Stay Thirsty, Soldat work for Florida Derby; Mo breezes a
half-mile
Hopeful S. (G1) runner-up STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini), who kicked off his
sophomore campaign with a 3 1/4-length victory in the Gotham S. (G3), breezed
five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 over the fast track at Palm Meadows Training Center on
Sunday.
After watching the move in company with a stablemate, trainer Todd Pletcher
will likely make an equipment change for next Sunday’s $1 million Florida Derby
(G1) at Gulfstream Park.
“He was a little green on the inside of another horse, and we’re thinking of
putting blinkers on him for the Florida Derby,” Pletcher said. “He was just a
little intimidated with another horse kind of eyeballing him from the outside.”
Also tuning up for the Florida Derby, Fountain of Youth S. (G2) star SOLDAT
(War Front) made a strong appearance during and after his drill at Palm Meadows,
motoring five-eighths in 1:00 4/5 well within himself before galloping out to
trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s complete satisfaction.
“He worked great,” McLaughlin said. “He worked excellent and galloped out
strong. We’re happy with the work. It was perfect. He’s just doing well.”
Early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie), expected to run
next in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G1), breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5. The
Pletcher colt was posting his first move since his easy 3 3/4-length score in
the Timely Writer S. in his seasonal reappearance.
The unbeaten juvenile champion was accompanied by a couple of workmates, in a
work designed more for experience than speed.
“I thought he worked extremely well,” Pletcher said. “He was full of run
throughout.
“We were just putting him behind a couple horses getting him used to a little
dirt, which we did once with him as a two-year-old. It was just a maintenance
move, outside of that.”
Rounding out Pletcher’s Derby contenders on the worktab, Sam F. Davis S. (G3)
hero BRETHREN (Distorted Humor) strolled a half-mile in :51 4/5 in preparation
for a tilt at the April 16 Arkansas Derby (G1). The half-brother to
reigning Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver was most recently third as the 1-2
favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
“He worked well and is on schedule for the Arkansas Derby,” Pletcher said.