Pletcher runners Coal Front, King for a Day gearing up for Haskell day – Horse Racing Nation
Pletcher runners Coal Front, King for a Day gearing up for Haskell day Horse Racing Nation
Horse Racing news: Pletcher runners Coal Front, King for a Day gearing up for Haskell day.
Photo: Coady Photography
Trainer Todd Pletcher said he plans on working stakes winners King for a Day and Coal Front on Saturday morning at Saratoga Race Course.
Both horses are possible for stakes action at Monmouth Park for their next test.
Red Oak Stable homebred King for a Day scored a breakthrough win in the Pegasus at Monmouth last out over heavy favorite and disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Maximum Security on June 16.
The bay son of Uncle Mo entered the Pegasus off a victory in the Sir Barton at Pimlico, which he won off of a six-month layoff May 18.
Pletcher said he is leaning toward sending King for a Day back to the Jersey Shore for the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 20.
“We’re going to breeze Saturday morning and make a decision after that, but right now we’re looking at the Haskell,” Pletcher said.
King for a Day has recorded two works over the Oklahoma training track, most recently a five-furlong move in 1:01.64.
Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners’ five-time graded stakes winner Coal Front also is scheduled to work Saturday in preparation for a possible start in the $200,000 Monmouth Cup (G3) on the Haskell undercard.
The 5-year-old Stay Thirsty bay colt was seventh in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), which came after a win overseas in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on March 30 at Meydan Racecourse.
“We’re going to breeze him Saturday as well,” Pletcher said. “We postponed some works because the track is still wet. We’ll make a decision but he’s a possibility for the Monmouth Cup.”
All five of Coal Front’s graded stakes wins came at different main tacks.
As a 3-year-old, he won the Amsterdam (G2) over Saratoga’s main track two starts before winning the Gallant Bob (G3) at Parx Racing.
He finished his 4-year-old campaign with a win in the Mr. Prospector (G3) going the one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park before shipping to Oaklawn Park where he was a hard-fought winner of the Razorback Handicap (G3).
Pletcher went on to speak highly of Prince Lucky‘s effort in the State Dinner on Closing Day at Belmont Park last Sunday.
The Daniel McConnell-owned son of Corinthian successfully sought redemption after two off-the-board placings against graded stakes company when taking the one-mile open company stake at Big Sandy.
The State Dinner was Prince Lucky’s first win since notching a pair of graded stakes victories at Gulfstream Park in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and the Hal’s Hope (G3).
“His couple of races in Florida were very good,” Pletcher said. “It was nice to see him get back on track in the State Dinner. He ran very well, came back well, so we’ll figure out what we’re going to do next.”
Pletcher said Social Paranoia, a close second in last Saturday’s Belmont Derby Invitational (G1), will likely target the $1 million Saratoga Derby, the second leg of the newly created Turf Trinity on Aug. 4.
Never off the board in nine career starts, The Elkstone Group’s consistent dark bay Street Boss colt has placed four times against graded stakes company.
Before the Belmont Derby, he finished third in the Pennine Ridge (G3) to Demarchelier and was third in the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs.
His sole victory was an eight-length maiden win at Gulfstream Park on March 30.
“We’ll try the Saratoga Derby and see how that goes,” Pletcher said. “He’s knocked on the door, so maybe we’ll get lucky and get that big win. He trained very well and always run well so we were optimistic. I thought he ran as well as he’s capable of.”
Pletcher confirmed that the well-bred long-distance specialist Marconi, seventh in the Suburban (G2) last Saturday at Belmont Park, would stretch back out to longer distances and will point to the 1 ¾-mile $100,000 Birdstone on Aug. 1.
The son of Tapit is out of stakes winner Ponche de Leona, who also produced 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man.
He was purchased for $2 million from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2016 by owners Bridlewood Farm and Mrs. John Magnier, who own him in partnership with Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.