Todd A. Pletcher Racing Stables, Inc.

One year ago, a gray Todd Pletcher-trained colt was the pursued. In 2017, Pletcher—and another gray—were in pursuit.

With an inside trip just off favored Irish War Cry most of the way, Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta's Tapwrit angled out late in the final turn under jockey Jose Ortiz, as the top pair kicked well clear of the rest in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

After setting pressured fractions of :23.88, :48.66, 1:14.01, and 1:38.95 through a mile, though, Irish War Cry had enough. The 5-2 favorite fought on for most of the stretch, but the final stages were Tapwrit's, as the Tapit   colt powered by near the sixteenth pole and won by two lengths.

"It's an unbelievable feeling that I can't explain," said Ortiz, who won his first Triple Crown race. "I'm very happy right now. ... The distance—I was sure he could handle it. It was a great training job by Todd. I always liked him and had a lot of faith in him. Today he showed up."

A year after Pletcher-trained, Eclipse-co-owned Destin got caught at the wire by Creator in the Belmont, Tapwrit stopped the clock in 2:30.02 for 1 1/2 miles to give the trainer his second classic win of the year, after Always Dreaming's victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). Pletcher-trained Patch finished third, another 5 3/4 lengths back.

"Tapwrit was getting a beautiful trip," Pletcher said. "It was everything we talked about in the paddock before the race. We were hoping he had enough when it came to crunch time. It looked like Irish War Cry still had something left, but the last sixteenth, he dug down deep."

In the Derby Tapwrit finished sixth, 10 1/4 lengths behind his winning stablemate, but had to steady early when Irish War Cry cut across the field soon after the start. The gray colt had a less-than-ideal trip the rest of the way beneath the Twin Spires, but had smooth sailing Saturday on Big Sandy.

"I've said all along I think he ran a very sneaky-good race in the Derby, and there's a lot made about the trouble at the start," Pletcher said. "He got as much of that as anyone. ... (We thought post 16 in the Derby was) a great spot ... and it turned out it was the worst position, because Irish War Cry took a left leaving there, and it was just a chain reaction from there."

"We got (Irish War Cry) back today, though," Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbreds said with a laugh during the post-race press conference.

In front of a crowd of 57,729 at Belmont Park Saturday, Irish War Cry broke well from post 7 and again crossed over the horses inside of him to get to the front entering the first turn, but speedster Meantime was only a head back on the outside after the first quarter. Graham Motion said the plan wasn't for the son of Curlin   to have the lead, but the trainer was not unhappy with the trip or performance by his colt.

"We kind of hoped that somebody else would go for (the lead), but he had to go to plan 'B' and (jockey) Rajiv (Maragh) did a great job," Motion said. "At the eighth pole, I thought we might be home free, but it's the Belmont. It's a tough race. I'm very proud of how he ran. I thought he ran a very game race."

The Belmont run fit with Irish War Cry's up-and-down form cycle. He started on the road to the Triple Crown with a 3 3/4-length victory in the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2), ran seventh by 21 3/4 lengths in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth (G2), won the Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets (G2) by 3 1/2 lengths, and came in 10th in the Kentucky Derby.

"It's very vindicating—for the horse and for me, and the owners and everyone," Motion said of Irish War Cry's classic placing.

Gormley made a simultaneous move with Tapwrit entering the final turn and hung on for fourth, 4 1/4 lengths behind Patch. He was followed by Senior Investment, Twisted Tom, Lookin At Lee, Meantime, J Boys Echo, and Multiplier. Dallas Stewart trainee Hollywood Handsome was pulled up in the backstretch when jockey Florent Geroux lost his irons after getting squeezed coming into the first turn. The son of Tapizar   was vanned back to the barn area, where he was treated for a laceration behind his left knee that required surgical staples, according to Dr. Keith Latson of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Tapwrit's victory was the third Belmont win for his sire, following Creator and Tonalist   (2014).

The ownership trio purchased Tapwrit for $1.2 million from the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale.

"This was a team effort from the start," said Pletcher disciple Jonathan Thomas, the trainer at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., who broke Tapwrit after the sale. "That's what makes it special. I mean, we all basically ran into each other and loved this horse, and figured out a way to get him bought. And luckily Mr. LaPenta came in and we had the ammunition to get it done."

The journey—from a last-place debut at Saratoga Race Course in September of 2016, to a Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) win, to a perplexing fifth-place Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) run—also added to the overall sweetness of the classic victory.

"When things kind of went not quite how we planned it, no one freaked out or wanted to change the course of what we set out to do, and everything has been very organic," Thomas said. "Having worked for Todd, to be able to develop a horse like this is really meaningful."

Castleton Lyons' grade 1-winning freshman sire Justin Phillip   had his first winner June 2 when What a Catch took a $62,000 maiden special weight at Belmont Park by 5 1/2 lengths.

The chestnut colt out of the black-type stakes winner Catch My Fancy (by Yes It's True) was bred in New York by Castleton Lyons with Kilboy Estate and is raced by Gary Barber. Todd Pletcher trains the 2-year-old colt, who had jockey John Velazquez in the irons for his debut. 

What a Catch lost his back footing at the start, which put him in a stalking position for the first three-sixteenths of a mile. He caught the pacesetters Barbarossa and Freudian Flip after the opening quarter went in :22.37. The winner clocked a half-mile in :46.64, and completed the five furlongs in :59.79.

Castleton Lyons acquired Catch My Fancy for $195,000 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton February mixed sale out of the Bluewater Sales consignment. The mare has now produced five winners from five foals to race.

Justin Phillip is one of five graded stakes winners produced by blue hen Ava Knowsthecode. The 9-year-old son of First Samurai   won the 2013 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1), 2011 Woody Stephens Stakes (G2), and the 2013 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) and placed in nine other graded stakes. He retired with $1,293,437 in earnings and now stands for $5,000.

The horse's name is Always Dreaming.

A horse with New York-based owners, some who have known each other since childhood—friends who remember long, sunny, summer days at Belmont Park with their fathers, impressed by a sport that included fans who would recognize seats covered with newspapers or race programs as reserved.

A horse with a Hall of Fame jockey and future Hall of Fame trainer, who combined to win many of North America's top races, teamed up this Louisville day in pursuit of America's greatest race.

On the first Saturday in May in Louisville, dreams most assuredly come true. To reach those dreams, it helps to have a fast horse.

With so many dreams on the line May 6 before 158,070 fans, Always Dreaming delivered, executing a flawless tracking trip under John Velazquez before taking command in the stretch to score a 2 3/4-length victory in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at Churchill Downs. Watch Video

Owned by the partnership of MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz Stable, Teresa Viola, St Elias Stable, Siena Farm, and West Point Thoroughbreds, Always Dreaming was sent off the 9-2 favorite after his five-length victory in the XpressBet.com Florida Derby (G1). The son of 2012 Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Bodemeister  —a WinStar stallion who now has a Kentucky Derby winner from his first crop—has four wins in as many starts this season.

"Growing up as kids, we’ve won a lot of Kentucky Derbys, but not in reality," said part owner Anthony Bonomo of Brooklyn Boyz. "We just knew when we got together something special was going to happen. It’s been a family affair."

The present reality had the owners recalling childhood dreams.

"We represent everybody who went to the racetrack with their dads and were astonished by these athletes and fell in love with them," said Vincent Viola, who owns St. Elias. "We are truly kids, in our hearts, from the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. We always dreamed and this is one of the dreams that came true."

The victory took some pressure off Todd Pletcher, a multiple Eclipse Award winner who entered the Derby with one win in 45 starts.

"My Derby record has been talked about a lot. … When you look at it now, we’ve been here 17 years and we’ve been fortunate to have two wins, two seconds, and three thirds," Pletcher said. "I feel like I really needed that second one."

As much success as Pletcher and Velazquez have enjoyed together over the years, their prior Derby wins came with others. Pletcher sent out Calvin Borel to victory aboard Super Saver   in the 2010 Derby and Velazquez guided home Animal Kingdom   for Graham Motion in the 2011 edition of the classic.

In the 2001 Derby, Velazquez guided Invisible Ink to a runner-up finish for Pletcher. But it took them 16 more years to win the race together.

"I felt like Johnny and I needed one together as well," Pletcher said. "We have had a great relationship for a long time now, and we have won a lot of races together. This one we hadn't, and this is the one we wanted to win together. And I'm glad we could do it."

"This is the best horse Todd and I have ever come to the Kentucky Derby with," Velazquez said. "Nothing against the others, but this was the best horse."

Always Dreaming completed the 1 1/4-mile classic in 2:03.59 on a sloppy track, the first off-track for a Derby since 2013. He was followed home by longshots Lookin At Lee in second and Battle of Midway another five lengths back in third. Morning-line favorite Classic Empire, the champion juvenile male of 2016 who entered off a score in the Arkansas Derby (G1), finished fourth, just edging Practical Joke.

L and N Racing's Lookin At Lee, by Lookin At Lucky  , entered off a third in the Arkansas Derby and earned his third grade 1-placing Saturday. Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm's Battle of Midway, a son of Smart Strike, entered off a runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Early on, longshot State of Honor sailed to the lead under Jose Lezcano. He completed the first quarter in :22.70 while Always Dreaming, who broke well and saved ground, raced in second. After State of Honor completed a half-mile in :46.53, Velazquez moved Always Dreaming to the early leader's outside and they were soon on even terms.

After Always Dreaming put a head in front and ran six furlongs in 1:11.12, he was engaged in the far turn by Battle of Midway and Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2) winner Irish War Cry. Asked the question, Always Dreaming had the answer. He put away Irish War Cry coming out of the turn and stayed in front of Battle of Midway after reaching the quarter pole in 1:37.27, before edging away from that rival in early stretch.

Trainer Graham Motion was feeling pretty good in the far turn, but Irish War Cry couldn't quite get the lead from the determined eventual winner.

"He went from having a lot of horse at the head of the stretch to not having enough pretty quickly," Motion said. "He was surprised how quickly he emptied out on him. Could it be the distance? He said he didn't seem like he was real crazy about the track. It was quite tacky. We'll have to see."

Despite the extra space provided for the final post in the main gate, post 14 for Classic Empire, and the first post in the auxiliary gate, post 15 for McCraken, the two bumped hard shortly after the start. They bumped again in the stretch as they tried to rally.

"We got wiped out at the start," said Classic Empire's trainer, Mark Casse. "That's the problem with the auxiliary gate. ... Classic Empire really got clobbered. The track is impossible. Our horse ran extremely well, considering."

In mid-stretch Lookin At Lee launched an inside rally, but just as his connections' hopes began to rise, Always Dreaming found one final gear to avoid any serious late threat.

The winner was bred in Kentucky by Santa Rosa Partners and born Feb. 25. A Kentucky-bred colt, he is out of the grade 3-winning In Excess mare Above Perfection, who also has produced grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick.

Bonomo's son, Anthony Bonomo Jr., went to $350,000 to land Always Dreaming at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale. The younger Bonomo went over a limit his father put in place that day, but that transgression was most assuredly forgiven Saturday in Louisville.

Always Dreaming was consigned to that sale by Dromoland Farm and Steve Young, agent, signed the ticket.

Always Dreaming is the fifth straight favorite to win the Derby and 10th horse to win the classic after starting from post 5. He returned $11.40, $7.20, and $5.80 across the board. Lookin At Lee returned $26.60 to place and $15.20 to show. Battle of Midway paid $20.80 to show.

Steve Asmussen was proud of the run by Lookin At Lee, who was guided by Corey Lanerie.

"He just keeps coming," Asmussen said. "Drawing (post) 1 was tough. He's the first horse in 20 years to run in the top three from the one hole. A lot of credit goes to Corey for navigating a very good course from there.

"To me, the Kentucky Derby—everything about it is a thrill. I'm just proud of the effort of Lookin At Lee and the whole team."

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, like Asmussen a Hall of Famer, thought Battle of Midway delivered a top effort under Flavien Prat.

"We had a good position coming into the lane, but Todd's horse was too good," Hollendorfer said.

Following Practical Joke in fifth were Tapwrit, Gunnevera, McCraken, Gormley, Irish War Cry, Hence, Untrapped, Girvin, Patch, J Boys Echo, Sonneteer, Fast and Accurate, Irap, and State of Honor, to complete the order of finish.

Thunder Snow was pulled up shortly after the start, after breaking extremely rank and bucking hard in the opening sixteenth. An initial veterinary exam revealed no injury and he was able to walk to the backstretch.

The victory was worth $1,635,800 to Always Dreaming's connections. Saturday's payday increased his earnings to $2,284,700. He has a record of 4-1-1 from six starts, including two grade 1 victories in as many attempts. His connections plan to start in the Preakness in two weeks.

Siena Farm homebred Admiral Jimmy became the first winner for Spendthrift Farm's freshman sire Jimmy Creed   when he took a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight May 3 by 3 1/2 lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher as the even-money favorite.

Admiral Jimmy is out of the Bernardini   daughter Zayanna, who is the dam of black-type stakes winner Velvet Mood (Lonhro). The 8-year-old mare now has two winners from as many starters. 

Siena Farm also bred Zayanna, after acquiring her dam Heavenly Cat for $750,000 at the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale from Viking Stud as agent. Zayanna never placed at the races but she held plenty of value as a producer. She is a half sister to grade 3 winners Heavenly Ransom (Red Ransom) and Dilemma (Grand Slam) and graded-placed black-type stakes winner Capitano.

Grade 1-winning sprinter Jimmy Creed, who Spendthrift bought for $900,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale, is a son of Distorted Humor   out of grade 1 winner Hookedonthefeelin. He won the Malibu Stakes (G1) and placed in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1) at 3 and took the Potrero Grande Stakes (G2) at 4.

SHINAR: Jimmy Creed Gives Mandella 5th Malibu Win

Jimmy Creed has had one other starter to date. He stands at Spendthrift Farm for $5,000 and will shuttle for the third season this summer to Spendthrift Farm Australia, where he stands for AU$7,700 (approximately US$6,000).

As owner/breeder John Brunetti watched the bay legs of Power of Snunner get ever closer to his filly in the Keeneland stretch April 21, the flips in his stomach got that much more intense.

What comforted Brunetti, and ultimately sparked an emotional jolt of a happier kind, was the fact that Unbridled Mo's past wasn't going to let the presence at her hip win out.

"I was a little bit (nervous)," Brunetti said. "But this filly, she doesn't let anyone pass her."

After making her connections sweat, Unbridled Mo allowed them to celebrate as the 4-year-old bay filly turned back a game showing from Power of Snunner in the lane en route to taking the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) by three-quarters of a length. Watch Video

Friday's triumph before an announced crowd of 16,664 marked the second straight graded stakes score for the daughter of Uncle Mo   and her third graded triumph overall in eight career starts. Her mettle once she strikes the front has indeed yet to be conquered with her only two losses coming when she ran sixth after tracking fifth in the Comely Stakes (G3) last November and her maiden outing last April when she never got running and hit the wire eighth.

"When (Unbridled Mo) got to the lead, she started waiting. When the other horse (Power of Snunner) got to her, she put in a nice fight," said jockey John Velazquez, who won the Doubledogdare for the fifth time. "It was her, just waiting, looking at the crowd and everything. Thank God the other horse came to her and made her run again."

Unbridled Mo reeled off a four-race win streak at one point last year—including a victory in the Monmouth Oaks (G3)—but really signaled herself on the distaff scene when she bested multiple grade 1 winner I'm a Chatterbox during her seasonal bow in the Jan. 29 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston. Sent off as the 2-5 favorite in the four-horse lineup for the 1 1/16 mile Doubledogdare, the Todd Pletcher trainee was her normal handy self in her Keeneland debut.

Velazquez rated the filly second in the three path behind early pacesetter Dear Elaine as the former cut fractions of :23.61 and :46.77 over a track rated fast. The compact field became a two-horse race coming off the final turn with Unbridled Mo advancing to take command coming into the head of the lane only to be met by Power of Snunner doing all she could under jockey Mike Smith.

Unbridled Mo let her rival range up, but never let herself be headed as she covered the distance in 1:45.11, setting herself up for a likely run in the June 10 Odgen Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park.

"She's been lightly raced and we found out the secret with her is how much time she should get between races and how we should train her between races," said Brunetti, who purchased Unbridled Mo's dam, Unbridled Waters, for $155,000 at the 1999 Fasig-Tipton Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale. "You know when you experiment, you're taking up a lot of time but we have the right  combination with her now, so we just hope we can keep going."

Power of Snunner was 7 1/4-lengths clear of third-place finisher Lady Fog Horn while Dear Elaine rounded out the order of finish. Twirl Girl was a scratch.

Unbridled Mo paid out $2.80 and $2.10 with no show wagering and improved her record to six wins from eight starts with $531,180 in earnings.

"You wait a long time (with homebreds), you go through generations of mares and foals ...and then you get something nice like this," Brunetti said.

Freshman sires are on a roll April 20 aided by Analyze the Odds, who became the first winner for WinStar Farm's grade 1 winner Overanalyze  . The colt won a $100,000 maiden special weight at Aqueduct by 4 1/2 lengths, about an hour after Hill 'n' Dale Farms' freshman Violence   got his first winner at Keeneland. 

