2/2/15
Last updated: 2/1/15 7:41 PM
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Liam’s Map is expected to join stablemates Constitution, Commissioner and Protonico in the Donn
(Natalie Fawkes/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Trainer Todd Pletcher’s quartet of candidates for Saturday’s $500,000 Donn H.
(G1) at Gulfstream Park all breezed four furlongs at Palm Beach Downs Sunday
morning.
Liam’s Map (Unbridled’s Song), who captured the
$100,000 Harlan’s Holiday on December 13, turned in a sharp clocking of :47 4/5 while working in company with graded-stakes winner Golden Lad
(Medaglia d’Oro), a
candidate for Saturday’s $100,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3). The late developer has won three races in a row following a second-place finish
in his debut at Saratoga in August.
“He’s proud of himself. He’s looks good. He’s carrying his conditioning well,”
Pletcher said. “He put in a good breeze this morning. He’s a very good work
horse.”
Constitution (Tapit), who captured the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at
Gulfstream last March, breezed a half-mile in :49 under jockey Javier Castellano. The
four-year-old hasn’t seen action since finishing
third in the Clark H. (G1) on November 28.
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“I thought it was a pretty good breeze, typical of what we see from him. Javier
worked him. He seems to get along well with him. They went away easy, finished
up well and galloped out strong,” Pletcher said. “It was what we were hoping to
see. He’s an ambitious work horse, so we didn’t want to do too much with him.”
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Mshawish worked “fantastic” for the Gulfstream Park Turf
(Kenny Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Commissioner (A.P. Indy) worked in company with Tropical Park Oaks winner Sandiva
(Footstepsinthesand) while breezing a half-mile in :48 2/5. The four-year-old, who
finished second in the Belmont S. (G1) last year, returned from a seven-month
layoff to finish third in a three-horse photo in a January 10 allowance at
Gulfstream.
“I thought he worked very well. He’s not exactly like Constitution. He’s not a
tremendously willing work horse,” Pletcher said. “For him, I thought it was a
spirited work.”
Protonico, who finished second in the Clark in his last start, was
timed in :47 4/5 while working in company with Race Day (Tapit), who is nominated
to the Hooper.
Mshawish (Medaglia d’Oro),
Pletcher’s prime prospect for Saturday’s $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1),
breezed a sharp half-mile in a bullet :47 3/5. The Al Shaqab colorbearer is two-for-two
during the Championship Meet, capturing the El Prado on December 13 and the Ft.
Lauderdale (G2) on January 10.
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“He worked fantastic. He’s an exceptional work horse. He’s full of run,”
Pletcher said. “He’s similar to what we saw before the Fort Lauderdale.”
Several Pletcher-trained three-year-olds were also on the Palm Beach Downs worktab,
including undefeated Competitive Edge (Super Saver). Sidelined since capturing the Hopeful
(G1) at Saratoga on September 1, he breezed a
half-mile in :48 2/5.
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Competitive Edge is on the comeback trail
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
“He’s coming back. That was his third half back. He seems to be rounding into
form,” Pletcher said. “We’ll give him a five-eighths next week, but he’s still
probably a month away.”
Champagne S. (G1) winner Daredevil (More Than Ready) breezed four furlongs in
:48 1/5 in
preparation for his first start since finishing a troubled last of 11 in the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 1.
“That was his third work back. He’s also rounding into form. He’s on a similar
schedule to Competitive Edge,” said Pletcher, who mentioned the $200,000 Swale
(G2) at Gulfstream on February 28 as a possible target.
J S Bach (Tale of the Cat), a smashing 8 1/2-length maiden winner at Gulfstream on January 17, breezed
four furlongs in :48 3/5.
“We’re considering the Risen Star ([G2] at Fair Grounds) or the Fountain of Youth
([G2] at Gulfstream) on February 21,” Pletcher
said.
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