Pletcher works trio of Belmont contenders

Florida Derby winner Materiality (outside) worked in company with stablemate Stanford (Susie Raisher/Adam Coglianese Photography) Following the workouts Friday morning from a trio of Todd Pletcher-trained horses for the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1), it appears the two-time Belmont winning trainer will be represented by all three in the final leg of the Triple Crown on June 6. “I need to talk to all the connections, but I’m sure everyone is on board with all three of them (running). We intend to run all three at this moment,” Pletcher said outside his Belmont Park barn. Rider assignments for Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky), and Materiality (Afleet Alex) are still to be determined. Pletcher said John Velazquez and Javier Castellano have both been retained by him for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, but it has yet to be decided whom will ride which horse. Pletcher said he would wait “a day or two” before any further jockey commitments would be made because he wants to evaluate how the horses come out of their works. Carpe Diem and Madefromlucky were the first to breeze for Pletcher, shortly after 6 a.m. (EDT). With Velazquez aboard Carpe Diem and exercise rider Patti Krotenko on Madefromlucky, the pair worked four furlongs over the main track, which was labeled fast.

Carpe Diem worked to the outside of his stablemate and finished about a
couple lengths in front of Madefromlucky. Carpe Diem’s final time was :47.66,
and Madefromlucky, who was under urging from Krotenko, completed the distance in
:47.84, according to NYRA clockers. Carpe Diem’s gallop-out time for
five-eighths was 1:00 2/5, while Madefromlucky was clocked in 1:01.

“I thought both horses worked well enough today to continue considering the
Belmont,” Pletcher said. “I didn’t see anything that would deter me from it.
I’ll see how they come out of it, and talk with everybody, but we worked with
the intention of running in the Belmont, and I thought they both worked well.”

Pletcher remarked that Madefromlucky’s work on Friday wasn’t as impressive as
last Friday’s move when he worked in company with Carpe Diem. That day they both
worked a bullet :59 for five furlongs, the fastest of 20 works at the distance.

“I don’t think this work was as impressive from (Madefromlucky) as last
week,” Pletcher said. “I think, like a lot of horses, they will tend to work
better when they are on the outside (rather) than the inside.”

After the renovation break on the main track, Materiality, with Velazquez up,
worked in company with Stanford (Malibu Moon), who is under consideration for
the Woody Stephens (G2) on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Materiality worked to the inside of Stanford. The final time was :47 3/5 for
both horses. They galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 1/5.

“I thought (Materiality) worked very well,” Pletcher said. “You know, he’s
the kind of horse who kind of does what his workmate does. It was a very good,
progressive breeze, picking it up as they went along, with a very strong gallop
out. (Materiality) came back and he wasn’t even blowing. He just took it all
very well.”

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