Analyze the Odds, the first foal produced by the winning Mineshaft   daughter The Sense Angel, is raced by Repole Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, the team that won three graded stakes and earned $1,046,381 with Overanalyze. 

Lansdowne Thoroughbreds bred Analyze the Odds in New York. Agent Jim Crupi bought the dark bay colt on Repole's behalf for $15,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale in Kentucky through the Indian Creek consignment. The colt is out of the family that produced English and Irish champions El Gran Senor and Try My Best (both are full brothers to Analyze the Odds' third dam, Golden Oriole, a winner by Northern Dancer and out of Sex Appeal). Analyze the Odds' second dam, Sense of Class (Fusaichi Pegasus) has not produced a black-type runner yet but she has five winners out of six to race.

Analyze the Odds broke sharply in the 4 1/2-furlong race but conceded the lead early to Magnanimus Man, the first starter for Hill 'n' Dale Farms' freshman sire New Year's Day  . Magnanimus Man rolled through fractions of :23.18 and :46.54, holding onto the lead through mid-stretch. Coming out of the turn, Analyze the Odds and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. quickly closed the gap with the leader and rolled easily past to win in a final time of :52.53.

Magnanimus Man finished third behind Analyze the Odds' stablemate Surprise Wonder, who kicked in late to get second.

Overanalyze was one of the top 2-year-olds of his crop, winning the five-furlong Futurity Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park and nine-furlong Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct in 2012. He captured his biggest victory as a 3-year-old, decisively winning the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. 

Overanalyze bred 151 mares in his first book in 2014, making him one of six in his sire class to breed more than 150 mares. The 5-year-old son of Dixie Union out of Unacloud, by Unaccounted For, stands at WinStar for $10,000, stands and nurses.

The first order of business for Todd Pletcher upon arriving at Palm Beach Downs the morning of April 2 was to check on his 3-year-old star of the moment, Always Dreaming, who gave both the trainer and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez their record fourth victory in the $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1).

Pletcher couldn't have been happier with the dark bay or brown son of Bodemeister  , a commanding five-length winner in his stakes debut.

NOVAK: Always Dreaming Runs Away With Florida Derby

"He's excellent. It seemed like he recuperated quickly after the race, cooled out good, looked good this morning, settled back here into Palm Beach Downs and all is well," Pletcher said.

"He seems to be in excellent form. I was really pleased with the way he came back to the winner's circle. It just seemed like he recovered quickly from the race and cooled out quickly, and was bright, alert, and happy back in his stall. Initially, he's showing us all the signs you're hoping for."

After steadying between rivals on the first turn, Always Dreaming settled off early leader Three Rules on the outside before rolling to the lead after straightening for home and drawing off to win in 1:47.47, the fastest Florida Derby since Alydar's 1:47 flat in 1978.

"Honestly I can't say it surprised us," Pletcher said. "It was what we felt like he was capable of doing based on the way he had been training, but you're always pleased to see him deliver the type of performance you're hoping for. He certainly did that, and then some."

Always Dreaming, owned by the partnership of Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables, St. Elias Stable, MeB Racing Stables, Siena Farm ,and West Point Thoroughbreds, will remain at Palm Beach Downs for at least the next couple weeks before shipping to Churchill Downs for the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

"I've got to kind of map out a schedule in terms of when we'll ship to Churchill," Pletcher said. "We'll look to have a breeze or possibly two breezes at Churchill, but we'll kind of play it by ear and see what the shipping arrangements look like and see what the weather's doing in Kentucky and take all those into consideration."

Trainer Mark Casse reported Sunday that State of Honor, Floriday Derby runner-up, exited his race in good order and is bound for Churchill mid-week, where he will also target the Kentucky Derby.

Immediately after State of Honor finished second by five lengths, Casse said he was inclined to run the son of To Honor and Serve  , who is owned by his breeder, Conrad Farms, in the Louisville classic. 

Sunday morning, Casse was even more bullish on the idea. In the Florida Derby, State of Honor, with Julien Leparoux up, was racing without blinkers, a change the trainer initiated in hopes of getting the Canadian-bred to relax.

"The winner was very impressive," Casse said. "Was there anything we could have done to change the outcome? No. I think if he had settled a little better ... you know, he's still learning to settle, which we're trying to achieve. I think he did that in the middle of the race, he didn't do it early. He was probably a little bit intimidated down inside, turning for home, where (Always Dreaming) kind of got first kick on him, where we had to play catch-up.  

"I was actually, after watching the replay, more impressed with his performance than initially," he added. "He's a very consistent horse and ran well, so I think he deserves a shot. The owners are excited, we're excited, and he's going to Kentucky."

State of Honor, who ran second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in March, currently sits in fifth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 62 points.

Florida Derby beaten favorite Gunnevera emerged from his third-place finish in good order, said trainer Antonio Sano Sunday morning.

"Gunnevera is very good, very good. He was checked by the vet, and everything is very good," said Sano, whose even-money favorite trailed the 10-horse field after breaking from the far outside post and rallied late to finish third.

"I'm very happy with my horse," Sano said. "Considering everything, it was a good race for my horse."

Gunnevera previously finished a troubled second in the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2) and then won the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) to establish himself as a prime candidate for the Derby.

Sano said the son of Dialed In   is scheduled to ship to Churchill April 22 to begin preparations, which includes a planned breeze April 29.

Trainer Dale Romans said he had no plans as of yet for Impressive Edge, who finished fourth Saturday.

"We'll see how he comes out of this race, but I will find a good spot for him," Romans said. "I think the winner is a really good horse, I think the second horse is a really good horse, I think they're all really good horses and I think they will all have an impact on the Triple Crown series."

Wertheimer and Frere's homebred All Included stormed by Delta Prince with a late run in the stretch to take the $200,000 Appleton Stakes (G3T) April 1 by a half-length. 

After not running his best and finishing eighth in last year's edition of the Appleton, the 6-year-old son of Include   entered this year's race off two close seconds over the Gulfstream Park turf. The Todd Pletcher trainee had a nine-month layoff before losing by a neck in a Jan. 15 optional-claiming allowance race and by three-quarters of a length in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1T) in February. 

All Included's score Saturday was his first graded stakes win in his 17 starts, and he now has a bankroll of $507,440.

"My concern was I tried to wait as long as I can in the race," jockey Javier Castellano said of his ride on the winner. "I have the type of horse that comes from behind. I took my time and rode with a lot of patience and confidence because I had the best horse in the race."

Siding Spring jumped out of the gate and went for the early lead in the one-mile test on the firm turf. Diamond Bachelor raced in second just off the frontrunner and Delta Prince, a half brother to champion Royal Delta, raced comfortably in third in the six-horse field. All Included traveled at the back of the pack.

After clocking :23.41 and :46.29 for a half-mile, Diamond Bachelor began to pressure Siding Spring as the rest of the field closed on the frontrunners. As six furlongs went in 1:09.73, Delta Prince and jockey Jose Ortiz maintained a narrow advantage out of the turn, but proved to be no match for All Included, who swung wide and ran down Delta Prince to stop the clock in 1:33.12. 

Our Way finished a length back in third, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Siding Spring in fourth. My Point Exactly and Diamond Bachelor rounded out the order of finish. 

Sent off as the even-money favorite, All Included returned $4.20, $2.40, and $2.10 across the board. 

"I thought the mile would actually suit him well," Pletcher said. "Like it is in a compact field, you're just hoping you get a good trip. (Castellano) gave him plenty of time to get his run together. It took him a little longer to do last time than he wanted. 

"They have a race here at the end of the month (the grade 3 Miami Mile). He seems to really like Gulfstream, so we would consider staying here for that."

In the next race on the card, the $200,000 Orchid Stakes (G3T), it was William Parson Jr. and David Howe's homebred Summersault who ran down odds-on favorite Olorda to win by three-quarters of a length. 

After winning back-to-back allowance races on Gulfstream's grass, the 5-year-old Rock Hard Ten mare proved that she could step up in class on Saturday, her first graded stakes attempt in 22 starts. 

Second choice Maquette took command early and set a rapid pace through a mile, with fractions of :23.47, 46:12, 1:10.54, and 1:35.12. Olorda raced off the pace in second, Quiet Kitten in third, while Summersault and Temple Fur settled near the back. After a mile, Summersault was in fourth, 4 1/2 lengths off the leader.  

In the last turn of the three-turn, 1 3/8-mile test, the field bunched up and Olorda had a one-length advantage heading into the stretch. After going three wide in the last turn, Summersault began to edge her competition under some urging from jockey Paco Lopez and prevailed, stopping the clock in 2:12.24 to become the 25th black-type stakes winner for her sire.

Quiet Kitten got a nose in front of Temple Fur for third, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Maquette. 

"I know (pacesetter Maquette) was going very, very fast," Lopez said. "My filly is always running a little more close, but I don't push. At the half-mile/five-eighths (pole), I ask my filly. She was coming and coming. She finished very well."

Sent off as the 9-1 longshot, Summersault returned $20, $5.20, and $3 across the board. The Mark Hennig trainee now boasts a record of 6-5-2, with earnings of $374,983.

Sumaya U.S. Stable's Ghalia remains undefeated in three starts after a late drive in the stretch resulted in a neck in front to win the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks March 26. Watch Video

In her first try around two turns, the Medaglia d'Oro   filly, under jockey Jose Ortiz, raced just off the frontrunners who stayed close together while setting a quick pace in the 1 1/16-mile test over a fast track at Sunland Park. 

Out of the gate, co-favorite Noted and Quoted and Soft Cheese battled for the early lead. For the first half-mile Soft Cheese maintained a half-length advantage and set fractions of :22.41 and :45.75. Grade 1 winner Noted and Quoted dropped back a half-mile and was eased by jockey Martin Garcia. 

Co-favorite at 9-5, Kell Paso and jockey Ry Eikleberry moved up to assume control and Ghalia, who was four lengths back in fourth, began to advance as six furlongs went in 1:10.64. Into the stretch, Ghalia went wide and in her last strides prevailed over Kell Paso at the wire for a final time of 1:44.24. 

What What What was 5 3/4 lengths back in third, another 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Conquest Slayer in fourth. Soft Cheese and McKenzie Honey rounded out the field. 

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Ghalia returned $6, $3, and $2.40 across the board. Kell Paso paid $3 and $2.40, while What What What was worth $3.80.

With her win, Ghalia earned 50 points toward a start in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5. Points were awarded 50-20-10-5.

The Todd Pletcher-trainee entered off two wins earlier this year at Gulfstream Park. Most recently, she took a Feb. 15 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming allowance race by 1 1/2 lengths. Her first time out in a six-furlong maiden special weight Jan. 22 she scored by 6 3/4. 

Bred by Darley, Edward Seltzer, and Beverly Anderson, Ghalia is out of graded stakes winner Verdana Bold. The filly was purchased by Oussama Aboughazale's International Equities Holding for $600,000 as a weanling out of the Warrendale Sales consignment to the 2014 Keeneland November sale. She now has $166,800 in earnings. 

It is rare the winding path that leads to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) gets too trampled upon without the barn of seven-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher stealing some focus along the way. 

Like a train arriving on schedule, another late-blooming Toddler has emerged to make his presence known just before crunch time.

One month after stablemate One Liner made a splash on the Triple Crown trail over the Oaklawn Park track, fellow Pletcher trainee Malagacy gave his future Hall of Fame conditioner another legitimate sophomore to point toward the first Saturday in May when he captured the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) by two lengths over Sonneteer at the Hot Springs oval March 18. Watch Video

Pletcher may not have come into 2017 with any of the perceived leaders of the 3-year-old male class, but as is typical for his dominant operation, it hasn't taken him long to get some still-developing talents to step forward at just the right moments.

Sumaya U.S. Stable's Malagacy is one such horse. Unraced at 2, the son of Shackleford   didn't debut until Jan. 4, when he blew the doors off Gulfstream Park with a 15-length win going 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Eight days before One Liner took the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, Malagacy was giving his own sign of what was to come when he won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance test at Gulfstream by seven lengths.

"He was so impressive in his first two starts that (sending him to the Rebel) wasn't a question of talent," said Pletcher, who also conditions Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Tapwrit. "It was just a question of handling different things and one of those was shipping from his Florida base to Hot Springs, and he handled that well. Of course, the other questions were stretching out around two turns and stepping up into graded stakes company.

"We were very confident in the way the horse was training. He had been training very well. He had shown us in his breezes that the added distance wouldn't be an issue, but we just don't know until they do it. There's some stamina in his pedigree, but he's also a very quick and a very fast horse."

The 1 1/16-mile Rebel was Malagacy's first two-turn test and first try against graded company. The chestnut colt shrugged off both challenges Saturday, rating in second with Royal Mo to his outside, as pacesetter Uncontested cut an opening quarter in :23.03 and a half-mile in :47.04.

As the 11-horse field reached the far turn, Malagacy advanced outside to eyeball Uncontested, while 8-5 favorite American Anthem was trying futilely to get into gear. With jockey Javier Castellano keeping him to task late, Malagacy edged clear in mid-stretch to stop the teletimer in 1:43 as 112-1 longshot and maiden Sonneteer won a tight battle for runner-up honors.

"He doesn't do anything wrong, very impressive the way he did it today. I rode with a lot of confidence," Castellano said.

Untrapped put in a rally on the far outside for third, with Petrov hitting the wire fourth.

Silver Dust completed the top five, while American Anthem, who was aiming to give trainer Bob Baffert his seventh win in the Rebel, faded to tenth.

"(He) slipped really bad leaving there in behind and stayed that way the whole race," said Mike Smith, jockey of American Anthem. "(He) just struggled for whatever reason. I was OK as long as we were all slow. As soon as we had to pick it up ... his head, legs just went everywhere."

Bred by John Trumbulovic and purchased by agent Steve Young for $190,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale, Malagacy is unbeaten in three starts with $586,800 in earnings. He earned 50 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard to put him fourth in the standings.

"The (grade 1)  Arkansas Derby would be the logical next step," Pletcher said. "We'll bring him home tomorrow to Palm Beach Downs and see how he bounces out of it. The Arkansas Derby timing-wise would be good, and getting a mile-and-an-eighth race under his belt would also be beneficial. That would be 'Plan A,' but in this business we all know that sometimes you have to call some audibles. Right now that's what the thinking is."

Tapwrit took the opportunity presented to him on paper March 11 and turned the $350,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) into his personal showcase of improving ability.

With unbeaten McCraken missing the 1 1/16 mile-test because of a slight ankle strain discovered last week, many figured the door was open for Tapwrit to take his runner-up finish behind the former in the Feb. 11 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) over the same track and distance and do himself one better Saturday. Despite incurring some traffic trouble around the first turn, the son of Tapit   became the latest sophomore to make a play for a starring role in the ever-evolving 3-year-old male picture when he drew clear by 4 1/2 lengths over pacesetter State of Honor in stakes-record fashion. Watch Video

"He just exploded," Aron Wellman, president of co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, said of Tapwrit. "That was what we were hoping for, and he delivered."

The even-money favoritism Tapwrit carried as he went to post proved more than justified in what was an otherwise wide-open field for Tampa Bay Downs' signature prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The gameness the gray or roan colt showed when he closed late to get runner-up honors in the Sam F. Davis—his first try against graded stakes company— proved a preview of what was to come one month later.

After racing wide early and being caught in close quarters around the first turn, Tapwrit settled in eighth, then seventh, well off the leaders while State of Honor owned a one-length advantage over Sonic Mule through fractions of :23.42 and :46.65. Leaving the half-mile marker, Tapwrit and jockey Jose Ortiz began deftly threading the needle between rivals, picking his way up to the three-path and looking completely full of run coming off the final turn.

Tapwrit flew by State of Honor with casual ease and had no challengers to threaten him as he took aim at the teletimer in the lane, hitting the wire in a stakes record of 1:42.36 over a track rated fast.

"We were looking for a big effort from him," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He won pretty convincingly, and we're very pleased.

"He had kind of a rough trip around the first turn and got shuffled around a little, but he handled it professionally and steadied himself and got in good stride up the backstretch. After he made the lead, Jose kept him occupied down the lane because he has a tendency to idle when he gets ahead. This was everything we could have hoped for."

State of Honor and Wild Shot, the third- and fourth-place finishers in the Sam F. Davis, further reinforced the form of that race by holding for second and third. respectively, in the Tampa Bay Derby. No Dozing was fourth, with Beasley rounding out the top five.

Zion Valley and The Money Monster were both pulled up on the far turn, but walked off under their own power. Stakes winner Sonic Mule faded after chasing the pace early on to cross the wire eighth.

Tapwrit paid $4.20, $3.20, and $2.80 across the board.

Bred by My Meadowview, Tapwrit has had heavy expectations heaped upon him since before he was saddle broke. Out of the graded stakes winning Successful Appeal   mare Appealing Zophie, Tapwrit was purchased for $1.2 million by his ownership group of Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale. 

His debut outing was a giant falter, as he came home last in a 10-horse field at Saratoga Race Course in September. He has done little wrong since, breaking his maiden next time out at Gulfstream Park West Nov.  6 and then taking the Pulpit Stakes to close out his juvenile campaign.

Tapwrit improved his record to three wins from five starts and $313,902 in earnings and now has 54 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

"This was a breakout race for him," LaPenta said. "I really felt he stepped up today. This is such a tough sport, and a win like this brings you to the moon."

