Pletcher’s Audible makes a statement
HALLANDALE BEACH — Todd Pletcher has a knack of coming to Florida with unheralded 3-year-olds and developing them into serious players on the road to the Triple Crown. He did it again Saturday in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream.
Audible, who had a couple of wins in New York, one against state breds, made his two-turn and stakes debut a tour de force in the $350,000 Grade 2 stakes and he did it in eye-catching time, 1:41.92, less than a second off the track record for a mile and a sixteenth on a surface that didn’t produce particularly fast times.
Javier Castellano bided his time early, rating Audible in fourth around the turn into the backstretch. Audible worked his way gradually toward pace-setting longshot Master Manipulator.
By midway through the far turn Audible had worked up to even terms. However, he had to immediately brace for a challenge from behind by Free Drop Billy, who looked like he was going right by.
But as they straightened for the run to the wire, Audible kicked in another gear. He quickly disposed of Free Drop Billy and spreadeagled the rest of the field in his wake.
By the time they hit the finish Audible had 5 1⁄2 lengths on Free Drop Billy, who had 7 3⁄4 lengths on Tiz Mischief. Enticed, the 9-5 favorite, checked in fourth, was beaten by almost 15 lengths. The first three finishers went off as co-second choices at 3-1.
Audible turned out to be an appropriate name for the winner. Pletcher said the original plan was to leave Audible in New York this winter for the state-bred stakes program.
But when the weather turned brutally cold, he called an audible and brought the colt to Florida.
Pletcher, who has won three of the past four Florida Derbies with Constitution, Materiality and Always Dreaming, who went on to victory in the Kentucky Derby, said he hasn’t decided on Audible’s future schedule. “I have to decide if I want to run him once or twice (before the Kentucky Derby).” The next big race on Gulfstream’s Derby trail is the Fountain of Youth on March 3.
The Swale Stakes produced another colt who might be a serious player this spring. Strike Power broke on top in the 7 furlong dash, fended off challenges on the backstretch and turning for home and coasted to a dominant 2 3⁄4 length score over some accomplished rivals in 1:22.68.
The win under Luis Saez was Strike Power’s second in as many starts. He blew away a maiden field by 8 lengths in his career debut. Trainer Mark Hennig said this encouraged him to make the big jump into a Grade 3 stakes.
Fans agreed, sending Strike Power off as the 4-5 favorite. Another ambitious move onto the Derby trail in a two-turn race is being considered for Strike Power’s next start, Hennig said.
Speed Franco, off at 4-1, out-gamed Gidu in a stretch-long duel, finally hitting the front in the final strides to win the Dania Beach Stakes. Speed Franco and Emisael Jaramillo covered a mile on grass in 1:34.95.
Jose Ortiz reserved Thewayiam in seventh place until the top of the stretch, then turned the French import loose and she flew by the field to take the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant by threequarters of a length.
Another French import, Salsa Bella, closed even faster from last, but couldn’t get to the winner, who covered a mile on the grass in 1:36.90.
Take Charge Paula, bet down to 5-2 favoritism, stalked Heavenhasmynikki to the top of the stretch, then put that one away to go on to victory in the Forward Gal, the female equivalent of the Swale. Sultry closed late to overtake Heavenhasmynikki for the place. Take Charge Paula, with Paco Lopez aboard, ran 7 furlongs in 1:23.47.