BELMONT Montauk to skip BC Juvenile

ELMONT,N.Y.–Montauk,who rolled to an impressive 11 1/4length debut win Oct. 7 at Belmont, will not contest the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

After discussing it with the owners of Montauk – a group that includes Robert LaPenta, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Twin Creeks Racing – Pletcher said shipping crosscountry to take on a horse like Bolt d’Oro, who is 3 for 3 including two wins at Del Mar, where the Breeders’ Cup will be run, wasn’t prudent.

“We think he’s a very, very talented horse and we have long-term goals that hopefully include some of the spring classics,” Pletcher said Friday morning. “We felt like everything was against him. He’s had one start at seven furlongs. You’ve got to ship all the way across the country and run against more seasoned horses. He’s talented enough to consider it, but he was taking the worst of it from every angle.”

Montauk, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.97 in his debut and earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pletcher said no decision has been made on where Montauk would start next. The logical options include the Grade 2 Nashua on Nov. 5 at Aqueduct, the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs, or the Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct.

“We’ll figure out what the best approach is and try to develop him properly and hopefully it will pay off down the road,” Pletcher said.

El Deal injured, will miss BC

El Deal, winner of the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga and runner-up in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park, will miss the Breeders’ Cup Sprint due to a lesion in the suspensory of his left foreleg, trainer Jorge Navarro said Friday.

Navarro said El Deal didn’t come out of an Oct. 14 workout at Monmouth Park the way he would have liked and after several tests, the lesion was found. Navarro said it’s not a major issue, but he wasn’t going to take a chance of running him in the Breeders’ Cup.

“For us to go in the Breeders’ Cup, I believe we have to be 150 percent,” Navarro said. “I don’t think my horse is ready for it. I believe with the right time [off], he’ll come back really good.”

In addition to his eight-length victory in the Vanderbilt, El Deal won the Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth Park. In his most recent start, he was run down by Takaful in the Vosburgh, finishing one length back in second.

Navarro will still have two runners in this year’s Breeders’ Cup – Sharp Azteca in the Dirt Mile and War Story in the Turf. Both horses were scheduled to work at Monmouth Park over the weekend and ship to Del Mar on Tuesday.

Elate works for BC Distaff

Elate, the multiple Grade 1winning 3-year-old filly, worked five furlongs in 1:00.92 on Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga in preparation for her start in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 3 at Del Mar.

Working by herself following the second renovation break, Elate was timed by Saratoga clocker David Norton in splits of 12.96 seconds, 25.05, 36.97, and she came home in 23.95. Norton had her galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.12, while trainer Bill Mott had her out seven furlongs in 1:28.

“The work was good, the gallop-out was excellent,” Mott said. “Her weight’s good, she looks good, we’re very happy with her.”

Mott has been working Elate by herself because he doesn’t think she needs a workmate.

“She’s been doing quite well on her own,” Mott said. “She does it all on the bridle. I don’t think she needs the company to encourage her to go.”

Elate will ship to Del Mar on Thursday and have one breeze over the track.

Mott confirmed Friday that Ballagh Rocks, second in the Shadwell Turf Mile, would be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Ballagh Rocks worked a half-mile in 50 seconds over the Churchill Downs main track Friday.

Capla Temptress, Mott’s runner in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, will work Sunday at Belmont and ship to California on Thursday with Elate.

Mr. Crow to Bold Ruler

Mr. Crow, a disappointing sixth in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational, worked a halfmile in 48.40 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for a start in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap.

Mr. Crow had impressed with two open-length victories during the Saratoga meet, but was beaten 13 1/2 lengths by fellow 3-year-old Takaful in the Vosburgh.

“He didn’t break great, but he ended up getting into the position we wanted and he didn’t fire. I don’t see a reason why,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He’s come back with two good breezes, so we’ll regroup and try again.”

Pletcher said he also may run Tommy Macho in the Bold Ruler. Others pointing to that race include Divining Rod, Green Gratto, Seymourdini, Stallwalkin’ Dude, and Threefiveindia. On Friday, Threefiveindia worked a halfmile in 49.43 over the Belmont main track.