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Stanford was only supposed to be getting a tightener for a return to the rich Charles Town Classic when he ran as a heavy favorite Saturday in the $100,000 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs – but all the talented 5-year-old horse did was set a track record for the 1 1/16-mile distance.

SV Photography

Stanford, prepping for a return to the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic, runs 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.75 under John Velazquez in the Challenger.

Never seriously threatened when leading all the way under John Velazquez, Stanford prevailed by 3 1/4 lengths over Ami’s Flatter when finishing in 1:41.75 over a fast track. That clocking lowers the mark set four weeks earlier, when McCraken won the Sam F. Davis Stakes in 1:42.45.

Stanford was wearing blinkers for the first time after trainer Todd Pletcher said the horse lost focus in a narrow defeat in his prior start six weeks ago.

“I was comfortable with the way he was doing it,” said Velazquez. “In the lane, I wanted to see how he did in his first time with blinkers. He tends to wait a little bit on horses, so I wanted to see how he did, and he responded really well. Today, with blinkers, he was more focused on what he needs to do.”

Stanford, owned by the partnership of Stonestreet Stables and the Coolmore group, returned $3 in a field of seven older horses. Ami’s Flatter, his race-long pursuer, had another 1 1/4 lengths on late-running Hereditary.

Stanford won the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic last spring and now will be aimed for a return to the annual West Virginia showcase on April 22.

The impressive connections behind One Liner had the undefeated son of Into Mischief   ready for his stakes debut Feb. 20 in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Watch Video

After rating in fourth early in the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds, One Liner surged toward the lead off the far turn, where he engaged Petrov in a stretch duel before taking command at the sixteenth pole on his way to a 3 1/2-length win.

With the Southwest effort, WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing's One Liner secured his third clear victory in as many starts. Trained by Todd Pletcher, One Liner debuted with a maiden win sprinting at Saratoga Race Course in July. He then returned this season with a six-furlong allowance-optional claiming race score Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park, which set the 3-year-old up for his two-turn and stakes debut in the Southwest under regular rider John Velazquez.

Carrying 122 pounds, the highest impost in the race, Uncontested and Channing Hill powered through a half-mile in :46.55 where Petrov, who chased in second, soon engaged the early leader. Stakes winner Warrior's Club and One Liner followed closely in third and fourth.

In the far turn, Petrov, who finished second in the Smarty Jones Stakes, battled Uncontested, the Smarty Jones winner, on the front end. Petrov managed to get past a fading Uncontested this time, taking the lead turning for home.

One Liner, racing just behind the top two, engaged Petrov in early stretch as those two turned things into a two-horse race, carrying their battle into deep stretch before One Liner prevailed.

One Liner, carrying 115 pounds, completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:41.85 and was followed home by Petrov, then Lookin At Lee and Silver Dust. Uncontested faded to sixth. Monday's field saw 12 starters as Cool Arrow was scratched.

"I'm very pleased with his race. He handled things very professionally," Pletcher said. "He shipped and settled in well. It looked like he finished strong and may have left something in reserve, which is encouraging."

With the win, One Liner secured 10 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points system used to determined the field of the Louisville classic if more than 20 horses are entered. The second- through fourth-place finishers also were awarded points, 4-2-1 respectively.

Bred in Kentucky by Kingswood Farm, One Liner is the first starter out of the winning Cherokee Run mare Cayala. Pletcher said One Liner showed talent from the beginning. Now the connections will focus on his next step.

"He had shown a lot in his training before he even debuted at Saratoga, so we weren't surprised that he won at first asking," Pletcher said. "We had to give him some time after that race because of some baby issues, but he came back very good and has been training good, so we were confident in him. At this point I'd say everything is in play (for his next race). We'll discuss it with the connections. We still have time for two more races if that's the path he continues on."

The winner paid $8.80, $5.40, and $3.40 across the board while Petrov returned $6.60 and $4.60 to place and show. Lookin At Lee rallied to finish third and paid $3.40 to show. 

Velazquez said One Liner settled nicely and eventually showed competitiveness.

"We knew he would come out running with this being his first time around two turns. I just wanted to save something for the end and I didn't want to rush him," Velazquez said. "He broke real well and once he got around the first turn he relaxed for me.

"By the time we got to the 3/8th pole I had to get aggressive with him and let him know it was time to get busy. Then he got aggressive and then he got competitive. From there, I knew he had it won."

J. S. B. Stable landed One Liner for $150,000 when he was offered as a short yearling at the 2015 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages sale. One Liner was consigned by his breeder Kingswood Farm, agent, at that sale.

Ron Moquett, trainer of Petrov, encouraged jockey Jose Ortiz to place Petrov closer to the pace. Moquett was impressed with how his horse responded.

"I'm proud of my horse. I just told him (Ortiz) the track was favoring speed today, so I knew we had to be closer. I told him that he's an awesome jockey and have confidence in your horse and do what you think it takes to win this race," Moquett said. "I was very surprised when I saw that he was that close, but I knew from the three-eighths pole home is when we start getting in gear, no matter where we're at."

Trainer Wayne Catalano would have liked to have seen more competitiveness from Uncontested.

"Everything went like we wanted it to, until the end there. He just didn't answer the call," Catalano said. "You've got to answer the call."

Siena Farm's homebred Isabella Sings took the lead and never looked back, easily winning by three lengths in the $150,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes (G3T) Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. Watch Video

Over 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf, the speedy front-running daughter of Eskendereya set fractions of :22.87 and :45.84 through the first half mile and put 5 1/2 lengths between her and the rest of the seven-horse field. Light in Paris began to make a dent in the odds-on favorite's lead around the far turn, but when jockey John Velazquez asked the Todd Pletcher-trained mare to finish strong, she powered through in the deep stretch and hit the wire in 1:41.07.

Light in Paris held on for second and Evidently was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. 

"When I went to grab her at the quarter-mile pole and make her switch leads, she kind of took a step back, like she got a little confused going from a light rein to a tight rein," Velazquez said. "But from there, she went on again. We've talked about slowing her down early, but when we tried that she would fight you and throw her head up, so we decided to let her be the way she is."

The winner returned $3, $2.40, and $2.10 across the board. Light in Paris paid $2.80 and $2.20, while Evidently was worth $5.20. 

Isabella Sings' connections said the Endeavour could be one of her last appearances at the track as the mare is booked to visit leading sire Uncle Mo   at Ashford Stud this year. After Saturday's race, the chestnut mare boasts a record of 8-4-2 from 20 starts. She's won four total graded stakes, including the 2015 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T) and a three-length score in the grade 3 Eatontown Stakes last June. 

Two races earlier on the card in the $150,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T), also over 1 1/16 miles on the grass, it was Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable's homebred Inspector Lynley who crossed the wire first by a half length. Watch Video

With Velazquez also in the irons, the 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid   took the lead in the deep stretch and held off a challenge from the late-running Kasaqui. Irish Straight was another half length back in third. The final time was 1:40.65.

Inspector Lynley paid $9.60, $4.80, and $3.40 across the board. 

"The last time I rode him, the horse inside of us stepped out in front of us right at the gate and my horse stumbled, and I lost all chance to place him where I wanted," Velazquez said of the pair's fifth-place finish in the Tropical Park Derby Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park. 

"We broke well enough today to get in good position, and once I got running room in the stretch, I knew we had it."

Inspector Lynley has a 3-3-2 record from 12 starts. The Tampa Bay Stakes was the second graded victory for the Shug McGaughey trainee, who won the Saranac Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course in September.

Third Day successfully stretched out to one mile and picked up his second win in as many starts Feb. 8 when he rallied from fourth to win a $60,000 overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park. Watch Video

Town & Country Racing and Spendthrift Farm's Third Day raced fourth early in the field of five 3-year-olds trying the one-turn mile in the Just One More Stakes, restricted to 3-year-olds who had never won a stakes.

Jockey John Velazquez asked Third Day for his best in the turn and the son of Bernardini   responded, quickly surging into second before gradually reeling in early leader Barry Karafin Bets in the stretch.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Third Day edged Barry Karafin Bets by a neck, completing the mile test in 1:36.96.

Wednesday's race marked the first start for Third Day since he won his debut in a July 31 maiden race at Monmouth Park. Third Day registered a 2 1/4-length victory in that race, completing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.19.

In preparing for his first start in more than six months, Third Day worked four times in January at Palm Beach Downs—earning the bullet in three of those moves.

"The horse had been training very well. He showed a lot of promise in his debut and he needed a little time after that," Pletcher said. "We were optimistic being a son of Bernardini and out of a Street Cry mare that the distance would be OK for him.

"We were just hoping we had him tight enough to go a mile off the layoff and I thought he handled that part of it well. He's still learning and still a little green, but considering the layoff and the stretch out in distance, I thought it was very encouraging."

Next up for Third Day is a shot in a two-turn Triple Crown prep, Pletcher said. Gulfstream hosts the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 4 and the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles April 1.

"He'll come back in one of those stakes, we just don't know which one," Pletcher said. "There's a lot of options this time of year. I think he's a colt where we can look at those kind of possibilities."

Third Day was sent off the even-money favorite and returned $4.20, $2.60, and $2.10 across the board. Steven Dwoskin's Barry Karafin Bets held second, paying $3.20 and $2.20 to place and show. Gelfenstein Farm's Basha picked up third and returned $2.10 to show. 

The current owners of Third Day went to $575,000 to land him from the De Meric Sales consignment at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Third Day previously sold for $150,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Red Oak Stable's homebred Unbridled Mo played the upsetter Jan. 29 in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3).

Three-time grade 1 winner and odds-on favorite I'm a Chatterbox loomed during the stretch run to the wire, but the Uncle Mo   filly turned away her older, more accomplished rival with determination to win the 1 1/16-mile dirt test by 2 3/4 lengths at Sam Houston Race Park.

The top-finishing pair trailed the field during the backstretch running, as Unbridled Mo raced in fifth and I'm a Chatterbox, off at 1-2, took up the rear in the six-horse field, 6 1/2 lengths off leader Danzatrice.

Danzatrice set fractions of :23.37 and :47.55 through a half-mile, but soon after faded. Unbridled Mo took over to cover six furlongs in 1:11.52 and made a three-wide move in the final turn. I'm a Chatterbox traveled four- and five-wide in the final bend and pulled within a head with a furlong to run, but flattened out late as Unbridled Mo pulled away under jockey Jose Ortiz.

"She's a big filly, and as soon as she got into that big stride at the three-eighths pole, I knew I had a chance to win," said Ortiz, who won three of the five stakes Sunday on the "Houston Racing Festival" card at Sam Houston. "When I'm a Chatterbox came outside of me, I said, 'OK, let me go left-handed now' and when I went left-handed, she responded very well."

The 4-year-old filly, out of the Unbridled mare Unbridled Waters, hit the wire in 1:42.89 to collect her second grade 3 win. Her first came in the 2016 Monmouth Oaks (G3) Aug. 20 at Monmouth Park. She now has five wins from seven starts and $466,180 in earnings for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"We're very fortunate," said Red Oak owner John Brunetti. "What you have to do is, you have to have the best horse, best rider, best trainer and that day is yours. I can't wait to get her in the breeding shed, but she's got some more work to do."

I'm a Chatterbox, the winner of last year's Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) and Delaware Handicap (G1), now has more than $2.3 million in earnings with her second-place finish. Grade 2 winner Family Tree checked in third in the Houston Ladies Classic, another 1 1/4 lengths back.

Master Plan began to live up to his hefty purchase price when the 3-year-old son of Twirling Candy   rallied late under John Velazquez for a 2 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes (colts and geldings division).

The race was one of four stakes on a Jan. 24 card that also included seven Quarter Horse races, with a large crowd in attendance on a sun-splashed day at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s racetrack in Ocala, Fla. The Quarter Horse races and the OBS Championship sprint for fillies are pari-mutuel races, with the remaining Thoroughbred races run as non-wagering events. The four Thoroughbred races on the card were restricted to 3-year-olds that had gone through the ring at an OBS sale, with the Quarter Horse races carded because OBS operates racing under a license for that breed.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Al Shaqab Racing, WinStar Farm, and China Horse Club, which went to $850,000 to purchase him out of the 2016 OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training, Master Plan raced from near the back of the eight-horse field as Harlan's Quest led Sailing Home through a half-mile in :48 2/5.

Sailing Home took over exiting the second turn after completing six furlongs in 1:12 as Convict Pike moved up to second. Master Plan, who had raced greenly throughout, kicked in when asked a second time by Velazquez and wore down the front-runners, getting the 1 1/16 miles in final time of 1:44 over the all-weather surface.

"He was impressive," Velazquez said of the manner in which the colt took over and won. "But I had to wake him up. I was not conifdent when I got into the second turn. He was not running at all."

Master Plan made his first two starts on turf, breaking his maiden at second asking. In his third and most recent start, the colt bred in Kentucky by Ernest Frohboese was a late-closing second in Gulfstream Park | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Gulfstream Park’s Pulpit Stakes at a mile over a sloppy track. With two wins and a third from four starts, the colt has earned $97,490.

Sean Tugel, assistant racing manager and director of bloodstock services for WinStar, said the race showed the colt is improving and that he deserves a shot in graded company.

“He definitely wants to go further and he’s still green,” said Tugel of Master Plan, who is nominated to the Triple Crown series. “It’s always very exciting this time of the year to have a 3-year-old that’s going in the right direction and that’s what we have here.

“We’ll get him home and develop a plan for down the road, hopefully in a big stakes race. We’re always gunning for that two-turn 3-year-old and that seemed like what he was going to be. There was nothing that kept him from starting earlier, but maybe (he was) just (lacking) maturity. He obviously is starting to mature and every race has gotten a little bit better.”

Master Plan represented a major pinhooking score for Eisaman Equine, which purchased the bay colt for $70,000 from Romans Racing & Sales at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.

The afternoon of racing precedes the OBS winter mixed sale that will be held Jan. 25-26.

In the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes for fillies at 1 1/16 miles, Ballybrit Stable’s Dynatail went gate to wire and held off a closing On Her Honor to win by 1 3/4 lengths in final time of 1:46 1/5 for 1 1/16 miles under jockey Orlando Bocachica.

The victory was the third in six starts for the 3-year-old daughter of Hightail  , who was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm. Trained by Michael Dini, the filly has won half her six career starts and earned $89,740 for her owner. She is the first black-type stakes winner for her sire.

Dini said the filly’s next start will be in the Florida Oaks (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Dynatail was initially purchased by Fredrick Town Farms from Eaton Sales for $6,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale, and was bought by her current owner for $5,000 from Hoppel’s Horse & Cattle Co. at the 2016 OBS June 2-year-olds in training sale.

Jockey Luis Saez took the first two Thoroughbred stakes on the card, winning the $50,000 OBS Sprint for colts and geldings with Gonzalez Racing’s Uncle B and setting a track record of 1:08 3/5 for six furlongs with Yes I'll Go in the fillies sprint division for Hernandez Racing Club.

Paul Pompa Jr. and J Stables' Tommy Macho didn't have the easiest trip in the $150,000 Hal's Hope Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 14, but that didn't stop 5-year-old son of Macho Uno   from taking off down the stretch to win by 5 3/4 lengths like nothing happened. Watch Video

Dolphus went for the early lead in the one-turn mile and set fractions of :23.15 and :45.37, with Bird Song, Tommy Macho, and Unbridled Outlaw stalking close behind. Going into the turn, Bird Song and jockey Julien Leparoux began to pressure Dolphus, while Luis Saez was forced to check Tommy Macho, who then stumbled before dropping back to fifth.

"I'll have to see the replay but it looked like he kind of got cut off a little bit and clipped heels and bobbled there for a second, but right after that happened he got up and took off," trainer Todd Pletcher said. 

Bird Song took over at the quarter pole, as Saez maneuvered Tommy Macho to have a clear path to go between that one and Realm. Under encouragement from his jockey, Tommy Macho found a new gear and won going away in a final time of 1:35.20. Bird Song finished second, with Realm 1 1/2 lengths back in third. 

Ami's Flatter, Hy Riverside, Team Colors, Mr. Jordan, Unbridled Outlaw, and Dolphus completed the order of finish. 

Tommy Macho paid $7.20, $4.40, and $3.20 across the board. Bird Song returned $6.40 and $3.80, while Realm paid $4.40.

"Unfortunately we had to do knee surgery on him after he won here last year so it's almost been a year to get him back on form," Pletcher said of Tommy Macho. "His first couple of starts he seemed a little bit rusty, but he's been training better and it seems like he likes this track a lot.

"Anytime you have a horse come back from a knee injury like that, and have to have surgery and come back and regain form it's fun to see and rewarding to see him come back and do well. It's fun for us today to win two stakes with two horses winning a year apart (Sandiva won the grade 3 Marshua's River for a second year in a row earlier on the card)."

Saez said it wasn't an easy trip, but Tommy Macho responded under his asking. 

"I think when he fell a little bit in the middle of horses, he felt a little intimidated, and he started to back up," the jockey said. "That's why the horse on the rail stole my position, and I came out and I almost clipped heels. Then I hit my horse and he started running. He came back and beat them like nothing happened."

