Wit Likely to Target Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga

After overcoming a slow start to win the July 17 Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course by eight lengths, Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway Stable's Wit  is likely to step up to the grade 1 level.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) Sept. 6 at the Spa will be Wit's likely next task.

"We couldn't be more pleased with his performance, and I thought he broke a little better this time," Pletcher said. "He put himself in a good stalking position and used his very impressive turn of foot around the turn. He's a very well behaved horse, very composed, and mature mentally. He's just one that, for whatever reason, is not super quick the first jump or two. It's not a behavioral issue. We did our normal standing at the gate in between races. I thought he would improve just by having the start and he definitely broke more alertly and got bumped by the 2 (Candy Landing ) a little bit, but was still able to get into the position we were hoping he could and went smoothly from there."

The Hopeful would stretch Wit out to seven furlongs, an eighth-mile farther than the Sanford.

"The Hopeful would be the next target. I spoke to the connections a little bit after the race and that was everyone's gut reaction," Pletcher said. "We'll let the horse guide us but that's the logical next step."

Assistant Tristan Barry oversaw Wit's victory while Pletcher was at Monmouth Park to saddle Dr Post  and Graceful Princess  to respective victories in the Monmouth Cup (G3) and Molly Pitcher (G3) stakes.

Pletcher said the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Sept. 4 at Saratoga and the $750,000 Pacific Classic (G1) Aug. 21 at Del Mar are options for St. Elias Stable's Dr Post's next start. Both races are "Win And You're In" events for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). 

"We'll try him a little further and keep an eye on the Pacific Classic and the Jockey Club," Pletcher said. 

A next race has yet to be decided for Whispher Hill Farm's Graceful Princess.

"We'll give her a bit of spacing," Pletcher said. "She seems to respond well to a little bit of time in between races, we'll see how she comes out of it."

Pletcher sent out Spendthrift Farm's Following Sea  for the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth. The colt was elevated to second upon the disqualification of first-place finisher Hot Rod Charlie  after finishing a distant third. 

Pletcher said he was expecting to see a little more out of the Runhappy   son, who might cut back to one turn for the seven-furlong $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) Aug. 28 at Saratoga. 

"I don't think he ran to his capabilities," Pletcher said. "I've certainly seen a lot more in the mornings out of him than that. I think the track for Monmouth wasn't particularly kind to speed yesterday and he was under pressure most of the way. It's hard to gauge the last eighth of the race when Joel (Rosario) had to take him up to avoid the fallen horse (Midnight Bourbon , who got up and galloped across the wire after losing jockey Paco Lopez). We'll get him back and assess how he trains, but I'll talk to the guys and Spendthrift and we might look at backing him up in the Allen Jerkens."

Godolphin's Althiqa  and Summer Romance , the respective 1-2 finishers of Saturday's Diana Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga, will return to trainer Charlie Appleby's care in England next week, said traveling assistant Sophie Chretien.

"They're both doing just fine," Chretien said. "They'll stay here and relax for a couple days and they will be leaving on Tuesday morning to fly back to the U.K."