Vino Rosso breezes; Pletcher continues Breeders Cup preparations

October 18, 2019

Photo Credit: Annette Jasko NYRA

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables’ Vino Rosso visited the Belmont Park training track on Friday for the second time since being disqualified and placed second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 28.

The multiple graded-stakes winner breezed five furlongs in 1:01.58, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up. Under the watchful eye of trainer Todd Pletcher, he continued preparations for a start in the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 2 at Santa Anita Park.

“I thought he worked great,” said Pletcher. “He finished up strongly and galloped out very strong. Everything has gone according to our plan and schedule. He seems to be thriving at the moment so we’re happy with him.”

With two weeks until the race, Pletcher said he would follow a similar schedule that brought Vino Rosso success in May when the colt shipped west to Santa Anita to win the Grade 1 Gold Cup, breezing one more time at Belmont before shipping out.

“Right now, our plan is to breeze back next Friday or Saturday and then fly to California on Monday,” said Pletcher. “It’s almost an identical schedule to what we followed for the Gold Cup. I feel like we have a blueprint from what worked for him before in shipping to Santa Anita so we’re trying to follow that as closely as we can.”

Multiple graded-stakes winner Coal Front, who most recently won the Parx Dirt Mile on September 21, also visited the Belmont Park training track completing five furlongs in 1:01.25.

The 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty has three wins from five starts this year, including an impressive score in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Racecourse on March 30.

“I thought it was a good, steady breeze,” said Pletcher. “He seemed to get in a good rhythm and kept going and galloped out nicely. It seems to be consistent with what we’ve been seeing from him all year. He’s shown by winning the Dubai mile that he’s a top class miler and I thought the Parx race being two turns was a good prep for him. He came out of it in good shape, so we’re happy with the way he’s been heading towards the race.”

Graded stakes winner Channel Cat, who last out finished fourth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, also breezed four furlongs in 49.05 on the Belmont training track Friday in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Classic.

“We breezed him on the dirt, which he got over fine, and it seems like he’s come out of the Joe Hirsch in good form,” said Pletcher.

On Thursday, graded-stakes winner Marconi breezed four furlongs in 48.47 seconds for his first work since finishing third in the Greenwood Cup on October 5 at Parx in preparation for the Marathon at Santa Anita.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf contender Freewheeler also returned to the training track breezing four furlongs in 48.20 seconds on Friday in his first workout since running second in the Grade 3 Futurity on October 6.

Lastly, Pletcher reported multiple graded stakes winner Prince Lucky, who breezed four furlongs in 49.23 seconds Friday morning at the Belmont training track, is under consideration for the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler on October 26 with the Grade 1 $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap as a long-term goal.

Spendthrift Farm announced that Vino Rosso and Coal Front will stand there in 2020 after their respective careers conclude. Also announced to stand are Horse of the Year contender Mitole (BC Sprint or Dirt Mile), Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Omaha Beach (BC Dirt Mile) and last year’s undefeated 2-year-old Maximus Mischief. Top sire Into Mischief will stand at Spendthrift for a fee of $175,000 in 2020

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