Materiality out of Preakness

Last updated: 5/12/15 1:33 PM

Pletcher said it would be
‘risky’ to run Materiality off a two-week rest in the Preakness
(Adam Coglianese Photo)

Trainer Todd Pletcher informed Maryland Jockey Club officials Tuesday morning
that Florida Derby (G1) winner Materiality (Afleet Alex) will not run in
Saturday’s Preakness (G1).

The seven-time Eclipse Award trainer will point his sixth-place Kentucky
Derby finisher toward the Belmont Stakes (G1), the third jewel of the Triple
Crown at Belmont Park on June 6.

“We were considering it very seriously,” Pletcher said. “Basically, it came
down to we just felt two weeks was a little bit risky. We felt five weeks to the
Belmont would be an advantage for him. He’s been at Belmont since two days after
the Derby and has been training well.

“He’s by a Belmont-winning sire. If you come back in two weeks and you turn
out to be wrong, not only could you not run well in the Preakness, it could
compromise your chances in the Belmont as well.”

Materiality, a son of 2005 Preakness and Belmont winner Afleet Alex, had
captured his first three races, including the Florida Derby, at Gulfstream Park
before getting away from the gate last in the Derby and closing well to finish
sixth.

Pletcher reported that Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), 10th in the Derby, is
also likely to return in the Belmont Stakes; Competitive Edge (Super Saver), the
undefeated winner of the Pat Day Mile (G3) on the Derby undercard, would run
next in either the Woody Stephens (G2) or the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont Day; and
Stanford (Distorted Humor), who was scratched from the Derby, is likely to run
in either the Woody Stephens or Easy Goer on Belmont Day.

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