Tommy Macho raced three times last year, finishing fourth last time out in the Nov. 19 Richard W. Small Stakes at Laurel Park. His most recent win, before his knee surgery, was last February at Gulfstream in the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3), where he defeated Stanford by 3 3/4 lengths. 

Bred by John Liviakis in Kentucky, Tommy Macho was a $25,000 purchase by Juan Naciff from the War Horse Place consignment at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton fall yearling sale. He has five wins from 12 starts with $548,970 in earnings.

Al Shaqab Racing's Sandiva picked up another graded stakes victory and a second win in the $150,000 Marshua's River (G3T) when she won this year's edition by a half-length in a possible cap to her racing career. Watch Video

In the 1 1/16-mile test for fillies and mares on Gulfstream Park's turf course Jan. 14, Isabella Sings took control early and led comfortably through the first six furlongs. Under jockey Edgard Zayas, the Todd Pletcher-trained Isabella Sings extended her lead to 6 1/2 lengths ahead of Sea Coast on the backside, and set quick fractions of :23.17, :46. 37, and 1:09.80. 

The other Pletcher trainee, Sandiva went three wide around the turn under jockey Javier Castellano to go outside Sea Coast as those two began to cut into Isabella Sings' lead. Finally catching up in the stretch, Sea Coast went to the rail while Sandiva moved to the outside of Isabella Sings and got up to win by a half length, stopping the clock in 1:39.56. In a photo for second, Sea Coast nosed out the pacesetter. 

Dickinson, Inside Out, Seeking Treasure, and Elusive Million completed the order of finish. 

Favored Sandiva returned $4.80, $3.00, and $2.20 across the board. Sea Coast paid $4.60 and $2.80, while Isabella Sings was worth $2.40. 

"She just needed a little freshening. She had a solid campaign and she seemed like she was just a touch off form and we knew that she loves Gulfstream. We kind of intentionally freshened her up with these races in mind," Pletcher said, mentioning her third-place effort in the 7 1/2 furlong South Beach Stakes Dec. 17 at Gulfstream.

"She is versatile enough that 7 1/2 is probably a tick short than ideal, but she showed enough quality that she almost got there, but I think, obviously, that race helped her out today."

Days before the race, Pletcher said that the Marshua's River could be the last time on the track for both Sandiva and Siena Farm's Isabella Sings before heading off to the breeding shed. Sandiva is booked to Al Shaqab's stallion and three-time grade 1 winner Mshawish  . However, after the race, the trainer said he might get one more start out of the 6-year-old mare.

"She is booked (to be bred) to Mshawish this year, so we'll get with team Al Shaqab to see if she will have one more run (in the grade 3 Suwannee River Feb. 11) or go on to be bred," Pletcher said. 

Bred in Ireland by Denis McDonnell, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand was purchased by Bobby O'Ryan and Middleham Park for $28,476 at the Goffs Doncaster premier yearling sale. She now boasts a record of 8-4-3 from 23 starts, with earnings of $751,277, and has won a stakes race every year from ages 2 to 6. 

When one door closed, another opened in gritty fashion for Calumet Farm's Sonic Mule in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes.

With the six-furlong Hutcheson (G3) failing to fill this week, Sonic Mule was entered in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park as the backup plan. Plan 'B' saw the 3-year-old son of Distorted Humor   deliver his 'A' game—he sat off the early pace and bravely turned back State of Honor in deep stretch to score his second stakes victory and first triumph at the eight-furlong distance. Watch Video

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Sonic Mule won back-to-back six furlong races to cap off his 2016 juvenile campaign, including a front-running score over fellow Mucho Macho Man entrants Talk Logistics and Recruiting Ready in the Dec. 10 Buffalo Man at Gulfstream. 

The bay colt showed Saturday he is not a need-the-lead type, rating under jockey Javier Castellano fourth in an outside path as Recruiting Ready took the 11-horse field through an opening quarter in :23.14. Shortly after the half mile went in :45.85, Sonic Mule advanced to second and had Recruiting Ready put away coming off the final turn—only to be engaged at that point by State of Honor to his outside.

State of Honor appeared to have Sonic Mule measured in the lane, but Castellano kept getting more out of his mount and they hit the wire a head in front in a final time of 1:37.52 over a track rated fast.

"I was a little concerned how he would handle the mile. We tried to stretch him out a little bit earlier," said Pletcher, who mentioned the Feb. 4 Swale (G2) as a possible next target. "But the one thing I did feel good about was he breezed really well the other day and seemed like he was coming into any race, whatever it would be, in good form. It was just a matter of working out a trip and seeing if he could get the distance."

Sonic Mule had raced over a mile twice previously, including a runner-up finish in the Oct. 1 Armed Forces on the turf at Gulfstream.

Sent off at 9-2 odds, Sonic Mule paid $11.40 to win. State of Honor was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Talk Logistics, with Sweetontheladies fourth. Hemsworth, winner of the Nov. 4 Nashua (G2), was never in contention and was eased through the stretch but was able to walk off.

"He's a fighter, no question about it," Pletcher said of Sonic Mule. "You could tell he was getting tired and he didn't gallop out real far past the wire so I think he was giving Javier everything he had. He's shown to be that kind of horse. He's got a lot of determination and a lot of fight. He's a cool horse to be around."

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and purchased by Calumet for $175,000 out of the Select Sales consignment at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale, Sonic Mule broke his maiden first time out going 5 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park last July 15. He improves his record to four wins from seven starts with a bankroll of $186,455.

Trainer Todd Pletcher was disappointed in Make You Look after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), when the son of More Than Ready   finished a lackluster sixth. But the dark bay colt redeemed himself Jan. 7 in his 3-year-old debut, a strong performance in the $100,000 Dania Beach (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. Watch Video

Closing strongly to win the 7 1/2-furlong turf event for sophomores by 2 1/2 lengths, Let's Go Stable and Three Chimneys Farm's Made You Look was ridden confidently by Javier Castellano.

The leading Eclipse Award finalist for his fourth consecutive award as outstanding jockey, Castellano put favored Made You Look behind and in between horses down the backstretch. While his stablemate Squadron set the pace through fractions of :23.83 and :48.13, Made You Look was racing in fifth position, and his rider appeared to have a ton of horse under him.

When the field turned for home, Made You Look was guided to the outside and began to pick off horses in the stretch.

"The way he did it, I was very impressed," Castellano said. "He was covered up a little bit. There was a lot of speed in the race and I kept him inside on the rail. The way he did it was very professional and the way he exploded the last part of it was very impressive. I angled out a little bit because I saw those two horses in front start to back up a little bit, so I tried find some room to split horses. I tried to use my best judgment and put him outside to let him run and when I asked him, he took off."

Finishing second in the eight-horse field was 45-1 longshot Clyde's Image. He was followed under the wire by Shiraz, who was a half-length behind. The race's second choice, 9-5 Kitten's Cat, checked in fourth.

Pletcher said he was pleased as he watched the race unfold.

"He was sitting a good turf trip," the trainer remarked. "It looked like (Castellano) was riding confidently, that he had horse, and when he tipped him out and he hit the accelerator, he responded quickly."

Made You Look won the With Anticipation (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course as a 2-year-old after breaking his maiden at second asking at Belmont Park in June. He was training well coming into the Breeders' Cup, but failed to deliver.

"The main thing I was disappointed about with the Breeders' Cup was that he didn't run his race," Pletcher said. "He didn't really fire. When you run your race and get beat, it's one thing, but he just didn't fire."

Made You Look returned $4.40 and completed the distance in 1:29.98 over a firm turf course. He was bred in Kentucky by the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust, out of the Unbridled's Song mare Night and Day, and was a $360,000 purchase by his owners from the Denali Stud consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Sumaya U.S. Stables' Malagacy produced an auspicious debut performance Jan. 4 in the seventh race at Gulfstream Park—one that even caught trainer Todd Pletcher somewhat by surprise. The 3-year-old Shackleford   colt scored by 15 lengths under Javier Castellano over a muddy track. Watch Video

"He's trained well but you never necessarily expect one to blow the field away like that. He obviously took to the track. The break's key in these kinds of races and he was sharp away from there. He looked good," Pletcher said.

Malagacy broke alertly in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint, assuming the lead leaving the backstretch and extending his lead to the finish line, timed in 1:03.60.

"We didn't expect to be on the lead necessarily but we expected to leave there running," Pletcher said. "That's what we wanted to do. A 5 1/2 (-furlong) race on a wet track, you don't want to take back and dirt school him."

Malagacy was bred by John Trumbulovic in Kentucky out of the Dehere mare Classiest Gem. He was a $190,000 purchase by agent Steven Young from the De Meric Sales consignment to the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.

Sumaya U.S. is the stable name for Oussama Aboughazale's string; Aboughazale's International Equities Holding Co. made headlines Dec. 3 as the owner of the first reported foal by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah  .

St. Elias Stable's multiple stakes winner Bode's Dream will put her perfect form on the line when she makes her first start as a newly-turned 3-year-old against a compact field of six challengers in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 7.

Bode's Dream capped off her three-race juvenile campaign with a front-running victory in the $75,000 House Party Stakes at Gulfstream Dec. 10, a race that marked the first start for the daughter of Bodemeister   off a six-month layoff. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the gray filly first showed an affinity for the Gulfstream surface last May 11, when she rolled to a 3 3/4-length debut victory going 4 1/2 furlongs. The Kentucky-bred came right back a month later to show the way throughout the 5 1/2-furlongs of the $200,000 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park to score by 2 3/4 lengths.

Bode's Dream has earned all of her victories on the front end and defeated fellow Old Hat entrant Wildcat Kate during her 2 3/4-length triumph in the House Party.

Wildcat Kate has shown early speed herself, most notably when she broke her maiden by 15 3/4 lengths first time out at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 20. The daughter of Kantharos   has registered a pair of runner-up efforts since including being bested a half-length in the Juvenile Filly Sprint Stakes against fellow Florida-breds Nov. 12.

In addition to Bode's Dream, Pletcher will be represented by Repole Stable's Sand Shark. The chestnut daughter of Hard Spun   broke her maiden going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Dec. 4, her second career outing, and will break alongside her stablemate out of post No. 1 in the six-furlong Old Hat.

Starlight Racing will be represented by Neolithic in the upcoming $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), scheduled to be held for the first time Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the dark bay colt is a son of former Starlight Racing color bearer Harlan's Holiday, and has won two of his seven starts. After finishing a strong second in the Discovery Stakes (G3) in November, he came back to romp by nine lengths in an allowance race at Gulfstream in December. Since that race, he has clocked a bullet workout Dec. 31 at Palm Beach Downs (four furlongs in :48 3/5).

Jack Wolf, Starlight Racing's founder and co-managing partner, is also the chief operating officer of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, and assembled a group of stakeholders to purchase a slot in the Pegasus World Cup called Starlight Pegasus Partners. 

"The race is shaping up to be one for the ages with the likes of California Chrome   and Arrogate," said Wolf. "But Neolithic showed some real talent and class with his win at Gulfstream Park last month and has been training great since that race. We are excited to be part of such a big day for horse racing."

Pletcher will also saddle Keen Ice in the Pegasus World Cup after owner Donegal Racing worked out a deal with stakeholders Ronald and Jerry Frankel. Third behind Arrogate and California Chrome in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Keen Ice is winless since his upset of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah   in the 2015 Travers (G1), most recently finishing second in the Harlan's Holiday (G3) Dec.17 at Gulfstream.

Neither of multiple graded stakes winners Stanford or Madefromlucky are being pointed to the Pegasus World Cup, Pletcher said, but could wind up on the undercard in the $400,000 Poseidon, also for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles. The stablemates finished first and fourth, respectively, in the Harlan's Holiday.

 "I think right now the plan would be for Stanford to go in the Poseidon and Madefromlucky...I need to talk to the connections about it," Pletcher said. "He's a possibility for the Poseidon or also maybe shipping out of town."

Other horses confirmed for the Pegasus World Cup are Eragon (Jim McIngvale), Semper Fortis (Reddam Racing), Shaman Ghost(Adena Springs) and War Story (Dan Schafer/Loooch Racing & Partners).

Todd Pletcher-trained Zulu returned to the races a winner in the $60,000 Tamarac Stakes at Gulfstream Park Dec. 18. Watch Video

The 3-year-old son of Bernardini  , who had not run since finishing 12th as the favorite in the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland in April, was sent to the sidelines to regroup.

In his return Sunday, Zulu sat off the pace in the seven-furlong Tamarac before reaching the leaders around the far turn. Ridden by Javier Castellano, the 1-2 favorite moved to the lead at the top of the lane, and drew off to a 2 3/4-length victory over Yellow Chips while being kept to the task by his rider. The win was the 300th of the year for Castellano.

"I'm very excited to do it with this horse," Castellano said of his 300th win. "He was impressive. He's a really nice horse. I'm glad to see him come back. I'm very satisfied the way he did it today. He's a very classy horse. I give all the credit to Mr. Pletcher, the way he brought him back after a long time."

At the 2015-16 championship meet, Zulu showed his affinity for the Gulfstream Park oval, winning the first two starts of his career in easy fashion. In his stakes debut, he finished second to Mohaymen in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II).

"He has natural speed but he's not super quick, either. The benefit of drawing outside is you get a little opportunity to let things unfold and let him get his legs up underneath him. I thought when Javier asked him, he responded well," said Pletcher, who notched his seventh stakes victory so far in the championship meet.

Graded stakes-placed Yellow Chips closed from last in the seven-horse field to finish 2 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Fearless Dragon. Zulu, who is owned by Stonestreet Stables, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith, ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.12.      

"Overall I thought it was a good effort, Pletcher added. "He hadn't run in eight months so anytime (they) haven't been out in a while you hope you have them tight enough and fit enough. He had to kind of overcome a little bit of a wide trip, but I think the final time was pretty solid considering. It'll be interesting to see how the time stacks up on the day, but there was a pretty good headwind down the stretch. I thought it was a good effort."

Pletcher said the $150,000 Hal's Hope (gr. III) at Gulfstream Jan. 14 looks like a "nice fit" for Zulu.

"There are a number of options," he said. "The Hal's Hope, the Poseidon (Jan. 28)—we've got plenty of options. I think the key is to see how he comes out of the race and how soon we want to run him back. Just off the top of my head it seems like the Hal's Hope might be a nice fit for him, but it's four weeks, so we'll see how he bounced out of it and take it from there."

A dream trip and equally ideal outcome in the Dec. 17 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (gr. III) may have earned Stanford a chance at pulling off the ultimate fantasy next month. Watch Video

It is rare when the best-laid plans come to fruition once the starting gate opens. After getting a sharp break out of post 1, the rest of Stanford's 1 1/16-mile tour around Gulfstream Park went exactly as his connections hoped, with the son of Malibu Moon   leading at every point of call en route to a three-length win over stablemate Keen Ice in the $100,000 Harlan's Holiday.

The Harlan's Holiday had more than the usual implications on the line. With the inaugural edition of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (gr. I) set to be held at Gulfstream Jan. 28, Saturday's test served as a last audition of sorts for Stanford, Keen Ice and fellow Todd Pletcher-trainee Madefromlucky.

With Stanford emphatically taking care of his end of the bargain and grade I-winner Keen Ice closing admirably as the 8-5 favorite despite his stablemate getting away with tepid fractions of :24.61 and :48.94, Pletcher said there are now a couple serious conversations that need to take place in the coming weeks.

"I thought it was terrific for (Stanford)," said Pletcher, who took three of the top four placings, with Madefromlucky crossing the wire fourth. "It probably worked against Keen Ice a little bit, but despite that I thought he ran pretty well to be second. Javier (Castellano) tried to keep him closer because of the slow fractions and the way the track's playing. I thought he ran pretty well considering that. 

"I'll talk to the connections ... but Stanford and Keen Ice certainly ran well enough to consider the Pegasus."

Stanford is owned by Stonestreet Stables along with the Coolmore partnership of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor. and Derrick Smith. Coolmore does already own one of the 12 starting positions for the Pegasus World Cup. Donegal Racing, owner of Keen Ice, would need to work out a deal with one of the other shareholders to get in the gate.

Everything worked in Stanford's favor in his first start since finishing eighth in the June 11 Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Jockey John Velazquez got the 4-year-old bay colt away in strong order and had the 9-5 second choice coasting as he cruised up front, with Awesome Slew tracking second in an outside path and Madefromlucky on the rail third down the backstretch.

Keen Ice rolled up three wide on the final turn and, along with Awesome Slew, tried to mount a challenge to Stanford. The pacesetter responded with more than enough in reserve, drawing clear under mild urging to hit the wire in 1:42.10 over a fast track.

"He broke really well and got to the first turn easy," Velazquez said. "I just waited to see how he did on the lead. He did it really easy. He runs hard all the time. I see it (in) the mornings, too. He was fresh and even when I asked him down the lane, he wanted to run. He did start pricking his ears and I had to get into him a little bit to keep his mind focused. But when (Keen Ice) came to him galloping out, my horse galloped out really well."

Stanford paid $5.60, $3.20, and $2.40 across the board. Awesome Slew held for third over Madefromlucky, with Hy Riverside, Joshua's Comprise, and Applicator completing the order of finish.

