Pletcher Has Trio Likely for Belmont Bid
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Todd Pletcher looks likely to send out three runners in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 6.
The trainer's probables are sixth and 10th-place finishers from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Materiality and Carpe Diem, and Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) victor Madefromlucky.
Materiality endured a trouble-filled trip in the Derby. The son of Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex was bumped coming out of the starting gate and was unable to assume his customary position on or near the early lead. From there, things only got worse.
Passing the stands for the first time, Materiality was bombarded with kickback from a crush of horses looking to get inside position going into the first turn. Around the far turn, the bay colt was shuffled back, nearly to last, but came with a strong run a few paths from the rail to finish sixth.
Pletcher considered entering Materiality in the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 16, but elected to wait for the Belmont instead. On Saturday, the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) winner worked for the first time since the Kentucky Derby, breezing four furlongs in :49.03 over the Belmont main track. The time ranked fifth of 24 moves at the distance.
"With those kinds of decisions, you just never know, but with the downpour and everything (at the Preakness), I was happy we were safely at home and got a good work into him," Pletcher said. "He went well, :49 with a good gallop out. We were very happy with it."
According to Pletcher, Carpe Diem, who finished 11 lengths behind American Pharoah as the 7-1 third choice in the Derby, and Madefromlucky, who upset his stablemate Two Weeks Off in the Peter Pan, are scheduled to breeze on either May 22 or May 23.
Others likely for the Belmont include Tale of Verve, who finished second, beaten seven lengths by American Pharoah in the Preakness; Keen Ice, seventh in the Derby; Mubtaahij, eighth in the Derby; and Frammento, 11th in the Derby. The fourth-place finisher from the Derby, Frosted, is still under consideration for the race, as well.