Edward P. Evans’ 4-year-old Quality Road breezed an easy three furlongs in :38 4/5 April 1 at Palm Meadows for trainer Todd Pletcher in his first recorded workout since drawing off to a 12 3/4-length victory in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 6.
The Virginia homebred son of Elusive Quality won the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Stakes (gr. III) on the same strip opening day Jan. 3 in his season debut. Quality Road won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) and Florida Derby (gr. I) there last year when trained by Jimmy Jerkens.
Plans set out before this campaign began by owner-breeder Evans and Pletcher called for Quality Road to run in the Hal’s Hope and Donn before taking a break and getting ready for returning to competition in the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park May 31.