Bred by WinStar Farm, out of the Distorted Humor   mare Rosy Humor, Stanford notched his first graded stakes win in April, when he scored a front-running triumph in the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II). The $550,000 purchase at the 2014 Barretts March 2-year-olds in training sale improved his record to five wins from 13 starts and $1,197,560 in earnings.

StarLadies Racing's Eskenformoney got her first graded win when she ran down the odds-on favorite Curlin's Approval to take the Rampart Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 17. Watch Video

In the one-mile test for fillies and mares, Curlin's Approval and the Todd Pletcher-trained Genre dueled for the lead early and set an honest pace with fractions of :23.53, :45.64, and 1:09.71 through six furlongs. The other Pletcher trainee Eskenformoney settled in third, racing right off the pace. 

Jockey Javier Castellano asked Eskenformoney to move up and challenge the front runners going into the far turn. In the stretch, Genre began to fade as Curlin's Approval dug in, but it was Eskenformoney in front at the wire by three-quarters of a length. Curlin's Approval finished second and Genre got third. The final time was 1:35.47.

"It worked out perfectly," Castellano said of his trip. "The thing was the post position. I had a great post. I was able to stalk behind the speed. It worked out great today."

Eskenformoney returned $13.20, $4.40, and $2.80 across the board. Curlin's Approval paid $2.40 and $2.10, and Genre was worth $2.20.

Caboclo do Rio, Tormenta de Oro, Screaming Skylar, and Inside Out completed the order of finish. 

"I think Genre just showed a little more natural speed," Pletcher said of his two runners. "Javier (aboard Eskenformoney) made a conscious effort to try to stay as close as he could and was kind of pecking at (Curlin's Approval) down the backside to maintain that position and it worked out.

"It's nice to see (Eskenformoney) get that (graded win)," he added. "She deserved it. She had knocked on the door several times this summer and had just missed and as a 3-year-old, as well. She seems to like Gulfstream. She's always consistently run well here and it's good to see her pick up a graded win."

In her 20 career starts, Eskenformoney now has a 4-5-3 record with $407,316 in earnings. She has come close to getting a graded victory earlier this year, losing by a neck to Genre in the July 31 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park. 

"I'm not sure (what's next)," Pletcher said. "I think there's a good chance Genre will be bred. Eskenformoney, I have to talk to the StarLadies connections and see what the plans are. She's a filly that we always kind of felt like would get better as she got a little older and I think that could prove true."

Bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm, the 4-year-old daughter of Eskendereya was a $225,000 purchase by Starlight Racing from Taylor Made Sales at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. 

Bode's Dream got the jump on her eight rivals and continued on to register a comfortable front-running victory in the $75,000 House Party Stakes, scoring by 2 3/4 lengths in the first of six $75,000 stakes on the Dec. 10 Juvenile Showcase card at Gulfstream Park. Watch Video

The win early on the card was just a hint of things to come for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has earned an unprecedented 13 consecutive training titles at Gulfstream's championship meet and who saddled four juvenile stakes winner Saturday.

Pletcher, a seven-time Eclipse Award winner, could not recall winning four stakes at one track on one day. The four stakes wins came with three colts and the filly. Hall of Fame John Velazquez rode three of the winners.

Pletcher started the day with St. Elias Stable's undefeated Bode's Dream, a Bodemeister   filly who won under Velazquez in her first start since taking the Astoria in June at Belmont Park.

"She'd been training well, but it's been a while since she ran. We had her ready off the layoff," Pletcher said. "The one thing she has is exceptional gate speed. She broke and it was pretty straight forward after that.

"She's obviously fast, so she gives us the impression that she's a quality sprinter. The next logical step would be the Old Hat (grade III, Jan. 7)."

Then came Tapwrit, a 2-year-old son of Tapit   who was purchased for $1.2 million at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga 2015 select yearling sale by Robert LaPenta, Bridlewood Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Entered for the main track only, the colt drew in after the $75,000 Pulpit Stakes was moved from the turf to the sloppy main track. He opened up a five-length lead down the stretch before winning the mile event by a length under Eddie Castro. Watch Video

"He's suited to two turns but we didn't have too many options. So we took a shot in a main-track-only and it worked out well for him," Pletcher said. "I think everything is in play now. We'll see how he comes out of it. He's seems to be going the right way." 

Less than 30 minutes after saddling Tapwrit to victory, Pletcher scored with Calumet Farm's Sonic Mule in the $75,000 Buffalo Man. A son of Distorted Humor   bred by WinStar Farm, Sonic Mule won the six-furlong event by 1 3/4 lengths with Velazquez in the irons. Watch Video

"He's a horse with a pedigree that suggests maybe he would do just about anything," Pletcher said. "He's a horse that always seems like he is ready to go and we've picked out different opportunities for him. He was a bit unlucky not to win on the grass in that one race here, but I think he seems to be his best doing this."

Sonic Mule will point toward the $100,000 Hutcheson (gr. III) going six furlongs Jan. 7.

"For now we'll keep him short, and then we will let him stretch his way out if he wants to," Pletcher said.

Pletcher's fourth stakes winner and third in three races came in the $75,000 Smooth Air at a mile with Fact Finding, owned by Tabor, Magnier, Smith, and Stonestreet Stables LLC. The son of The Factor   won by seven with Velazquez aboard. Watch Video

"He showed us today that he should be able to handle the stretch-out from a mile," Pletcher said. "The time stacked up favorable for the day. It was a quality effort from him."

Fact Finding, who has won his three starts by a combined 15 1/2 lengths, ran a mile over a sloppy track in 1:36.98.

"He's kind of handled everything we've asked him to do so far. The owners have been very patient letting him find his way along," Pletcher said. "He's very laid-back in the morning. We really weren't sure what we had until we ran him. He's one of those horses that kind of saves himself in the morning. We really didn't know what we had until we ran him."

Non-Pletcher-trained runners to score Saturday in the juvenile stakes were Magic Stables' Lirica, a daughter of Kantharos   who won the one-mile Hut Hut Stakes for trainer Antonio Sano, and Hope H. Jones' Party Boat, an Into Mischief   filly who took an off-the-turf edition of the mile Wait a While for trainer Graham Motion.

Anchor Down  , a multiple graded stakes-winning miler by Tapit   who defeated eventual Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) victor Tamarkuz   in the Kelso Handicap (gr. II), has been retired and will enter stud at Gainesway.

Anchor Down is being syndicated and will stand for $10,000 in 2017. He is available for inspection at the farm from 12:30-2:30 p.m. daily.

Out of Successful Outlook, a graded stakes winner at 2, Anchor Down is a half brother to grade I-winning sprinter Sweet Lulu and a full brother to grade I-placed Iron Fist.

Campaigned by Alto Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher, Anchor Down won his first two starts in 2014 as an early 3-year-old at Gulfstream Park, including a seven-furlong allowance in 1:21.67 when he finished 7 1/2 lengths ahead of Danza  , winner of the grade I Arkansas Derby in his next start.

"He was very impressive in his first two starts and was on the course for a Kentucky Derby prep," Pletcher said. "We felt like he was quickly moving to the head of our class as a Kentucky Derby candidate, particularly with his performance over Danza, who came back to win the Arkansas Derby and run third in the Kentucky Derby."

Anchor Down had been targeting the Wood Memorial (gr. I) before being sidelined, but in 2016 he developed into one of the country's top milers. He led gate-to-wire and romped by 6 3/4 lengths in the Westchester Stakes (gr. III) and was runner-up to Frosted   in the Met Mile (gr. I), defeating grade I winners Tamarkuz and Noble Bird, among others.

Not only did Anchor Down wire the field and break 1:33 in the one-mile Kelso, but he also earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, the second-highest dirt figure of 2016 at the distance.

MITCHELL: Anchor Down Scorches Kelso Field

"Ultimately his forte was as a brilliant miler," Pletcher said. "He had the ability to set a high cruising speed, which historically bodes well for him as a stallion prospect. I believe Anchor Down is one of only four horses ever to run a sub-1:33 mile at Belmont, so that's rarefied air."

Anchor Down's half sister, Test Stakes (gr. I) winner Sweet Lulu (by Mr. Greeley), sold for $3 million as a broodmare. His full brother Iron Fist, who placed behind American Pharoah   in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I), sold for $1.55 million as a yearling.

Anchor Down, who was bred by Gainesway, returns to his birthplace to take up stud duties. Gainesway president Antony Beck said, "Anchor Down's unique combination of pedigree, physical, and raw miler speed gives him the potential to make a very successful sire."

Protonico   has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky., for 2017. The four-time graded stakes-winning son of Giant's Causeway   will stand for $6,500 stands and nurses. Taylor Made Stallions is offering lifetime breeding rights for breeders that have two live foals and pay the stud fees.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Protonico was bred in Kentucky by Oussama Aboughazale’s International Equities Holding and was raced by his Sumaya U.S. Stable. The dark bay or brown colt won seven of 16 starts over four seasons in training and earned $997,587.

“We are excited to have Protonico join our expanding stallion roster for 2017,” said Ben Taylor, vice president of Taylor Made Stallions. “He was very unfortunate not to win a grade I, but he ran a 107 Beyer Speed Figure and defeated 22 graded stakes winners, including grade I winners Honor Code and Constitution. Besides being a tremendous value for breeders, Mr. Aboughazale is committed to supporting him heavily and wants to reward breeders who join him with the opportunity to earn a lifetime breeding right in Protonico.”

Protonico’s four graded stakes wins is more than any other son of Giant’s Causeway standing in North America, and he won them over four different tracks.

He broke his maiden at first asking at six furlongs in September of 2013. At 3 he won Parx Racing’s Smarty Jones Stakes (gr. III) at a mile and 70 yards and the Discovery Handicap (gr. III) at nine furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.

During his 4-year-old campaign he added Keeneland’s Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) in April and added the grade II Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs in May.

While he was unable to land the coveted grade I win, he did run second to Hoppertunity in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) in 2014 and finished third in this year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (gr. I) to Hopperturnity and Effinex   at Belmont Park in his finale.

“Protonico was a serious racehorse who showed grade I talent at every stage of his career,” Pletcher said. “He beat some top-level horses in several graded races at major tracks such as Churchill, Keeneland, and Aqueduct. I believe Protonico was very unlucky not to win a grade I, but he was one of the most versatile and better-looking horses we had in the barn.”

Protonico is the first foal out of the A.P. Indy mare Alpha Spirit. Alpha Spirit is out of the Chilean-bred Wild Spirit, Horse of the Year in Chile and winner of Saratoga’s Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) and Delaware Handicap (gr. II) in 2003. 

Breeders interested in a lifetime breeding right in Protonico must breed two mares, have two live foals, and pay the stands and nurses stud fees for each. They can elect to breed two mares in 2017, or one mare in each of 2017 and 2018. After the fees are paid, the breeder would then earn a free breeding right every year for the life of the stallion. Taylor Made is offering a limited number of the lifetime breeding rights, and they will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Protonico will also participate in Taylor Made’s multiple-mare program in 2017, with offers discount to breeders who breed more than one mare.

In concert with meet-leading rider Edgard Zayas, aboard for the first time, Siena Farm homebred Isabella Sings led every step of the way Nov. 26 to register a front-running 1 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park West. Watch Video

Favored at 2-1 in a field of nine, Isabella Sings broke from post 8 and raced on an uncontested lead through fractions of :23.85 for the quarter-mile and :48.20 for a half, and six furlongs in 1:11.19 with 90-1 long shot Artesian in closest pursuit.

"We thought she was going to take the lead comfortably and she did what we expected her to do, so we're pretty happy," said Juan Tovar, South Florida-based assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "On paper it looked like we were the speed, so I told Edgard, 'If anybody comes up to you don't try to fight her. Let her do her race.'"

Isabella Sings remained in command turning for home as Artesian, the lone 3-year-old filly in the group, began to drop back and Sea Coast, one of two horses trained by Christophe Clement, began to launch her bid between horses to stay on for second.

A 4-year-old daughter of Eskendereya, Isabella Sings completed the distance in 1:46.52 over a firm turf course.

"It went just like we planned. Todd said to just let her run," Zayas said. "Last time they took hold of her a little and she doesn't like that. She's a free runner. I just put the hands down and let her do her own thing. I was waiting for one of Clement's horses to finish strong, but she relaxed a little bit the first quarter so I was really confident that she'd give me a kick at the end."

The 17-1 long shot Dad's Princess finished third, with another length back to Clement-trained Stormy Victoria in fourth, while multiple graded stakes winner Strike Charmer was never in contention, finishing fifth.

Isabella Sings won the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) last fall at Churchill Downs and the June 25 Eatontown Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth Park.

She faded to eighth after setting the pace in the July 23 Diana Stakes (gr. IT) and was placed third after finishing fourth as the favorite in a tightly run Violet (gr. IIIT) Sept. 10 at Monmouth, her previous start.

"She's a nice filly and the whole team is happy she got the win," Tovar said. "We'll see what the next step will be. We're looking forward with her."

The 1 1/16-mile My Charmer for fillies and mares, 3-years and up, was the second of three stakes and first of two graded stakes on an 11-race program that highlighted closing weekend of the Fall Turf Festival Meet. Gulfstream Park opens its Championship Meet Dec. 3.

Also on Saturday's card was the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles.

For now, Taylor Made Stallions' 2017 stallion roster is led by its entering-year sire Mshawish  , a multiple grade I winner who will stand his first season for $20,000.

The son of Medaglia d'Oro's fee was announced Oct. 25 along with breeding fees for the rest of the farm's stallions that include freshman sire Astrology  , first-crop yearling sire Graydar  , and veteran Northern Afleet  . Soon enough the spotlight will shine brightest on the farm's other marquee stallion, California Chrome   (Lucky Pulpit  ), whose introductory stud fee will be announced after he runs in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

"These are very exciting times at Taylor Made Stallions," said Ben Taylor, vice president of Taylor Made Stallions. "We could not be happier to have the opportunity to grow our stallion roster with the likes of two new multiple grade I winners of the caliber of Mshawish and California Chrome. Our entire staff is energized and ready to get to work in serving the breeders this upcoming breeding season."

An earner of $2,421,351, Mshawish (pronounced em-SHUH-wish) retired to Taylor Made Stallions as his sire's most accomplished  son to date, with five graded stakes wins among seven  stakes victories. He won grade Is on  dirt and turf. He earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure in his victory in the Donn Handicap (gr. I), his third lifetime start on the dirt, and the year before captured the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT), in which he produced a 104 Beyer. Mshawish retired with an 8-2-3 record in 24 starts. Besides winning five stakes in the U.S. for Al Shaqab Racing, he also won stakes in France and Dubai.

Graydar heads the established stallions on Taylor Made's roster, as the imposing grade I-winning son of Unbridled's Song will stand in 2017 for a fee of $12,500 stands and nurses. Also a winner of the Donn , Graydar has his first 2-year-olds hitting the racetrack next year. His yearling fillies sold for up to $250,000 and his yearling colts up to $210,000 in 2016.

Taylor Made Stallions has two stallions standing at the value-based fee of $6,500 again in 2017 with Astrology and Northern Afleet.

Astrology, a son of A.P. Indy, was a graded stakes winner at 2 and finished third in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at 3. He has nine winners to date from his first crop to race and is one of five freshman stallions leading their sire class with two black-type winners each through Oct. 24. His debutante Arella Rockstar recently remained undefeated after a victory in the Matron Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park.

Northern Afleet enjoyed another solid year in 2016, siring six graded winners on three different continents including World Approval, who became his 12th lifetime grade I winner in the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT).

The 2017 roster for Taylor Made Stallions, stands & nurses fees:  

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina continued preparations for her start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), turning in a half-mile bullet work on the Belmont Park training track in company with 2016 Fountain of Youth (gr. II) runner-up Zulu.

The 4-year-old Curlin   filly, who has been training up to the Nov. 4 Distaff since her runner-up finish in the Personal Ensign (gr. I) Aug. 27, breezed five furlongs in :59.59, the fastest of 15 at the distance on the day.

"She's always been a good workhorse," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "A lot of times, we don't work her in company because she does things pretty willingly on her own, but for today's work we wanted to make sure we got a good, solid work. This is her most significant breeze leading into it and we wanted to make sure she got a good one and she certainly did."

Curalina galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 and seven furlongs in 1:27, according to Pletcher's watch, finally pulling up after a mile in 1:44 and change. Third in last year's Distaff, Curalina will be pre-entered in the Distaff as well as the seven-furlong Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I).

"It gave me confidence that she's in excellent form," Pletcher said, "and it puts her in a position that we can feel comfortable that she's ready to go a mile and an eighth off a little bit of freshening and sharp enough that, if we decide to go seven-eighths, she could do that as well."

Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) hopeful Syndergaard made his first appearance on the worktab since finishing a close second to Practical Joke in the Champagne (gr. I) Oct. 8 at Belmont.

A son of Majesticperfection  , Syndergaard breezed five furlongs with John Velazquez aboard in company with 2-year-old maiden Kahramani, covering the distance over the training track in 1:00 4/5. Pletcher said Syndergaard will be joined by Futurity Stakes (gr. III) winner Theory as a pre-entry in the Juvenile.

