Pletcher Aims for Second 2017 Classic Win
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Tapwrit enjoys a spa treatment June 9 at Belmont Park
After capturing the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with Always Dreaming, trainer Todd Pletcher will attempt to close out the Triple Crown season with another classic victory when he sends out Tapwrit and Patch in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park.
In the Preakness Stakes (G1) Always Dreaming dueled with Classic Empire early before fading to eighth. Pletcher opted not to try the Belmont with the Derby winner but will send out Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta's Tapwrit and Calumet Farm's Patch.
Both of Pletcher's Belmont starters will be making their first starts since off-the-board Derby finishes. Tapwrit was sixth in the Louisville classic and Patch was 14th. Just four years ago Pletcher won the Belmont with Palace Malice , who entered the 1 1/2-mile test off a 12th-place finish in the Derby.
The multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer sees the potential for improvement in both of his Belmont starters this year. Pletcher, who also won the 2007 Belmont with Rags to Riches, said Tapwrit ran a "sneaky good" race in the Derby, where he was forced into tight quarters early but then rallied from 15th to finish sixth. Tapwrit won the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) earlier this season and, as a son of Tapit , he could give his sire a third Belmont win in four years.
Patch also boasts promising breeding for the 1 1/2-mile classic as he is a son of 2012 Belmont winner Union Rags . The Derby was just Patch's fourth career start and he drew the outside post in the field of 20.
"The Derby was a tough assignment for (Patch), a lightly raced horse and draws the far outside post," Pletcher said. "He got a decent trip out of it, I don't think he relished the sloppy track. (He's by) Union Rags, a Belmont winner, out of an A.P. Indy mare, there's a lot of pedigree there to suggest that he's bred to get the mile and a half, and I think his style should fit the race well."
Patch again drew outside in the Belmont and will start from post 12.