Spinoff headed to La. Derby

Four-time Louisiana Derbywinning trainer Todd Pletcher will probably have a chance to notch his fifth winner in the $1 million race March 23.

Fair Grounds racing officials reported Wednesday that Pletcher plans to start Spinoff, and Pletcher in a text message said there was a “good chance” Spinoff ships from Florida, pending his work Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Pletcher won the Louisiana Derby last year with Noble Indy, who is tentatively scheduled to ship to Fair Grounds for the New Orleans Handicap. Noble Indy performed dismally last year subsequent to his lucrative New Orleans win and was a distant fourth Feb. 13 at Gulfstream in his first start since July. His comeback race was contested on a sloppy track and over six furlongs, a distance short of Noble Indy’s best.

Spinoff can be taken at least somewhat seriously in the Louisiana Derby, which will have Lecomte and Risen Star winner War of Will as the betting favorite. Spinoff won his debut at Gulfstream Park last summer, finished third in the Saratoga Special, and returned from a six-month layoff Feb. 22 at Tampa Bay Downs to win an allowance race, his first start around two turns, by almost 12 lengths. A decent colt, Cave Run, finished second, and Spinoff got an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. Spinoff is by Hard Spun and out of the good racemare Zaftig, who produced the talented but mercurial 4-yearold Rugbyman.

Fair Grounds racing officials expect two other shippers who haven’t yet traveled to New Orleans this winter to be entered Saturday in the Louisiana Derby. Last-start maiden winner Lemniscate is coming from Florida for trainer Ken McPeek, and Sueno is expected from California. Sueno, trained by Keith Desormeaux, finished second, three-quarters of a length behind Super Steed, in the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 18 at Oaklawn.

Locally based By My Standards will make his stakes debut in the Louisiana Derby, with the other probable entrants all exiting the Risen Star. Besides War of Will, Risen Star runner-up Country House is expected to start, as is fourthplace Hog Creek Hustle, fifthplace Limonite, and seventhplace Mr. Money. Trainer Tom Amoss said the participation of deep-closing Roiland, third in the Risen Star, depends on how much early speed he thinks is entered in the Louisiana Derby.

Besides Noble Indy, the New Orleans Handicap is likely to draw only one other shipper of much note, Mr. Buff, who has put together a four-race winning streak in New York this winter. Bricks and Mortar will be favored over Synchrony in the Muniz Memorial Handicap, while Serengeti Empress is the leading light in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Seeking the Soul on target

Seeking the Soul, an intended runner in the March 30 Dubai World Cup, hasn’t posted a timed workout since he drilled six furlongs in 1:11.80 on March 2, but trainer Dallas Stewart said the rugged nature of that breeze let him give his horse a longer gap between works.

“He’s doing fine,” Stewart said. “He had such a strong work that we just gave him extra time.”

Seeking the Soul, second to City of Light by 5 3/4 lengths in the Pegasus World Cup, is scheduled to work March 14 or March 15. He departs New Orleans for Florida on March 18 and flies to Dubai the following day.