Purge, who races for Jack and Laurie Wolf's Starlight Stable, Paul Saylor, and Johns Martin, sports a 12-length win at Monmouth Park and a third-place finish in the Aug. 28 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Monmouth in his last two starts. He has won five of 13 starts and earned $645,434.Bred in Kentucky by Glory Days Breeding, Purge is out of the stakes-winning Copelan mare Copelan's Bid Gal and his third dam is a half-sister to champion and classic winner Foolish Pleasure.
Purge, a multiple New York graded stakes winner, will enter stud at Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington in 2006. Breeding rights in the 4-year-old son of Pulpit have been bought by a group of breeders that includes Vinery.Purge won last year's Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) by 6 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park and the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) by 4 1/2 lengths over a field that included The Cliff's Edge and Eddington at Saratoga two races later. "His performances in the Jim Dandy and Peter Pan are as good as any 3-year-old I have ever trained," said Todd Pletcher. "He is well-balanced, good looking, and a very athletic individual."Purge won at Saratoga in his sole start as a 2-year-old and scored at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut. In his very next start, he faced unbeaten Smarty Jones in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and finished a game second to that eventual classic winner and champion.