Front-Running Constitution Shows Class in Donn

Constitution regained his top form in winning the Donn Handicap on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Lauren King/Gulfstream Park)
Constitution returned to the setting of his most important career victory prior to the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Saturday at Gulfstream Park and delivered a performance that perhaps exceeded his Florida Derby triumph 10 months ago.
The bay Tapit colt went right to the front in the $500,000 Donn Handicap and set a comfortable pace through a half-mile in :47.29.
Commissioner, a stablemate in the barn of Todd Pletcher, moved ahead to challenge Constitution and 2014 Donn winner Lea advanced to third after three-quarters of a mile. Constitution spurted away under Javier Castellano to a clear lead near the eighth pole and then battled willingly to hold off a final surge from Lea for a three-quarter-length victory.
The 2.80-to-1 second betting choice in the nine-horse field, Constitution completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.51 to improve to four wins in six starts. Despite the lack of races on his resume, Constitution already has eclipsed the seven-figure plateau in earnings with $1,004,096 for owners WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stable.
Constitution opened his career with three straight wins, capped by a neck victory in the Besilu Florida Derby. He was sidelined with an injury that prevented him from competing in the 2014 Triple Crown races but returned to racing in October at Belmont Park, where he suffered his first defeat, and finished the year with third-place finish in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
“I think his first race back was trainer error; I didn’t have him quite tight enough and he stumbled at the start and was a little rank. I thought he ran really well in the Clark over a track that probably wasn’t conducive to his running style,” Pletcher said.
The Donn Handicap was the season debut for Constitution and he sure looked like he was back in elite form with a win that was more comfortable than the final margin might indicate. Judging by the Donn win, Constitution should be a major player in the older male division in 2015.
“Coming back to Gulfstream on a track that he’s perfect on, we were optimistic; but it was a very good field with the last year’s Donn winner who had a very impressive prep over the track," Pletcher said. "We were excited about him and happy he ran to his training.”
Bred by Grapestock LLC and Fox Hill Farms, Constitution is out of Group 3-placed winner Baffled, by Distorted Humor.
WinStar Farm President Elliott Walden said he’s very happy to have Constitution back in top form for a 2015 campaign.
“It's exciting to have him back. They were smoking early on. Right now, we're looking to maybe take him to Dubai [for the $10-million Dubai World Cup on March 28],” Walden said. “That's been an objective, but we'll see how he comes out of this race."

For an Equibase chart, click here.
STRETCH DRIVE FROM CONSTITUTION SEALS VICTORY

Photo by Kenny Martin/Gulfstream Park