Materiality New KY Derby Shooter for Pletcher

Materiality came out of his win in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 28 in good order, trainer Todd Pletcher said March 29, and if all goes well, the colt will be in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

 

Materiality's Florida Derby triumph awarded him 100 points toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby May 2 at Churchill Downs and kept his record perfect from three career starts.

 

"I think he's certainly earned his way (to the Kentucky Derby)," Pletcher said. "Five weeks should be beneficial, since we ran back in 22 days (in the Florida Derby), but it's also a long time, so hopefully he continues to do well."

 

The 3-year-old son of Afleet Alex   remained at Gulfstream Park overnight following his 1 1/2-length victory in the track's premier classics prep and was set to return to Pletcher's winter training base at Palm Beach Downs Sunday morning.

 

"He pulled up well and is just coming back from Gulfstream now," Pletcher reported.

 

The second choice in the field of nine, Materiality hooked up with post-time favorite Upstart in the early going of the Florida Derby, and the $1 million event turned into a two-horse race as those two separated themselves from the other seven runners. In just his third career start, Materiality was able to pull away from the Holy Bull (gr. II) winner to earn his first graded stakes victory. Materiality, unraced at age 2, is an April foal who has yet to reach his actual third birthday.

 

 

"It was a very determined effort," Pletcher said. "He showed his tenacity. It was a long drive from a half-mile out over a very demanding surface and against a very good horse. I thought it was very impressive for him to be able to do that in his third start."

 

In a stable full of Triple Crown contenders, including Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) winner Carpe Diem, Withers (gr. III) victor Far From Over, and Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Itsaknockout, Alto Racing's Materiality was not originally seen as a contender for the spring classic prep races, considering he did not make his career debut until Jan. 11. 

 

The physically-imposing colt earned himself a chance, however, after he answered every demanding question that was asked of him, including seamlessly stretching out from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles in his second start, the Islamorada Handicap at Gulfstream March 6. In that race, he defeated stablemate Stanford by 5 3/4 lengths. Stanford finished second in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), also March 28, at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

 

"It's pretty rare that you see a horse go from a six-furlong maiden race to a 1 1/8-mile situation," Pletcher said. "It's not something that we'd planned on months ago. It just sort of gelled at the right time. 

 

"Honestly, I wasn't really expecting the Islamorada to even be an option. When it came out in the condition book and he breezed well, we decided to go ahead and try it. I was very concerned about the 1 1/8-mile distance. When he handled that so well, it changed everything, really. It basically put him in a position to come back in the Florida Derby, so it just sort of came together at the right time."

 

Itsaknockout, who finished fourth in the Florida Derby, was also reported to be doing fine, although a bit fatigued, following his run.

 

"He seemed a little tired afterwards," Pletcher said. "Like I said, the track was very, very tiring and demanding. I don't think he really relished it. He seemed to cool out fine, although he was a little tired, so we'll just kind of regroup and see how he is over the next few days."

 

Ralph M. Evans' Upstart emerged from his runner-up finish in good shape at Palm Meadows Training Center, trainer Rick Violette Jr. said. The colt also is on course for the Kentucky Derby.

 

"He's a little tired, but otherwise he's OK," he said of the even-money favorite who was beaten in a furious stretch duel.

 

"The horses ran lights out and the jockeys did their jobs," Violette said. "They put on a terrific show."

 

The 3-year-old son of Flatter  , who has been training at Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County during the winter, has more than enough qualifying points to be included in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field on May 2.

 

"If all things stay well, we'll stay here and train and head up to Kentucky on Derby week," Violette said.

 

Trainer Josie Carroll reported that Florida Derby third-place finisher Ami's Flatter was doing well Sunday morning at Palm Meadows.

 

Ivan Dalos' Ami's Flatter sits 14th in the Kentucky Derby points standings.

 

"He's going to ship to Toronto (Monday), and we'll have three weeks to decide (about running in the Kentucky Derby)," said Carroll, whose Ontario-bred son of Flatter is eligible for the Queen's Plate July 5 at Woodbine.

 

Ami's Flatter, who finished second in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 3 at Gulfstream and second in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) March 7, closed from off the pace to finish 12 1/2 lengths behind Upstart.

 

"I thought he ran a great race. The speed got away, and he just wasn't able to make up enough ground," Carroll said.