Rounding out Pletcher's Breeders' Cup workers Oct. 23 were Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) dead-heat winner Sweet Loretta, who is pointed toward the Breeders' Cup 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), and breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 in her first local work since arriving from Saratoga last week; Made You Look and J. S. Choice, both headed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), worked four furlongs in company on the dirt in :50.22; and First Lady Stakes (gr. IT) heroine Photo Call, who will be pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) and Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), worked a half-mile in :49.23.

China Horse Club and WinStar Farm'sTheory parlayed his success from a standout debut win at Saratoga Race Course into the graded stakes ranks Oct. 15 with another impressive score in the $200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. III) atBelmont Park. Watch Video

The Todd Pletcher-trained juvenile son ofGemologist   stalked early leaderMoves Like Ali, moved alongside the frontrunner in the stretch, and pulled away late to win by 3 1/2 lengths.Star Empire passed Moves Like Ali late to pick up place honors.

Off as the 1-5 favorite, Theory finished the six furlongs in 1:09.91 under first-time jockey Javier Castellano.

"Anytime you're a prohibitive favorite like that, you always want things to go well," Pletcher said. "He broke alertly, put himself in a good spot, and Javier gave him a little chance to get his feet underneath him and looked like when he called him, he finished up strongly."

Moves Like Ali set fractions of :22.62 and :45.35 through a half-mile, and held a head advantage with a furlong to run, but Theory's pressure on the outside proved too much.

"I loved the way he did (it). He does everything with such class," Castellano said. "He was composed in the post parade. I think you can stretch him out, he'll appreciate going long. I rode his father, Gemologist, so I enjoyed riding him."

The winner paid $2.70, $2.30, and $2.10 across the board. Star Empire brought $4.10 and $2.90, and Moves Like Ali brought $3 to show.

The Walk and Reckling, who trailed the top trio early, never threatened and finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich and Ronald Kirk, out of the Officermare Gem Sleuth, Theory now has $169,800 from his two victories in as many starts.

Pletcher said after the race that the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) could be an option for Theory off relatively short rest.

"Today, with the way he ran—the way he galloped out and came back—I think we at least have to sit down and have that discussion," the trainer said.

Later on the card, Matthew Schera's 15-1 shot Thundering Sky stole the $200,000 Pebbles Stakes for trainer George Weaver. The 3-year-old Sky Mesa   filly came off a third in the Sept. 24 Ontario Colleen (Can-IIIT) and picked up her first win since breaking her maiden six starts back. She rallied wide to the wire under jockey Antonio Gallardo, running a mile in 1:33.47 and returning $33.80, $15, and $9 with her three-quarters of a length win over Mom's On Strike. Favored Ancient Secret was third.

Thundering Sky was bred in Kentucky by Almar Farm out of the Unbridled's Song mare Uninhibited Song, and was purchased by her owner for $145,000 from the Select Sales consignment to the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling sale in 2014. She improved her record to 2-3-3 from 11 starts for earnings of $250,390.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux doesn't get many calls from trainer Todd Pletcher, but when he does, he takes the mount.

And so it was that Desormeaux found himself speeding out to the early lead in the $400,000First Lady (gr. IT) Oct. 8 at Keeneland aboardPhoto Call, opening a 10-length margin, and leaving champion Tepin with too much work to do in her title defense. Watch Video

"Todd told me to cover her up, but that was not going to happen," Desormeaux said, and the audible worked out.

On a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 28,101—on a day when all-sources wagering on the 10-race card reached $15,926,396 to surpass the previous Fall Stars Saturday record of $14,135,204 from Oct. 6, 2007—29-1 shot Photo Call stole the one-mile First Lady by 2 3/4 lengths and left 2-5 favoite Tepin in her wake.

It was the first time since August of 2015 that the Mark Casse-trained Tepin was beaten, snapping an eight-race win streak for the mare who trounced males in her past two starts and concluded her 2015 season with a win in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).

"We didn't want her to run her 'A' race today," assistant trainer Norm Casse said. "The goal is the Breeders' Cup Mile. I haven't lost any confidence in her. I think this will set her up and she'll move forward from this race."

Photo Call took the lead shortly after the break and set uncontested fractions of :24.10 and :47.29 as Tepin raced in the clear in tandem with grade I winner Celestine. The eventual winner was 10 lengths on top at the quarter pole, with Tepin's rally too little too late as Photo Call completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:35.62.

"At the top of the lane you could just tell that horse had too much of a lead," Casse went on. "She kicked away. She beat another really good horse today. Bill Mott's horse (Celestine). ... We handled her and put her away. The winner just got away from us. That's all it is. It's horse racing. If anything, it relieves a little bit of pressure heading into the Breeders' Cup Mile. I don't think she ran disrespectful today. She ran a good race, the other horse just had a better trip and things went her way."

Turned back to a mile for the first time since July of 2015, Photo Call returned to victory for Teresa Viola Racing Stables with a look four starts back to April, when she won the Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park. As a 4-year-old trained by Graham Motion for Mrs. P. K. Cooper, the daughter of Galileo took the Rodeo Drive (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park. She was a $3 million purchase from Keeneland's 2015 November breeding stock sale days after running fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT).

The victory increased Photo Call's bankroll to $827,102 with a record of 6-3-4 from 21 starts.

Photo Call returned $61.40, $10.60, and $5.60. Tepin paid $2.20 and $2.40. Celestine ($2.40) completed the trifecta and was followed home byNemoralia, She's Not Here, Cash Control, Onus, Now Or Never, Secret Someone, and Mississippi Delta.

Alto Racing’s 2-1 favorite Anchor Downzipped along on the front end and went gate to wire for an impressive two-length victory in the Kelso Handicap (gr. II), just missing the track record for the one-turn mile at Belmont Park. Watch Video

The 5-year-old Tapit   ridgling trained by Todd Pletcher, who came into the $350,000 race off an uneventful sixth in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (gr. I) atSaratoga Race Course, was quick out of the gate under Javier Castellano, closely tracked by Tamarkuz and Mike Smith.

Leading the five-horse field shortened by the scratches of Upstart andBaccelo, those two set the pace in fractions of :23.30 and :45.74. After stopping the timer in 1:09.05 for six furlongs, Anchor Down continued to roll, with Tamarkuz still about a length back. Castellano let out the leader down the lane as he raced uncontested to victory in the final time of 1:32.90, just off the track mark of 1:32.24.

The victory was the fifth in 15 starts for Anchor Down, who improved his earnings to $719,254.

He returned $6, $3.70, and $2.70 across the board. Tamarkuz was worth $3.80 and $2.50, with Ocean Knight third at $3.70. They were followed byPoint Piper, a West Coast shipper for Jerry Hollendorfer, and second choice Tommy Macho, also trained by Pletcher.

"He's run well every time in a one-turn mile at Belmont, it seems to be his thing," Pletcher said. "It was no disgrace being second to Frosted in the Met Mile that day; I don't think anyone was going to beat Frosted. To come back and run a mile in 1:32 and four-fifths, as a well-bred son of Tapit, it's a big win for him."

Considering the winner’s affinity for one-turn mile races, Pletcher said Anchor Down likely would make his next start in the Nov. 26 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack rather than contest the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) around two turns at Santa Anita Park.

"We'll wait and see how he comes out of it. I would probably think a one-turn mile is a little more to his liking. We'll enjoy this one for the moment, but if I were guessing right now I'd probably lean toward the Cigar Mile."

"My main concern was focusing on breaking good out of the gate because this horse has had a couple of issues out the gate," Castellano said. "He got a good clean trip and a good break so using my best judgment I put him on the lead. He's a great horse. He's a pro and he showed up today."

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Anchor Down was bought by agent Steve Young for $250,000 from his breeder at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Unraced at 2, Anchor Down won both of his two starts at age 3, but then was off for more than a year. Anchor Down posted his first stakes win when he rolled to a 6 3/4-length victory in the Westchester Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont May 7.

Jockey Jose Ortiz took 9-1 shot Ectot gate to wire to post a stunning upset over 1-5 favorite Flintshire in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Belmont Park. Watch Video

A British-bred 5-year-old son ofHurricane Run trained by Todd Pletcher for Al Shaqab Racing and Gerard Normand, Ectot earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) atSanta Anita Park with the Oct. 1 victory.

Although it was contested over a yielding 1 1/2-mile Widener turf course that was considered not to his liking, Flintshire still looked like a standout in his final race before the Breeders' Cup Turf, considering the Juddmonte Farms homebred faced only three opponents while seeking his fourth graded stakes triumph from as many starts this year.

But Ectot, winless in two North American starts this year after 10 starts in France and one in Great Britain, was out of the gate first and loped along in moderate fractions of 1:15.03 for six furlongs while stalked by Money Multiplier who, like Flintshire, is trained by Chad Brown.

Meanwhile, Flintshire, ridden by Javier Castellano, was settled into last early and made his move on the outside rounding the turn after a mile was completed in 1:39.78. Although the prohibitive favorite had no problem passing Twilight Eclipse and Money Multiplier, Ortiz and Ectot had a lot left in the tank and drew off to win by five lengths.

The final time was 2:28.76, well off the course record of 2:23.39. Twilight Eclipse was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third, followed by Money Multiplier.

With no show wagering, Ectot paid $20.80 and $4.40, with Flintshire returning $2.10.

The victory was the seventh in 14 starts for Ectot and increased the horse’s earnings to $840,010. The victory was the first in the U.S. for Ectot after finishing fourth, only a length behind the winner, in the restricted Lure Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, followed by a second in allowance company as the 9-10 favorite at the Spa.

The victory was the first since the horse bred in Great Britain by Skymarc Farm and Ecurie Des Monceaux, Ectot won the Qatar Prix Niel (gr. IIT) in September 2014. The previous year, Ectot annexed the French group I Criterium International two additional group III stakes in France.

From three starts last year, all in group company in France, Ectot’s best effort was a third in the group III Prix la Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte.

"He's trained exceptionally well for us since he came in,” Pletcher said. “He went off form in his last few starts in Europe but came to us in great condition. His races leading up to this were sneaky good and he seemed to be improving. We made some minor adjustments with equipment and shoes and figured it out as we went along.

The trainer said Ectot was keen in his last start and one key to the Hirsch win was Ortiz being able to get him to settle. Also, the weather and off turf course were in his favor.

“We thought it would help when it rained. We felt we had a lot going for us, but you still have to have tremendous respect for a horse like Flintshire, who is accomplished and for what he's done in his career. We were optimistic that our horse would run well and we couldn't be more pleased with the way he did it.

“Today's race was a big step. We don't anticipate we'll get a lot of rain in California (for the Breeders’ Cup) but at the same time, he's run well on firm ground. We're delighted with his efforts today."

"My strategy was to go to the lead and slow down but my horse is a little strong in the early stages,” Ortiz said. “So, I just needed to break and try to relax him. When we got to the backside, he relaxed very well for me. When I passed the three-eighths pole, I looked and I saw Twilight Eclipse three lengths behind me and I saw Flintshire in the clear, so I still had to run to win. When we got to the quarter pole, I saw Johnny (Velazquez, aboard Money Multiplier) all out and Flintshire was passing and I opened two lengths without even asking, so I thought I had a really good shot. When I asked him to go, he responded very well.”

Brown said the yielding turf course was a factor in Flintshire’s performance and he will go on to the Breeders’ Cup.

"He didn't handle the ground. We knew the risk going into the race running on soft ground. He has a poor record on it. I didn't see another option; I didn't feel comfortable going into the Breeders' Cup without a prep. So, we gave it a shot and it didn't work out. Hopefully he'll come out of the race sound and will get a chance to redeem himself in the Breeders' Cup on firm ground."

"I was surprised because I think he's one of the best horses in the country,” Castellano said of the beaten favorite. “It was really soft ground and heavy. I think he didn't like it much. He dictated the pace. We all fell in great position. I wasn't too far, but my horse just didn't like (the soft turf)."

In many ways the $200,000 With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) Aug. 31 atSaratoga Race Course proved to be a tale of two trips, as winner Made You Look found room inside after a ground-saving run while runner-up Keep Quietraced three-wide throughout before finishing two lengths behind the winner.Watch Replay

Made You Look, favored at 8-5, secured a second straight win in three starts, all on turf, and his first stakes win for Let's Go Stable and Three Chimneys Farm in the 1 1/16-mile test for juveniles. Trainer Todd Pletcher credited multiple Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano with a top ride and the son of More Than Ready   for being willing to punch through on the inside in early stretch.

"We were getting a beautiful trip; it was just a matter of whether he was able to find a spot to go through. I thought for a young horse to shoot through there was pretty brave on his part," Pletcher said. "He's been training really well, we were looking forward to a good effort, he got a good trip, and he delivered."

Longshot Gemologister, a maiden, registered contested fractions of a half-mile in :49.34 and six furlongs in 1:14.14 as longshot Monsoon K S Astayed close early. But more eyes were on 9-5 second-choice Keep Quiet, three-wide about a half-length behind the top two; and Made You Look, who raced inside about a length behind the leader.

Made You Look held that inside position through the far turn before cutting the corner and forging to the lead with an inside bid. He drew clear in the stretch, completing the race in 1:43.12 on firm turf. Keep Quiet continued well to the wire for second, three-quarters of a length in front of Bird's Eye View.

"I had a beautiful trip. The way he followed in the race, you don't see too many 2-year-olds racing like that," Castellano said. "The pace was slow and he was right behind the horse (in front). It set up beautiful. Turning for home, I didn't have too much room and I had to squeeze a little bit inside the rail. It was unbelievable, he went right through and took off. The way he did it, he was phenomenal.

"I was concerned a little bit just to get him to go through it. He's only run two times, he doesn't have that experience to go through a little tiny hole but when I asked him, he went through like an old horse, like a well-bred horse. Those kinds of horses are (the ones) you want to ride because they've got great minds, especially 2-year-olds. He didn't just sustain himself in that spot, he went through and he took off. I like that. He finished really well. Actually, I didn't even ask him much, he just took off. He picked it up himself."

Made You Look paid $5.30, $3, and $2.20 across the board while Keep Quiet paid $3.10 to place and $2.50 to show. Bird's Eye View returned $5.40 to show. The latter two earned stakes-placings for the first time.

Bred in Kentucky by the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust, Made You Look is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Night and Day. His second dam is champion 3-year-old filly and multiple grade I winner Serena's Song. Night and Day is a half sister to group I winner Sophisticat and three other graded stakes winners.

Pletcher trained both Night and Day and More Than Ready.

"He's got a fantastic pedigree, top and bottom side," Pletcher said. "It's a lot of fun for us to have a son of More Than Ready; it was 1999 when he won the Sanford (gr. II). He's just been so good to our stable, not only him but all of his offspring."

Pletcher said he will consider starting Made You Look in the Oct. 1 Pilgrim Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park or training him up to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT).

Red Oak Stable's Unbridled Mo sat off the speed of Tejana before pushing past the pacesetter in late stretch to capture the $100,000 Monmouth Oaks (gr. III) atMonmouth Park Aug. 20 by a neck.Watch Video

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Uncle Mo   filly went 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track in 1:44 1/5 and paid $6.80, $3.20 and $2.60 as the third choice in the field of six 3-year-old fillies. Tejana, a perfect two-for-two coming into the Oaks, settled for second, paying $3.20 and $2.60 and completing the $22.60 exacta. Mo d'Amour, who closed strongly on the outside, was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

"I had a good trip," said winning jockey Paco Lopez.  "My filly doesn't have too much speed so I wanted to just sit off the pace. She didn't have too much patience and wanted to go pressure the horse on the lead in the backstretch. She ran very well today and had to work for the win."

 A homebred from the Unbridled mare Unbridled Waters, Unbridled Mo has won her last three starts and is three for four lifetime. She has earned $103,680.

"I told Paco in the paddock how great she's doing," assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta Jr. said. "I was surprised to see her so close early, but they weren't going too fast and no one was really pressing the leader. She had to grind out the win today. I was real impressed. She's a very solid filly."

St. Elias Stable's Nonna Mela wasn't supported too much at the betting windows, but put in the performance of a heavy favorite Aug. 19 in theAdirondack Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course. Watch Video

Off at 8-1 in the 6 1/2-furlong event on the main track, the Todd Pletcher-trained daughter of Arch   took command at the top of the stretch and pulled away from the six other fillies in the field to win by six lengths lengths under jockey Javier Castellano.

Castellano deftly guided Nonna Mela after they broke well from post 2, but found themselves inside the speedy Silvertoni. Castellano dropped his filly back to stalk Silivertoni, and most importantly got her to the outside.

"I liked the way she broke from the gate. It was a great performance," Castellano said. "There was a lot of speed out of the gate, but she broke sharp and put me in a good position. I moved her a little outside, (because) I didn't want to get stuck on the rail. That was the key to win the race."

The first quarter went in :21.81 and the half in :45.13, and Nonna Mella pulled ahead late in the turn, but 3-2 favorite Libby's Tail loomed with a three-wide move. The favorite lacked any punch in the stretch, however, and flattened out to finish fourth. Silvertoni held for second 3 1/4 lengths clear of Olive Branch.

"When I saw that Silvertoni tried to dictate the pace and go to the lead, I didn't want to go too fast," Castellano said. "My filly didn't have to be on the lead. She had control in the race and finished strong. I really liked the way she did it."

