Todd Pletcher, the nation's reigning champion trainer, worked a number of his horses Sunday in preparation for grade I stakes appearances at Belmont Park Oct. 7. Fleet Indian, the Indian Charlie mare and favorite for the $600,000 Beldame (gr. I), breezed five furlongs over the 'fast' main track in 1:01 4/5. A New York-bred, Fleet Indian enters the Beldame in search of her eighth consecutive victory.Pletcher also worked Beldame nominee Pool Land, winner of the Ruffian (gr. I) at Belmont recently. Pool Land, a Silver Deputy fillybreezed a half mile in :48 3/5, although Pletcher has yet to commit her to the race. "We're going to sit on the fence a few days," he said. "She went nicely."Pletcher also worked his tough New York-bred West Virginia a half mile in :51. West Virginia is nominated to the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), a race that became a bit more appetizing Saturday when it was announced that Suburban Handicap (gr. I) and Whitney (gr. I) winner Invasor would not run after a fever forced him to miss training. Pletcher also has A.P. Arrow - who was second in yesterday's Hawthorne Gold Cup - and Master Command nominated to the Jockey Club Gold Cup. "I'm going to keep an eye on it and may run something if it's coming up a little light," Pletcher said.English Channel, the
Fleet Indian among Todd Pletcher trainees working toward Oct. 7 starts.
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(from Belmont Park notes)
Todd Pletcher, the nation's reigning champion trainer, worked a number of his horses Sunday in preparation for grade I stakes appearances at Belmont Park Oct. 7. Fleet Indian, the Indian Charlie mare and favorite for the $600,000 Beldame (gr. I), breezed five furlongs over the 'fast' main track in 1:01 4/5. A New York-bred, Fleet Indian enters the Beldame in search of her eighth consecutive victory.Pletcher also worked Beldame nominee Pool Land, winner of the Ruffian (gr. I) at Belmont recently. Pool Land, a Silver Deputy fillybreezed a half mile in :48 3/5, although Pletcher has yet to commit her to the race. "We're going to sit on the fence a few days," he said. "She went nicely."Pletcher also worked his tough New York-bred West Virginia a half mile in :51. West Virginia is nominated to the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), a race that became a bit more appetizing Saturday when it was announced that Suburban Handicap (gr. I) and Whitney (gr. I) winner Invasor would not run after a fever forced him to miss training. Pletcher also has A.P. Arrow - who was second in yesterday's Hawthorne Gold Cup - and Master Command nominated to the Jockey Club Gold Cup. "I'm going to keep an eye on it and may run something if it's coming up a little light," Pletcher said.English Channel, theSmart Strike colt who is the likely favorite for Saturday's $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) at 12 furlongs, breezed five furlongs over the 'firm' turf this morning in 1:03 3/5. Pletcher also plans on running Icy Atlantic in the Turf Classic."Hopefully, there'll be a little bit of pace in there and, with Icy Atlantic, he should make the lead," Pletcher said. "I thought English Channel breezed well."Circular Quay, the undefeated Hopeful (gr. I) champion, worked five furlongs over the main track in 1:03 3/5. Pletcher said the Thunder Gulch colt Circular Quay would run next in Keeneland's Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) Oct. 7. Scat Daddy, another top Pletcher juvenile, worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5, breezing. A Johannesburg colt, Scat Daddy is on target for Belmont's $400,000 Champagne (gr. I) at one mile Oct. 14. Honey Ryder, pointing to Saturday's $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT), breezed five furlongs over the grass in 1:02.
Todd Pletcher, the nation's reigning champion trainer, worked a number of his horses Sunday in preparation for grade I stakes appearances at Belmont Park Oct. 7. Fleet Indian, the Indian Charlie mare and favorite for the $600,000 Beldame (gr. I), breezed five furlongs over the 'fast' main track in 1:01 4/5. A New York-bred, Fleet Indian enters the Beldame in search of her eighth consecutive victory.Pletcher also worked Beldame nominee Pool Land, winner of the Ruffian (gr. I) at Belmont recently. Pool Land, a Silver Deputy fillybreezed a half mile in :48 3/5, although Pletcher has yet to commit her to the race. "We're going to sit on the fence a few days," he said. "She went nicely."Pletcher also worked his tough New York-bred West Virginia a half mile in :51. West Virginia is nominated to the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), a race that became a bit more appetizing Saturday when it was announced that Suburban Handicap (gr. I) and Whitney (gr. I) winner Invasor would not run after a fever forced him to miss training. Pletcher also has A.P. Arrow - who was second in yesterday's Hawthorne Gold Cup - and Master Command nominated to the Jockey Club Gold Cup. "I'm going to keep an eye on it and may run something if it's coming up a little light," Pletcher said.English Channel, the
