Pletcher Horses Hit the Track at Keeneland
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Rachel's Valentina, outside, Stopchargingmaria, inside, work at Keeneland Oct. 5.
Three Breeders' Cup World Championships contenders from Todd Pletcher's high-powered stable—Liam's Map, Rachel's Valentina, and Stopchargingmaria—were on the track at Keeneland Race Course on a sunny morning Oct. 5.
Rachel's Valentina, the undefeated daughter of Bernardini out of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, worked in tandem with Stopchargingmaria, with the pair getting a half mile in :48 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.
Shortly after that pair left the track, Liam's Map worked alone, with a half-mile timed in :48 3/5. Ridden by Javier Castellano, Liam's Map was clocked in fractions of :11 4/5, :23 4/5, :48 3/5, and galloping out in 1:01 1/5 and 1:13 2/5.
"I thought he worked very well," Pletcher said about Liam's Map, a 4-year-old colt by Unbridled's Song. "He was relaxed, seemed to get over the track in good order and galloped out really well. I was happy."
Teresa Viola Racing Stable's Liam's Map, is going into the Breeders' Cup off an impressive romp in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, in which he improved his record to 5-2-0 in seven starts. Pletcher has said Liam's Map is under consideration for either the Classic (gr. I) or Las Vegas Dirt Mile (gr. I).
Rachel's Valentina, ridden by Patti Krotenko, and Stopchargingmaria, with Nick Bush aboard, worked a half-mile together in :48. Clockers caught the pair in :24 2/5 and :48, galloping out in 1:01 1/5.
"We generally work both of them in company," Pletcher said. "(I) just felt like they were on similar schedules and would make good workmates, which they did. I thought it was a very productive breeze for both of them. Both of them seemed happy.
A Stonestreet Stables homebred, 2-year-old Rachel's Valentina broke her maiden and won the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I), both at Saratoga Race Course.
Stopchargingmaria, a 4-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat owned by Town and Country Farms, has won or placed in 12 of 15 starts, including grade I victories in the TVG Coach Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes.
Pletcher's barn at Keeneland also includes grade I winners Curalina (pointed to the Distaff), Dame Dorothy (Filly & Mare Sprint), Jack Milton (eighth in the grade I Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 3), Mshawish (Mile) and Rock Fall (TwinSpires Sprint); grade II winners Azar (Juvenile Turf), Race Day, Red Rifle, and Protonico; grade III-placed Thrilled (Juvenile Fillies Turf); and stakes winner Charming Kitten.