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Pletcher duo work; Double Galore to run in Belmont
Sunriver, a full brother to champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Ashado, finished a good third in the Florida Derby (G1) prior to winning the nine-furlong Peter Pan by a neck over Lewis Michael (Rahy). "I was a little afraid to work Sunriver by himself because he's always worked in company," Pletcher said. "We got a little more solid work that you would expect in a company situation. I thought he went really well." Meanwhile, Wood Memorial (G1) hero BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold) drilled six furlongs in a bullet 1:12 1/5 over a fast track at Santa Anita on Monday. The Bob Baffert-trained colt is coming off a distant 17th-place effort in the Kentucky Derby. The trial was the co-fastest of 12 works at the distance. In addition, Grade 2 winner TOO MUCH BLING (Rubiano) worked five furlongs in 1:00 in advance of the Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup S. (G2) on the Belmont undercard. "Both horses worked great," Baffert said. "They ship on Wednesday." Several horses are scheduled to have their final major preparations for the $1 million classic on Tuesday. DEPUTY GLITTERS (Deputy Commander), who upset Bluegrass Cat in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), is expected to work after the renovation break. The Tom Albertrani charge finished eighth in the Derby. Santa Catalina S. (G2) runner-up SACRED LIGHT (Holy Bull) is slated to work six furlongs on Tuesday at Belmont Park. Jose Espinoza will ride Sacred Light in the workout, but his brother, Victor, will ride him in the Belmont. "We were going to work today, but the track was a little too muddy," trainer David Hofmans said. "The horse looks great. This is the best he's looked in a long time." Hofmans trained Minister's Melody (Deputy Minister), the dam of Belmont contender Bob and John. "His mother was a tense horse, high strung and a good miler," Hofmans said. "I think Bob and John is a pretty nice horse. From what I've seen, he wants to get it on and get going. A mile and a half is a long way. I don't think he's a true mile-and-a-half horse. If it rains, it might help him because he seems to like it wet." Trainer Joe Lostritto canceled a scheduled grass work for PLATINUM COUPLE (Tale of the Cat) Monday morning, saying the colt would work on the dirt Tuesday morning instead. Damon Runyon S. winner Platinum Couple, who finished a distant sixth in the Preakness S. (G1), has been entered as a main track only runner in Friday's Hill Prince S. (G3) and is also under consideration for the final leg of the Triple Crown. "If the race comes off the grass, it will be a four-horse field and an easier spot," Lostritto said. "I thought the turf was too soft to work him over today." HIGH FINANCE (Talk Is Money), winner of his last two starts by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, had his workout postponed due to sloppy track conditions at Aqueduct. "There was just too much rain and the track's too hard," trainer Richard Violette Jr. said. "We'll go out tomorrow." High Finance breezed one mile in 1:38 2/5 at Belmont Park last Sunday. He is likely to work six furlongs on Tuesday at the Big A. "I think we were ahead of the curve with our breeze last week, although it might be crucial for him to work tomorrow," Violette said. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin took a long look at Belmont's training track on Monday and elected not to work JAZIL (Seeking the Gold), meaning the colt will just train up to the Belmont. "We're not going to work," McLaughlin said. "He's a light-framed horse and he never blows out a match anyway." In other Belmont news: Owner/trainer Myung Kwon Cho confirmed that DOUBLE GALORE (Grand Slam) will run in the Belmont. The colt is scheduled to work at Hollywood Park Tuesday morning and then ship to New York Wednesday. "He likes to run in the front and he's training well," Cho said. "A mile and a half is what I'm dreaming of." Double Galore broke his maiden in his fifth career start going 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park on May 19. Mike Luzzi has the call.
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