Pletcher Waiting to Name Belmont Rider for Known Agenda
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Tim Sullivan
Known Agenda and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. after winning the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park
Trainer Todd Pletcher is taking a patient approach to finding a new rider for Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) starter Known Agenda following an injury to jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
Pletcher said June 4 that he will wait until the morning of the June 5 Belmont to name a replacement for Ortiz, just in case there are last-minute defections from the final leg of the Triple Crown and other options become available.
Ortiz, the Eclipse Award winner the last three years, will be sidelined an estimated two weeks after he was unseated in the fifth race at Belmont Park June 3.
St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda, winner of the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) and ninth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), was ridden by Ortiz in his last three starts He has also been ridden by John Velazquez (Rombauer ) and Kendrick Carmouche (Bourbonic ), who already have mounts in the Belmont Stakes.
Pletcher also said Spendthrift Farms' Following Sea came out of an impressive 6 1/2-length victory in a Thursday allowance race at Belmont Park in good condition. He listed the July 5 one-mile Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont as a likely target for the son of Runhappy but added the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) July 17 at Monmouth Park could also be a possibility.
Thursday's race was the 3-year-old's first race for Pletcher after Spendthrift moved him from trainer Bob Baffert's barn.