Fast-Starting Pletcher Can Finish Keeneland Fall Meet With a Flourish

Racing Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher was fast out of the gate picking up three Grade 1 victories during Keeneland’s Fall Stars Weekend. As the 17-day meet draws to a close this week, Pletcher has major chances at picking up a couple more pieces of hardware.

Pletcher will send out Doreen Tabor’s Majestic Glory (GB) in Friday’s 32^nd running of the $300,000 Rubicon Valley View (G3) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. On Saturday, he will saddle Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Gainesway Stable’s Wit in the 18^th running of the $300,000 Bryan Station (G3) for 3-year-olds going a mile on the turf.

Majestic Glory made her U.S. debut in the Pebbles (G3) on Sept. 18 at Belmont at the Big A and finished fourth. Finishing 1½ lengths in front of her that day was Gina Romantica, who went on to win the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana here on Oct. 15.

“She ran pretty well (in the Pebbles), showed some interest and finished up well,” Pletcher said. “We targeted the Valley View after that race. The timing is good and she has had two good works here.”

The Bryan Station will represent the third grass start for Wit, a two-time Grade 3 winner on the dirt.

“He was successful on the dirt and was very precocious as a 2-year-old,” Pletcher said. “He came back in the Bay Shore (G3), but then he plateaued a bit. We breezed him on the turf and it was like ‘wow, this is impressive’.”

Wit finished second behind Bryan Station rival Ready to Purrform in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga and three weeks later romped as the 3-5 favorite in the Better Talk Now at Saratoga. Both of those stakes were at a mile.

Jose Ortiz, who has been aboard for three of Wit’s four victories, has the mount Saturday.