Velazquez aboard Cherry Lodge for Spinaway

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented in Saturday’s Grade 1 Spinaway by Cherry Lodge and Sweet Loretta, who are part of a seven-horse field entered for the seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies.

Though John Velazquez rode Sweet Loretta to a 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Schuylerville here on opening day, he will ride Cherry Lodge from post 5 in the $350,000 Spinaway. Velazquez rode Cherry Lodge to a one-length victory in an Aug. 7 maiden race. Javier Castellano will ride Sweet Loretta from the rail in the Spinaway.

“It’s one of those decisions where it’s not an easy decision for a jockey,” said Pletcher, who noted that Vinnie and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable, which owns Sweet Loretta, “have had success together with Liam’s Map, so that’s the way it unfolded.”

Cherry Lodge will be trying to stretch out from 5 1/2 furlongs to seven furlongs.

Special Risk, Runway Doll, and Fun were drawn outside of Sweet Loretta, while Pretty City Dancer and You Know Too are drawn outside of Cherry Lodge.