Wit's education in debut should serve him well in Sanford

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Wit got a little more of a schooling than trainer Todd Pletcher might have intended when he overcame a slow start to register an impressive six-length victory as a 2-5 favorite when debuting last month at Belmont Park. That added experience could be a blessing in disguise when the promising 2-year-old breaks from the rail as the likely favorite against 11 rivals in the $150,000 Sanford for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on Saturday at Saratoga.

Wit broke last in a field of eight and lagged well off the early leaders in the run down the backstretch. He advanced steadily when put to urging on the turn of the 5 1/2-furlong race, came wide entering the stretch, and wore down the tiring leader to win going away.

“I was a little concerned because he’d been a touch slow the first step going into the race, and it turned out he was a little slower than I anticipated,” said Pletcher. “The good news is he got some dirt in his face and an education. Drawing the rail for this race, I anticipate he’ll get some more dirt in his face, so that experience should help us. He’s trained like a good horse all along. How things turn out Saturday really depends on how he breaks and getting a trip.”

Jose Ortiz rode Wit in his first start, but his brother Irad will have the mount in the Grade 3 Sanford.

Wit is one of nine unbeaten horses in the lineup, including Candy Landing, an equally impressive winner at first asking on June 11 at Churchill Downs. Unlike Wit, Candy Landing was overlooked in the betting, going postward at odds of 17-1, and was right with the lead from the outset. He contested lightning-fast early splits in the 5 1/2-furlong race before drawing away readily to win by 4 1/2 lengths for trainer Brendan Walsh. And like Wit, he received a 70 Beyer Speed Figure, which is tops in the 12-horse Sanford field.

“I liked him but I can say I was pleasantly surprised by his first run,” said Walsh. “Every time we worked him, it seemed like he did something wrong. He didn’t get it all together, I guess, until race day. He broke well, did everything right, and kind of won in hand, so I think there is some improvement in him.”

Candy Landing will break adjacent to Wit in post 2, with James Graham aboard again.

“He broke pretty well last time and if he breaks that way again he should be forwardly placed being down on the inside,” said Walsh.

Kavod and Trust Our Journey finished second and third in the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont over a muddy strip at Belmont on June 4. Kavod was easily best of the pair, rallying from last in the four-horse field while showing improvement in his third start.

Maryland Brando will try to step forward off an extremely impressive 11 1/2-length debut win going five furlongs at Delaware Park on June 2. He is expected to force the early pace along with Candy Landing, Trust Our Journey, Dance Code, and Due Vini.

Ottoman Empire, who also won his only start, might appreciate a contentious pace scenario, having rallied from seventh in an 11-horse field to win by a length at Churchill on June 20. He loses the services of Graham, who opted to ride Candy Landing in the Sanford, with Jose Ortiz picking up the call on Ottoman Empire for trainer Tom Amoss.