The winner hit the wire in 1:16.83 and paid $19.80, $8.70, and $5.90 across the board. Silvertoni delivered $5.60 and $4.70, and Olive Branch brought $5.

Ever So Clever finished fifth, followed by Romantic Music and Dial Me, to complete the order of finish.

Nonna Mela was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, out of the Storm Cat mare Cool Storm. She broke her maiden by 7 1/4 lengths last time out July 2 at Monmouth Park in her second start in New Jersey for Pletcher. She was a $310,000 purchase in 2015 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

"I thought one of her works here was really good and the other one I thought was just OK," Pletcher said. "The track here's been a little quirky and we felt like she showed us enough to give it a try. We weren't completely surprised (by the effort), although this was a pretty dominating performance, really."

Stablemates Genre and Eskenformoneybattled down the stretch in $100,000Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. III) July 31 atMonmouth Park before Genre thrust out her neck for the victory. Watch Replay

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalinaran away to a 9 1/4-length triumph in the slop July 31 at Saratoga Race Courseafter shaking clear of Carrumba in early stretch in the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. III). Watch Replay

Curalina was among three graded stakes winners, and four stakes winners overall, in the span of three days for HIll 'n' Dale Farms resident sire Curlin. She was the first in a graded stakes double Sunday for her sire, whose son Exaggerator  won the $1 million Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I) later in the day atMonmouth Park. Exaggerator was the second grade I winner of the weekend for his sire following Stellar Wind's upset of Beholder in the $300,000 Clement L.Hirsch the previous day at Del Mar. On July 29 at Saratoga, son Connect captured the $100,000 Curlin Stakes to ignite a banner weekend

The Shuvee predictably unfolded as a two-horse contest between three-time grade I winner Curalina and Carrumba, the only other graded winner in the four-horse field, and both at nearly equal odds of 9-10. The pair sprinted away together leaving the gate, with Curalina eventually settling about a half-length behind Carrumba, who set a leisurely tempo throughout the 1 1/8-mile event. But entering the stretch, Curalina exploded to the front and opened an insurmountable lead in the matter of just a few commanding strides to get the win.  

Ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher, Curalina covered 1 1/8 miles 1:49.85 as the 122-pound highweight.

Carrumba held on for second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Sweetgrass, withJoint Return finishing another 10 1/4 back in fourth.

Curalina paid $3.80 and $2.10 and Carrumba returned $2.10. There was no show wagering.

Carrumba and Jose Ortiz ticked off early fractions of :24.28, :48.59, and 1:12.75 for six furlongs with Curalina stalking a half-length back. The winner was alongside Carrumba as the pair drew away from the Sweetgrass and Joint Return on the far turn. The top two entered the lane together, but at the three-sixteenths pole Curalina kicked away unchallenged.

"The only speed was Carrumba and myself, so I wanted to make sure that she didn't get away with an easy lead there," Valazquez said. "I stuck with her the whole way around. When I asked my horse, she responded very well. 

Added Pletcher: "On paper it looked like kind of a match race. It looked like Carrumba loves an off track, so we didn't want to let her get away. Assuming that Jose was going to go a little bit from the rail, (Johnny) decided when he wanted to turn the pressure up. It looked like when he did he had a lot of horse."

Curalina improved to 6-2-2 from 11 starts that include grade I wins in La Troienne this spring, and 2015 Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks. She came into the Shuvee off a fourth in Odgen Phipps (gr. I), in which Carrumba was third, June 11 at Belmont Park.

Curalina was bred in Kentucky by CASA Farms I from the Graeme Hall mare Whatdreamsaremadeof. Her breeder sold her via Denali Stud for $125,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.

St. Elias Stable's Sweet Loretta kicked off stakes action at Saratoga Race Coursewith an impressive victory in the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies July 22, opening day at the upstate New York track. Watch Video

The daughter of leading sire Tapit  provided trainer Todd Pletcher a sixth win in the six-furlong test after she collared front-runner Made Me Shiver in the stretch and drew clear to stay perfect in two career starts. 

After lunging at the start, Sweet Loretta settled in sixth as Inspired Flightset a swift pace of :21.68 and :44.79 through a half mile tracked by Made Me Shiver in second. John Velasquez who brought her four wide into the stretch and she was full of run to chase down Made Me Shiver took charge in early stretch. Sweet Loretta ran her down on the outside and gained control past the eighth pole and coasted to a 4 1/4-length triumph. She finished the distance in 1:10.89 as longshot Fun came up to take second. 

"Obviously there's a lot of speed but the track was a little slow," Velazquez said. "But it worked out my way. She did everything well. I talked to Todd in the paddock before the race and he told me she breaks well, (so) give her a chance and let her run down the lane and that's what she did."

Sweet Loretta was bred by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stable from theBluegrass Cat   mare Ithinkisawapudycat, a half sister to Canadian champion Spring in the Air. She was a $750,000 weanling purchase by Roma Farm via agent J. J. Crupi at the 2014 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She started her career with a seven-length maiden triumph June 18 at Monmouth Park.

"I told Johnny in the paddock, 'I don't think she's as quick as some of these other fillies, just don't rush her off her feet. Give her a chance to get her legs underneath her.' It actually probably worked in her favor that she didn't break well," Pletcher said. "They went fast early but she ran professionally; she ran into the dirt well. She kept gaining ground in the early part of the race and put herself in a good position coming off the turn."

Sweet Loretta paid $10.80, $5.70, $3.70, Fun returned $16.20 and $7.10, and Harlands Thunder paid $4.80 to show.

Made Me Shiver stayed on for fourth, followed by Olive Branch, Summer Sally, Lightning Dove, and Insprired Flight to complete the order of finish.

Tapit, a resident of Gainesway near Lexington, has 15 black-type stakes winners this year, and 83 overall from nine crops of racing age. 

WinStar Farm homebred American Patriot overhauled pacesetter He'll Payin the stretch and edged away to win the $200,000 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 16 atDelaware Park. Watch Video

A son of War Front   trained by Todd Pletcher, American Patriot scored by 1 1/2 lengths and finished the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds in 1:47.19 on firm ground.

Jose Ortiz rated 9-5 favorite American Patriot in fourth, then third, as He'll Pay ticked off moderate early fractions—:24.61, :48,20, and 1:12 through six furlongs. The winner was ready to roll into the stretch and briefly engaged the front-runner before he secured the victory in the matter of a few powerful strides.

American Patriot, who has three wins and two thirds from six career starts, came in off three-length triumph in an allowance optional-claiming race at the same distance June 25 at Belmont Park.

Saturday's win was the first in a stakes for American Patriot, who was unplaced in the 1 1/16-mile American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) May 7 atChurchill Downs.

American Patriot is one of two winners from the winning Tiznow   mare Life Well Lived, a full sister to 2009 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) victor Well Armed, also a grade I winner in the U.S. He is the 46th black-type winner for War Front.

American Patriot paid $5.40, $3.60, and $2.40. He'll Pay returned $12.40 and $4.80, and Inspector Lynley came on for third late to pay $2.80 to show.

Converge came in fourth, followed by Keystoneforvictory, Mighty Mo, and Madtap to complete the order or finish.

Off the Tracks led all the way in the $300,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) July 2 at Belmont Park, turning back dual grade II winner Lewis Bay at the end to gamely earn her first grade I score. Watch Video

The 3-year-old Curlin   filly came off a runner-up finish to Carina Mia in the June 11 Acorn Stakes (gr. I) at the New York track, and went one better under Jose Ortiz this time after setting quick opening fractions of :22.79 and :45.53.

"She broke good and was very alert. We went a bit fast but she wasn't pushed all the way to do that," Ortiz said. "She was relaxed and did it by herself. She was in a good rhythm. As we passed the three-eighths pole, she gave me a lot of confidence to go on. She responded very well."

Off the Tracks turned back longshot Mom's On Strike and then finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of Lewis Bay, who was making her first start for trainer Chad Brown since a third-place finish in the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

"It's disappointing," Brown said of the runner-up effort. "She was sitting there loaded the whole way. I thought when she tipped out she'd go right by that horse and she just ran even down the lane. She got a good trip, and she looked like a winner every step of the way until she just flattened out in the middle of the stretch."

The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.01 on a fast main track. Off the Tracks returned $8.10, $3.60, and $2.70 at odds of 3-1. Bred in Kentucky by Lee McMillin out of the Boston Harbor mare Harve de Grace and a $50,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase by agent Chad Summers, she improved her record to 4-1-1 from six starts, for earnings of $485,594 for Newtown Anner Stud and J Stables.

"(We were) just trying to figure out how we thought the race would unfold," Pletcher said. "We weren't positive what a couple horses would do but we felt that if (Off the Tracks) got a clean break there was a decent chance that she would be on the lead, so that was 'plan A' with her.

"Even though the fractions were very fast, the track seems to be playing pretty fast today, so I was a little concerned going as fast as they were, but she seemed to be doing it comfortably and in good rhythm. I was happy to see her have something left to finish."

Lightstream rounded out the trifecta a length back, followed by Mo d'Amour. Grade I winner Rachel's Valentina, favored at 9-5 in the field of seven, finished fifth under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Mom's On Strike and Linda Mimi completed the order of finish.

"I really don't have a great explanation (for Rachel's Valentina)," Pletcher said. "It looked like she was in a decent spot, but Johnny seemed like he had to start asking her for a lot earlier than you would expect him to. We'll see how she comes out of it and try to regroup."

It was Off the Tracks' third outing for Pletcher; she first won three in a row for Rudy Rodriguez, including the Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III), then ran third in her first start for her new trainer—the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) on a sloppy track. She continued to progress when she placed second by 1 1/4 lengths to Carina Mia in the Acorn with Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia in third.

"She is a filly who has always shown big potential," Pletcher said. "Everyone was sort of down on her after the Gulfstream Oaks, but I thought it was a sneaky good race."

Siena Farm's homebred Isabella Singswent right for the lead out of the gate and never looked back in the $100,000Eatontown Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 25, posting a three-length victory after showing the way at Monmouth Park. Watch Video

With Paco Lopez aboard, the 4-year-old daugher of Eskendereya covered the mile and a sixteenth over the firm turf course in 1:40.57 and paid $2.80, $2.10, and $2.10 in the field of eight fillies and mares. Hard-closing Sea Coast split horses for second and paid $3.80 and $3.00. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Bureau de Change, who paid $3.40.

"I just wanted to break sharp and see where she placed herself," Lopez said. "There wasn't a whole lot of speed in the race and she was nice and relaxed in front. She was just the best horse in the race."

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Isabella Sings made it two in a row over theMonmouth Park turf after taking the May 29 Miss Liberty Stakes. That was her first win of the season after tangling with champion turf mare Tepin twice; a runner-up finish in the March 12 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) in her season debut, and a seventh in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT). 

She is now 3-for-4 at Monmouth Park and with this win boosts her record to 6-4-0 in 15 career starts, including a career-best performance in the 2015 Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT), good for earnings of $451,950.

n his first start in more than 16 months, Black Rock Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, and James Covello's Far From Over kept his undefeated record intact in a June 24 allowance race at Belmont Park. Watch Video

The son of Blame   won the Withers (gr. II) in February of 2015 and was training toward the Wood Memorial (gr. I) when he was knocked off the Triple Crown trail with a non-displaced condylar fracture in his left hind leg.

HASKIN: Fracture Knocks Far From Over Off Derby Trail

On Friday at Belmont, in the one-turn 1 1/16-mile main-track test, Far From Over settled into fourth on the outside early behind blazing fractions, moved to the rail late in the turn, and outfinished two rivals to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

The Todd Pletcher-trained 4-year-old ridgling now has a three-for-three record with one win apiece at age 2, 3, and 4.

"We're very happy that we got the win and excited that he's back," said Steven Marshall of Black Rock Thoroughbreds. "It's been about 16 months since his last race and he's come back very strong. We're just happy that he's healthy."

It's All Relevant surged to the lead early and set fractions of :22.71, :44:89, and 1:08.65 through six furlongs, but was done soon after. Far From Over easily put away the tiring front-runner at the top of the stretch, got to even terms with Three Alarm Fire, and proved best late.Mills closed from last to nose out Three Alarm Fire for second. With John Velazquez aboard, Far From Over hit the wire in 1:41.40 and paid $3.70 to win.

"Even though he's a little green, he put on a good run," Velazquez said. "He's a big horse and he won his first two races. It took him a little while to get back to the races, but he looked good. The talent is there. He just needs to put it together."

"He's been breezing well and we knew that if he was going to be as talented as he was last year, he would run like this," added Pletcher assistant Byron Hughes. "It just shows you, he still has the talent."

Donegal Racing's Donegal Moon, fourth in the LARC Sir Barton Stakes in his last start, broke through for his first graded stakes victory in the $100,000Betfair.com Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds June 19 at Monmouth Park.Watch Replay

Ridden by Joe Bravo for trainer Todd Pletcher, Donegal Moon was reserved early, split horses in the stretch, and pulled away to win by 1 1/4 lengths over last-out claim Extinct Charm, who finished a neck in front of Awesome Slew. Heavily favored Unified, undefeated in three starts with wins in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) and Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III), came under a ride from Jose Ortiz on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus but failed to hit the board.

Donegal Moon, a colt by Malibu Moon   out of the Giant's Causewaymare Perfect Cause, won for the third time in 11 starts. He broke his maiden at Keeneland last fall, and in early March easily won a first-level allowance test at Parx Racing; after that race he finished eighth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.

The May 21 Sir Barton was won by the promising American Freedom.Voluntario, the second-place finisher, came back to win a Pimlico Race Course allowance event by 5 3/4 lengths June 18.

The pace in the Pegasus was set by Parx allowance winner Saratoga Jack, who set fractions of :23.70 for the opening quarter-mile, :47.63 for a half-mile, and 1:11.78 for six furlongs with Abiding Star in close pursuit. Awesome Slew, who saved ground, and Unified made their moves on the far turn, but it was Awesome Slew who grabbed the advantage as the favorite began to fall back.

Awesome Slew had a short lead in the lane but Donegal Moon took over before one mile in 1:37.61 and fought off the late rally of Extinct Charm, the winner of a New York-bred stakes who was claimed for $80,000 at Belmont Park in May.

Donegal Moon finished up in 1:44.15 on a track rated fast. He paid $15, $7.20, and $9.60 across the board as the second choice; a minus show pool on 1-5 favorite Unified created higher show payoffs.

Donegal Moon, bred in Kentucky by Patchen Wilkes Farm, was a $220,000 purchase at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.

The victory capped off a big weekend for Bravo, who on June 18 won the $100,000 Don LeVine Memorial Stakes at Parx with Green Lantern Racing's homebred A.P. Indian, and traveled to Kentucky that evening to win the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) with Joseph Sutton's Bradester.

"It's so fun to ride for Team Pletcher," Bravo said after the Pegasus. "Todd texted me earlier and the instructions worked out perfectly. There was so much early speed in the race and the race set up great for us. In the stretch, he really came running strongly. This was a fun two days."

Ortiz and Jimmy Jerkens, who trains Unified for Centennial Farms, had no immediate excuses for the Candy Ride   colt's effort. It was his first start around two turns; the Peter Pan was 1 1/8 miles but around one turn at Belmont.

"He broke really well from the gate and he was going good for the first half mile," Ortiz said. "I asked him to go around the three-eighths pole and just didn't have it today."

"He seemed like he was in a good position and backed up around the three-eighths pole," Jerkens said.

The Pegasus is a local prep for the $1 million Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I) July 31 at Monmouth.

New York-based freshman sire Mission Impazible   got his first black-type stakes winner June 10 when Silver Mission captured the $200,000 Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park. Watch Video

The 2-year-old colt out of Nashinda, by Silver Deputy, became Mission Impazible’s first winner earlier in the year, when he won a $100,000 maiden special weight event April 21 atAqueduct Racetrack.

In the Tremont’s short field of four, Silver Mission broke cleanly and took a quick lead that he never relinquished. He rolled through early fractions of :22.99; :45.89, and :57.61 before widening the winning margin to six lengths. The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:03.78. The complete order of finish behind Silver Mission was Hey Mike, Pachi Cruze, and Saratoga Two Step.

Silver Mission races for her breeders Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Sequel Thoroughbreds. He is trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden by John Velazquez.

"It was pretty easy,” Velazquez said. “He broke well coming out of there. He got to the lead and he kept going. He handled it very well." 

"He's pretty quick for a little guy. He's also pretty talented for as little as he is,” the rider said.

Silver Mission is also the first stakes winner for his dam Nashinda, a grade III winner who has produced four winners from four starters. The Tremont winner is the first foal bred out of the mare by Twin Creeks and Sequel. She was previously owned by George Strawbridge Jr.

Mission Impazible stands at Sequel Stallions New York for $7,500.

First-crop sire Bodemeister's first winner also become his first stakes winner whenBode's Dream, a gray or roan filly out of Frolic's Dream (by Smoke Glacken), won the $200,000 Asotria Stakes at Belmont Park.

Repole Stable's Lost Raven showed a new dimension May 20 at Pimlico Race Course and it paid off for her first graded stakes victory.

