Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Pletcher quickly finds himself with up to four Derby starters
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Less than two weeks ago, it wasn’t inconceivable to think the Kentucky Derby would be run without the presence of trainer Todd Pletcher.
In a span of eight days, Pletcher now has four potential starters for the Kentucky Derby on May 1. On Saturday, Bourbonic and Dynamic One improbably finished 1-2 in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial to earn their trips to Louisville.
Bourbonic, at 72-1, was the highest-priced winner ($146.20) in the 95-year history of the Wood Memorial. Dynamic One was sent off at 15-1.
Their performances came a week after Known Agenda won the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and Sainthood finished second in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park.
“I’ve always said sometimes the worst thing you can have is a really hot hand in January and February,” said Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner. “We were hoping something would come together and a couple of these we always felt had the potential to step up and it’s good to see them do it.”
Bourbonic took the biggest step forward, rallying from last behind a pedestrian pace to outfinish Dynamic One and win the Wood by a head. It was Pletcher’s sixth victory in the Wood.
A son of Bernardini owned and bred by Calumet Farm, Bourbonic had only won a maiden $50,000 claiming race in December and a starter allowance in January from five starts. Prior to the Wood, he was beaten four lengths in a first-level allowance at Parx Racing. Bourbonic was primarily entered in the Wood because owner Brad Kelley wanted him to run in a Derby points-scoring race.
“It’s hard to explain sometimes why 3-year-olds kind of start to improve in the spring,” Pletcher said Sunday.
Of the Wood effort, Pletcher said Bourbonic “got a great trip, sat back, saved ground, got a good split when he needed it. At the end of the day, he ran the best last quarter of a mile of anybody in the race.”
Bourbonic’s final time of 1:54.49 for 1 1/8 miles was the slowest Wood at the distance. It resulted in a modest 89 Beyer Speed Figure. Since the elimination of the inner track a few years ago, Aqueduct’s main track is now basically maintained as a winter surface, which is to say a slower surface.
“I know the track was definitely a demanding surface,” said Pletcher, who noted that both Bourbonic and Dynamic One appeared to come of their performances in good shape.
Dynamic One, a son of Union Rags owned by Mike Repole, Vinnie Viola, and the Phipps Stable, ran a creditable second in his first start against winners. He was coming off a 5 1/4-length maiden victory at the Wood distance on March 7.
“He ran great,” Pletcher said. “He was a little bit wide on both turns, which was a smooth trip, but he had to give up some ground in order to get it. He’s still one that’s learning how to polish things off. He got there and waited a little bit. I was pleased with his effort, and it kind of validated what we’ve been thinking he’s capable of for a while.”
Pletcher said decisions are still to come regarding when Bourbonic and Dynamic One would ship to Churchill Downs. It’s possible they could have one workout in New York before moving on to Louisville. While Kendrick Carmouche will ride Bourbonic, it’s uncertain who will ride Dynamic One. Jose Ortiz rode him in the Wood. Ortiz also is the rider of Greatest Honour, who won three stakes at Gulfstream this winter before finishing third in the Florida Derby.
Pletcher said Known Agenda remains in Florida, where on Friday or Saturday he will have a workout at Palm Beach Downs. Pletcher is undecided on when he will ship to Kentucky. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride him in the Derby.
Sainthood is based at Keeneland. Pletcher said he and Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, which is part-owner of Sainthood, discussed evaluating the colt’s training and the composition of the Derby field before deciding whether to run.
Regardless of the number of starters, Pletcher will be in the Derby for the 21st time in the last 22 years.
Meanwhile, trainer Chad Brown said he is leaning against sending Wood Memorial thirdplace finisher Crowded Trade to the Derby. Brown felt Crowded Trade – making his third career start – was somewhat compromised by a slow break in the Wood, but he’s not sure the 1 1/4 miles of the Derby will be for him.
“He didn’t convince me that he can go that far,” Brown said Sunday. “He did convince me that he’s a really good horse.”
Brown said it is possible he could point Crowded Trade to the Preakness on May 15. In 2017, Cloud Computing finished third in the Wood Memorial in his third career start, skipped the Kentucky Derby despite having the points to get in, and won the Preakness.
Brown said he was disappointed in Risk Taking’s seventh-place finish as the favorite in the Wood. Risk Taking did come out of the race with one eye closed, likely owing to taking a lot of dirt in the face, but otherwise was fine.
Brown said he may look at the Peter Pan at Belmont on May 8 as perhaps a stepping-stone to a potential start in the Belmont Stakes on June 5.
“He’s been a horse we always thought of any of the [Triple Crown] races maybe the Belmont would make the most sense,” he said.
Weyburn, fourth in the Wood after winning the Gotham last month, also is likely to point to the Belmont, with a potential start in the Peter Pan.