Pletcher to run four in Tremont Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Salmanazar and Direct Dial made their debuts an hour apart at Keeneland on April 26, with both winning by daylight. Salmanazar recorded the faster time, but Direct Dial was visually impressive in his own right, and on Friday at Belmont Park, they will be among eight 2-year-old colts vying for early divisional supremacy on the East Coast when they meet in the $150,000 Tremont Stakes.

Every horse in the race has run once, and every horse won. Their races took place at six different tracks in four states.

Salmanazar is one of four horses in the race trained by Todd Pletcher, who said all four will run.

“It’s not an ideal situation,” Pletcher said. “But in each horse’s case, this is what’s best for each one.”

Salmanazar was well regarded first time out, going off at even-money. His form was franked when runner-up Copper Bullet came back to win his next start.

“He was arguably the most impressive of them,” said Pletcher, who said Salmanazar did his early training with his father, J.J., in Ocala, Fla. “He caught our attention early, was one of our first 2-year-olds at Palm Beach Downs. It’s often a matter of timing with 2-year-olds as to when they run, when they work from the gate, and the Keeneland race, date-wise, set up for him.”

Pletcher also sends out Admiral Jimmy, who won at Gulfstream Park, and Analyze Your Luck and Analyze the Odds, both winners in New York who are from the first crop of Overanalyze, whom Pletcher trained.

“They’re helping Overanalyze get off to a good start as a stallion,” Pletcher said.

But his foursome must deal with Direct Dial, who crushed his rivals by nearly eight lengths as the odds-on favorite at Keeneland. Direct Dial did his early training with trainer Steve Asmussen’s father, Keith, in Texas.

“He’s a very nice horse, very talented, does everything right,” Steve Asmussen said. “My dad had him in Laredo, liked him, and he was as advertised.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Salmanazar, by Shackleford

◗ There are no Beyer Speed Figures for 4 1/2-furlong races at Keeneland, but his time of 51.33 seconds was 0.32 seconds – about two lengths – faster than the 51.65 recorded by Direct Dial.

Direct Dial, by Too Much Bling

◗ Although Direct Dial’s raw time was slower than that of Salmanazar, he won by a wider margin, and there was less need for him to be asked all the way to the wire.

Admiral Jimmy, by Jimmy Creed

◗ Pletcher said he’s “not a big horse, but he’s quick and precocious, so you don’t want to wait around too long with one like that.”

He Hate Me, by Algorithms Beyer: 64

◗ This colt didn’t break well in his debut, but it didn’t matter, as he rallied to win at Pimlico on May 26 as the 2-5 favorite.