Moretti, a $900,000 purchase from The Saratoga Sale by Mike Repole and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in 2017, is set to make his stakes debut in the Feb. 2 Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The race offers points toward a possible start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
Moretti was featured in the Dec. 20 edition of BloodHorse Daily in the "Races to Watch" column.
The Medaglia d'Oro colt graduated impressively in his second start Dec. 20 when he covered 1 1/8 miles over a fast Aqueduct main track to score by 3 1/4 lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher. The Withers, run at the same distance, offers Road to the Kentucky Derby points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers.
Out of the grade 1-winning mare Rigoletta, Moretti is a half brother to 2017 Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Battle of Midway, who placed third in that year's Derby.
"Medaglia d'Oro is a world-class stallion, and being a half brother to Battle of Midway, (Moretti) has a real stallion's pedigree, and that's what we're always looking for—hoping to develop horses to a stud career," Pletcher said. "He certainly has all the tools if he can continue his racing career in the right direction."
In his Nov. 14 debut in a one-turn mile at the Big A, Moretti brushed the gate and then finished second to Bourbon War, a Tapit colt with his own grade 1-winning dam who went on to a fourth-place finish in the Dec. 1 Remsen Stakes (G2).
Pletcher said the added distance played a big factor in Moretti's maiden win last month.
"The key was the mile and an eighth. We feel he's a horse that wants a route of ground and two turns. He's very well-bred, and we thought it was a good effort," the trainer said.
Jockey John Velazquez, aboard for both of Moretti's starts, provided a couple of reminders to the young colt, who drifted out greenly late in the lane during his maiden win.
"He still seems like he's learning. When he made the lead, he waited a little bit, but that's a sign, hopefully, that there's more in the tank," Pletcher said. "He's come back well, and we're looking forward to stepping up to stakes company in the Withers and continuing his development."
Pletcher also provided an update on the promising Sombeyay, winner of the July 21 Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course who has been on the shelf since he finished fourth in the Oct. 6 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
"He's doing fine," he said. "He just started back in training at my dad's training center in Ocala (Fla.). I'd say he's a little late to the party to get on the Triple Crown scene, but hopefully we'll see him at Belmont in the spring."