Tommy Macho training seriously following recovery from knee surgery

Tommy Macho, last year’s Discovery Handicap winner, worked four furlongs in 49.47 seconds Friday over Belmont’s main track. It was his fifth work since resuming training following surgery earlier this year to remove a knee chip.

Tommy Macho has not run since winning the Fred Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream on Feb. 6.

“He had a knee surgery after that. He’s come back and rehabbed well and trained well so far,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We have no specific plans for his next start, but he’s coming along well so far.”

Gulfstream has a good series of stakes for older males on dirt, including the $12 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 28.

“He seemed to like Gulfstream a lot,” Pletcher said. “I’m sure [Gulfstream] will be part of his winter plans, but as far as his comeback race, we’re not sure yet.”

Another older male working his way back is Keen Ice, the 2015 Travers winner. On Friday, he worked five furlongs in 1:01.82 in company with Gimlet. The two galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.30.

Though Pletcher said Keen Ice is “getting a little fitter with each breeze,” neither he nor owner Jerry Crawford has targeted a return race. Keen Ice has not run since the Dubai World Cup in March.

“We both agreed we didn’t have a real agenda at this time,” Pletcher said. “Let him round into form and see. There are a lot of big races at the beginning of next year. Right now, the plan is not to rush back and make the Breeders’ Cup or anything, just let it come to him and see what he does and where it takes us.”