Pletcher Breezes Dozen Considered for Breeders' Cup
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Bright Future gallops out after breezing Oct. 19 at Keeneland
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has assembled his Breeders' Cup horses at Keeneland, where a dozen of his potential starters breezed Oct. 19 in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park.
Forte , owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, was not among his horses that breezed Thursday. Co-owner Mike Repole announced the Violence colt's retirement Thursday afternoon. He heads to stud next year at Spendthrift Farm, Repole said.
Forte, last year's champion 2-year-old male, has been dealing with a quarter crack, Repole indicated. The 3-year-old last raced Aug. 26, finishing fourth in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Ehalt: Forte Retired; Headed to Stud at Spendthrift Farm
Heading Pletcher's dozen workers at Keeneland was Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender Bright Future , who went five furlongs in 1:01 2/5. Also working five furlongs for a possible Breeders' Cup start was Charge It , who covered the distance in 1:01 1/5.
"We originally were going to work all of our (Breeders' Cup) Saturday horses tomorrow, but with rain in the forecast for tomorrow, we moved it up a day," Pletcher told Keeneland publicity. "It was a good morning, and I was pleased with all the works. They did what we wanted them to."
Recent grade 1 winners at Keeneland—Up to the Mark , Candied , and Locked —recorded half-mile breezes Thursday.
Pletcher plans to give his runners one more breeze at Keeneland Oct. 26 or Oct. 27 before they travel to California Oct. 28.