the breeze, he delivered a good finish and a strong gallop out."

Aikenite is being pointed to the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 31.

Pletcher said Life at Ten, winner of Saturday's Delaware Handicap, would most likely make her next start in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 29.