Breeders' Cup 2-Year-Olds Out in Force For Pletcher

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s juveniles taking aim on the Nov. 4 Future Stars Friday races during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland worked here Thursday on a fast track.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Forte and Harrell Ventures’ Lost Ark, the respective winner and sixth-place finisher in the Oct. 8 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, breezed a half-mile together in :49.20 immediately after the track’s second renovation break at 9 a.m. Both are candidates for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Keeneland clockers caught the two in fractions of :13.40, :25, :49.20 and out in 1:02, 1:15.80 and 1:30.20. (Click herefor a video of the work.)

“That was a pretty standard breeze from them,” Pletcher said. “They’re both solid work horses and are always willing. We were just hoping to see more of what they normally do.” 

Pletcher was happy with the colts’ performances in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.

“We felt like (Forte) handled the added distance (of 1 1/16 miles) and the two turns; he certainly looked like he relished it,” Pletcher said. “Lost Ark had a rough trip into the first turn and that kind of took him completely out of position. He finished up with some interest so that was encouraging.”

In addition, Frizette (G1) winner Chocolate Gelato and restricted stakes winner Atomically worked in tandem for Pletcher following the first renovation at 7:30 a.m. The prospects for the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) clocked the half-mile in :49.

Fractions for the pair, according to Keeneland clockers, were :13.20, :25.20, :49 and out in 1:01.80, 1:15.20 and 1:30. 

“I thought it was perfect,” Pletcher said. “Went off nicely, finished up well, good strong gallop out. Both got over the track (as if) they like it. It was a well-executed breeze.”

Repole Stables races Chocolate Gelato, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners owns Atomically.

On Friday morning, Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) contenders Malathaat and Nest as well as Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) or Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) hopeful Life Is Good are expected to breeze for Pletcher.

Malathaat, last season’s champion 3-year-old filly, won Keeneland’s Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Oct. 9 for Shadwell Stables. Nest, owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, is exiting a victory in the Beldame (G2) on Oct. 9. 

Life Is Good, winner of last year’s Dirt Mile, won the Woodward (G1) in his most recent start on Oct 1. He races for CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm.