LEXINGTON, Ky.— Trainer Todd Pletcher, Keeneland’s all-time leader in stakes victories with 61, will be represented in four Grade 1 races over Fall Stars Weekend with two runners going postward in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
The big name is Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Forte, winner of the Hopeful (G1) in his most recent start and the 3-1 morning line favorite. His other entrant is the undefeated Lost Ark who just so happens to be the half-brother of Nest, the leading 3-year-old filly in the country and 8¼-length winner of the Central Bank Ashland (G1) here this spring.
“Lost Ark has always trained forwardly and should continue to improve stretching out,” Pletcher said via text. “We went to the Sapling (at Monmouth) to get a two-turn race.”
A maiden winner at 3-5 odds in his July debut by 5½ lengths going 5½ furlongs at Belmont, Lost Ark crushed seven foes by 7½ lengths in the 1-mile Sapling. Flavien Prat, who was aboard for the debut victory, has the mount Saturday. Lost Ark is 6-1 on the morning line.
Pletcher initially had Forte penciled in for last weekend’s Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct but called an audible and sent him here for the two-turn experience over the track that will host the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4-5.
Other Pletcher runners this weekend include Kaling in this afternoon’s Darley Alcibiades, Annapolis in Saturday’s Coolmore Turf Mile and champion Malathaat in Sunday’s Juddmonte Spinster. Pletcher is scheduled to be here Sunday.
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Todd Pletcher (Susie Raisher)
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