On or near the front in all seven of her starts prior to Friday, the homebredUncle Mo   filly raced in eighth in the 10-filly field in the Adena Springs Miss Preakness (gr. III) field early (13 1/2 lengths back after a quarter in :22.69 and 9 1/2 back after a half in :45.94) and still had to make up five lengths in sixth at the top of the stretch. 

But she made up the ground quickly. Under jockey John Velazquez, the Todd Pletcher-trained filly blew by pacesetter Quick Release with fellow closer One True Kiss and prevailed by three-quarters of a length, finishing off the six-furlong, $100,000 race in 1:11.43. Watch Video

Last time out, Lost Raven won the six-furlong Cicada Stakes atAqueduct Racetrack March 26 by leading at every point of call.

"I was a little concerned, because she's never been that far back in her career," Pletcher said. "I knew that (:22.69) at Pimlico is flying, so I was hoping the fractions were fast enough to allow her to come from behind."

Off as the 7-2 second choice Friday, Lost Raven paid $9.80, $5.20, and $3.80 across the board. One True Kiss brought $14.20 and $8.60, and Quick Release delivered $9 to show.

She's All Ready finished an even fourth, followed by Right There,Moment Is Right, Ultra Brat, R Girls a Charmer, Simple Surprise, andBanree to complete the order of finish.

Lost Raven was bred in Kentucky, out of the Elusive Quality mare Elusive Raven, and has a 4-1-1 record from eight starts with $290,350 in earnings.

Grade I winner and dual classic-placedBodemeister   got his first winner as a sire May 11 in the second race atGulfstream Park, where Bode's Dreamwon a 4 1/2-furlong  maiden special weight event by 3 3/4 lengths. Watch Video

Bode's Dream, trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden by Edgard Zayas, was making her first start. The filly is owned by Vince and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stable and was bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock.

The gray or roan filly, out of Frolic's Dream (by Smoke Glacken), was sold for $135,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November breeding stock sale to Walter Bloodstock out of the Bedouin Bloodstock consignment. She was then offered at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale by Paramount Sales, where Jim Crupi bought her for $300,000 under the name of his Crupi's New Castle Farm. Crupi in turn put Bode's Dream in this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-year-olds in training sale where she was bought back at $340,000. 

Bodemeister (Empire Maker  —Untouched Talent, by Storm Cat) was raced by Zayat Stables. He won the 2012 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) before he came in second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) to I'll Have Another. Bodemeister stands at WinStar Farm for $30,000.

Alto Racing's Anchor Down splashed his way to a 6 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Westchester (gr. III) May 7 at Belmont Park, picking up his first graded stakes win and stamping himself a contender for the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) on June 11.

Most recently seen finishing fourth in the Carter Handicap (gr. I) in April, Anchor Down was sent straight to the lead by jockey Jose Ortiz, where he ticked off fractions of :23.28, :46.88 and 1:10.84 with Stormin Monarcho and Samraat in pursuit. Shaking clear of those rivals once straightened for home, the 5-year-old gray son ofTapit   rolled unchallenged to the finish line, covering the mile in 1:35.10 over the muddy, sealed track.

"The horse broke great and when I asked him to go at the quarter pole, he just exploded and gave me everything he had; I didn't have to use my whip," said Ortiz. "I didn't push him too much and he gave me a great run."

The victory was the first of the year for Anchor Down, who began 2016 with a pair of third-place finishes at Gulfstream Park, including the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II), in which he was disqualified and placed fourth. Overall, he is 4-1-2 from 13 career starts and now has earned $276,920.

"This race has been on our radar for a while," said Byron Hughes, assistant to winning trainer Todd Pletcher. "I wasn't surprised he won so convincingly; he's put in some big efforts before against some nice horses. He'd breezed well for this race, and he'd been training well since his last race. The Metropolitan Handicap is possible; we'll see how he comes out of this."

Sent off at odds of 9-5, Anchor Down returned $5.70 for a $2 win bet.

Multiple graded stakes winner Samraat, making his third start since June 2014, was second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of Mylute.

"He ran terrific," said Rick Violette, who trains Samraat for My Meadowview Farm. "It was nice to see him handle a little bit better quality of horse than he ran against last time. Moving forward we are going to have a lot of fun.
 
"We'll think about (the Met Mile)," added Violette. "Really, his 'A' game is running a little bit further than a mile. This was a perfect spot timing wise. I'll talk with the owner and see what his thoughts are but the Met Mile isn't out of the question."
 
Red Vine, the 4-5 favorite, was fourth, followed by Stormin Monarcho and Matterhorn.

Curalina returned to her grade I-winning form May 6 at Churchill Downs, where she drew off to an easy victory in the $300,000La Troienne Stakes presented by Spirited Funds (gr. I) to begin two days of top stakes races in Louisville, Ky. Watch Video

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina closed out 2015 with three straight losses, although she placed in each of those grade I races, including a third in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I). Friday's 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares marked the season debut for the 4-year-old daughter ofCurlin  , who won a pair of grade I races last year in New York. 

On Friday Curalina returned to her very best form. Guided by Racing Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Curalina tracked in second as Don Alberto Stable's Angela Renee set the pace of :24.24 for a quarter-mile and :48.38 for a half-mile. Angela Renee and Javier Castellano continued to lead through six furlongs 1:12.36, but Curalina took command coming off the turn.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Curalina added to her advantage through the stretch to win, completing the race in 1:42.45 on a fast track.

Well back in second was longshot Engaginglee. She just edged race favorite Sheer Drama, who saved ground racing behind the winner.

"Once I got my position, I made sure to stay there," Velazquez said. "I wanted to keep Sheer Drama in the tight spot. When we came into the lane, my horse just took off. There was no competition coming after her. She won easy."

Pletcher credited Velazquez for a top ride.

"Johnny did a good job of getting in perfect position with her," Pletcher said. "He rode a very good race."

Curalina returned $6.60, $4.40, and $2.40 across the board, while Engaginglee paid $13.20 and $3.80 and Sheer Drama paid $2.10 to show.

Bred in Kentucky by CASA I, Curalina is out of the grade II-placed Graeme Hall mare Whatdreamsrmadeof, who also produced grade III-placed Dream Spinner. Consigned by Denali Stud for her breeder to the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Curalina was landed by Eclipse and Dogwood Stable for $125,000.

The victory was worth $184,140 and increased Curalina's earnings to $1,190,940 to go along with a record of 5-2-2 in nine starts. It was the third grade I victory for Curalina, who won the Acorn and Coaching Club of America Oaks (both gr. I) in 2015. Pletcher secured his third La Troienne win, following Authenticity in 2013 and Oonagh Maccool in 2006. Velazquez previously won the La Troienne on Authenticity.

Stanford, who just missed winning the $500,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) in his previous start, got the lion's share of a much bigger pot with a victory in the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 23 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Watch Video

Owned by Stonestreet Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Stanford quickly established the early lead under Javier Castellano from post 7 entering the first of three turns in the 1 1/8-mile event for 4-year-olds and up, and held off Page McKenney, the only real challenger he had from start to finish. Page McKenney broke sharply as well from post 9 and sat just outside the leader throughout under Horacio Karamanos.

It was the first graded stakes win for Stanford, a 4-year-old colt byMalibu Moon   out of the Distorted Humor   mare Rosy Humor. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Stanford was a $550,000 buy at the 2014 Barretts March selected 2-year-olds in training sale.

As a 3-year-old Stanford finished a neck shy of winning the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and later won the Long Branch Stakes. After a disappointing effort as the favorite in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in late July, he was put on the shelf until earlier this year.

Stanford, trained by Todd Pletcher, in February finished second in the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (gr. III) and followed up with another second-place finish, a neck behind Blofeld, in the Gulfstream Park Handicap. Both of those races were at the one-turn-mile distance.

Stanford traditionally is prominent early in his races, and the Charles Town Classic was no exception.

"He had a fantastic trip," Pletcher said. "He broke very well and got the position we hoped for going to the first turn. He was on cruise control from there."

Fractions for the Classic were :24.75 for the opening quarter-mile, :48.85 for the half-mile, and 1:13.75 for six furlongs. Stanford passed the one-mile mark in a moderate 1:38.26 as the field entered the stretch and opened up a bit on Page McKenney. He held him off to win by two lengths in 1:50.55 on a track rated fast.

Stanford paid $9.40 to win as the third choice in a field of 10. Adam Staple and Jalin Stables' Page McKenney had 1 3/4 lengths onDonworth, who finished a neck ahead of Imperative.

Page McKenney, third in last year's Charles Town Classic, was a game second in an attempt to win his fourth consecutive stakes. Donworth did well to finish third after a troubled start and wide trip throughout, while Imperative, who won the Classic in 2014 and finished second last year, had to make up ground from ninth early.

"I really like the way he did it," Castellano said of Stanford. "He broke sharply and there wasn't much speed in the race. He usually just falls into position, and I'm satisfied with how he did it today."

When asked if the tighter turns and shorter stretch run aided Stanford, Castellano said: "I think it's helpful with horses that have speed. I think this race will help the horse go forward."

Pletcher said the connections have "no firm plans" for Stanford's next race, but the June 11 Metropolitan Mile (gr. I), also worth $1.25 million, is under consideration.

Sequel Stallions New York's Mission Impazible is off to a winning start as a sire.

Silver Mission, the first starter for his sire, won a $100,000 maiden special weight 2-year-old race April 21 at Aqueduct Racetrack by three-quarters of a length. The colt, who races for breeders Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Sequel Thoroughbreds, withstood an inquiry to win the race. Watch Video

Mission Impazible, who was campaigned by Twin Creeks, won three of his 21 starts, including the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II). He was also second in the Donn (gr. I), beaten a nose by Hymn Book.

A son of Unbridled's Song, Mission Impazible is out of the Hold Your Peace mare La Paz. He stands for $7,500.

New York-bred Silver Mission is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also conditioned Mission Impazible.

Five years after Mike Repole's 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo   ran a disappointing third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, Repole's homebred Outworksecured the prize that eluded his sire.

Outwork withstood a furious late charge from 81-1 Trojan Nation to take the Wood by a diminishing head April 9, giving the jubilant Repole another shot at the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Watch Video

When it was suggested to Repole that Outwork's gritty victory offered a measure of vindication for Uncle Mo's flop in the Wood amid high expectations, he replied, "It's not maybe. It is vindication."

Adventist took third for the third time in as many Derby preps at Aqueduct. Matt King Coal, who dueled Outwork for much of the mile-and-an-eighth contest on a sealed muddy track, weakened to fourth.

Outwork, making only his fourth career start, covered the distance in 1:52.92 for jockey John Velazquez. He paid $6.80 to win, $4.80 to place and $3.90 to show.

The Wood was worth 100 points to the winner, 40 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth, according to the system established byChurchill Downs to select the 20 horses allowed in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

Shagaf, winner of the Gotham (gr. III) and the 9-5 favorite in the Wood, ran a dull fourth but, according to trainer Chad Brown, will go on to the Derby. "If the horse is healthy, we'll hope for a dry track at Churchill Downs," Brown said.

Brown was extremely disappointed in Flexibility, who faded to seventh. "He is no longer under consideration for the Derby, that's for sure," he said.

As much as trainer Todd Pletcher welcomes the spot in the Derby starting gate, that was not foremost on his mind.

"Forget the Derby. Forget everything other than the fact it was a huge win for him in only his fourth lifetime start," Pletcher said. "To win a grade I in only his fourth start is extra gratifying for our team because five years ago Uncle Mo didn't win the Wood Memorial."

In fact, Uncle Mo, a brilliant winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), never quite made it to the opening leg of the Triple Crown. A downcast Repole was forced to announce that he was scratched due to a rare liver ailment.

Outwork made only one start as a 2-year-old, taking his debut by 2 1/4 lengths in a 4 1/2-furlong contest last April 23 at Keeneland. He returned at 3 to pull away from an allowance field at Tampa Bay Downs by 4 1/4 lengths Feb. 13 before losing a torrid duel with Destinby one length in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 12.

It turned out the Tampa Bay Derby perfectly positioned Outwork for the $1 million Wood.

 Todd was so confident. So was Johnny. They said he was 100 percent better from the Tampa Bay Derby to here," Repole said.

Matt King Coal took the Wood field through a snappy opening quarter of 22.91. He went the first half-mile in 46.93 and three-quarters in 1:12.31 with Outwork all but glued to his side. Outwork made the lead at the top of the stretch—and that is when the trouble began. Trojan Nation, a Patrick Gallagher trainee who shipped in from the West Coast and never ran better than third in five maiden special weight tries, rallied gamely on the rail but just missed.

"I think he lost focus a little bit when he made the lead," Pletcher said. "Johnny said he idled a bit on him. Plus he was getting a little tired."

Special horses fight through the fatigue, and that is what Outwork did. Repole, a native of nearby Middle Village, Queens, was so excited he almost knocked Pletcher off his feet when he ran to congratulate him.

For a moment, Repole coud not help but relive Uncle Mo's Wood failure.

"That was one of my toughest racing days," he said. "This was one of my best racing days."

Teresa Viola Racing Stables' grade I winner Photo Call returned to her winning ways in the $200,000 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) April 2 at Gulfstream Park.

The 5-year-old Galileo mare stalked leader Quiet Kitten early, but jockey Javier Castellano put her on the lead on their first trip through the stretch in the 1 3/8-mile turf event and couldn't be passed. Songoficeandfire made a valiant effort late, but could only get within three-quarters of a length at the wire.Achnaha came in third, another 1 1/2 lengths back. Watch Video

It was her first victory since her top-level score in the Rodeo Drive (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park in September, but her two starts in between were against tough company. She ran fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) and ran fourth behind Tepin in the Endeavour (gr. IIIT) last time out Feb. 13. The Endeavour was also her first start for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"We just didn't want to fight her," Pletcher said. "Last time we tried to cover her up—she got covered up, but never really relaxed. Plan A was that if someone wanted to go, we would tuck in, but if she wasn't turned off, to not fight her. Javier executed Plan B perfectly."

Quiet Kitten led through the first quarter in :25.31, before Photo Call  pushed ahead at every other call, running the half in :49.89, six furlongs in 1:15 flat, and a mile in 1:38.69. The winner hit the wire in 2:16.38 on good turf and paid $4, $2.80, and $2.40 across the board. 

"I had a great trip," Castellano said. "I wanted to rate. That was my goal, but unfortunately, she wouldn't rate. She's not that kind of horse. You need to let her run. If you rate her too much, she's not going to run. If you fighter her too much, she's not going to finish. The key today, let her run."

Songoficeandfire brought $6.20 and $4.20, and Achnaha paid $6.20 to show. 

Maximova made mild gains to finish fourth, followed by Suffused,Pretty and Sweet, My Sweet Girl, Quiet Kitten, and Crisolles, to complete the order of finish.

Photo Call was bred in Ireland by Mrs. Evie Stockwell, out of the Rock of Gibraltar mare Theann, and now has a 5-2-4 record from 16 starts with $526,102 in earnings. 

Making the Grade, which will run through the 2016 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), focuses on the winners of the big races, usually from the previous weekend, who could impact the next Triple Crown. We'll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win classic races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey) and pedigree.

This week we take a closer look at Destin, winner of the $350,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) on March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Destin
Gray or Roan Colt
Sire: Giant's Causeway  
Dam: Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer
Owner: Twin Creeks Racing Stables
Breeder: James C. Weigel and Taylor Made Stallions Inc. (Ky.)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Road to the Kentucky Derby Points: 51 (Ranked No. 2)

While Destin's win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) marked a breakthrough, his clear victory in the Tampa Bay Derby solidified his status as a true Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) hopeful. It was fair to question the quality of competition he faced in the Sam F. Davis, but he beat some quality 3-year-olds in the Tampa Bay Derby and looked very good going so. At the very least, Destin is an intriguing 3-year-old on the rise. More importantly, what is his ceiling? Let's explore ...

Ability: On paper, there was virtually nothing that to suggest Destin was on the verge of a career-best effort prior to the Sam F. Davis Stakes. Sure, he looked good winning his career debut by a length atBelmont Park in October, when he earned an 89 Equibase Speed Figure. But in two subsequent races he finished second as the overwhelming favorite in a one-mile allowance/optional claiming race and fourth, beaten by five lengths, in the grade III Lecomte Stakes. Destin looked like a different horse in the Sam F. Davis when winning by 2 1/4 lengths and finishing with a 110 Equibase Speed Figure. Trainer Todd Pletcher adjusted Destin's blinkers to those with little peeps that allowed him to look around and see other horses, so he wouldn't slow down and wait for his opponents. The result was a career-best performance that demonstrated improved maturity.

In the Tampa Bay Derby, Destin looked even more professional while powering past stablemate Outwork to prevail by a length in a track-record time of 1:42.82 for the 1 1/16 miles.

A $400,000 purchase by owner Twin Creeks Racing Stables at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, Destin is beginning to look like a heck of a bargain.

While he has yet to win a significant race away from Tampa Bay Downs, which can be a quirky main track, Destin looks like a legitimate Kentucky Derby hopeful heading in the right direction at an ideal time.

"He seems to be getting more and more professional and is learning how to finish his races," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who added that the Wood Memorial Stakes (April 9), Blue Grass Stakes (April 9) and Arkansas Derby (April 16)—all grade I—could be the next step for Destin. "I felt he would improve with more experience and that is proving to be true."

Running style: Only once has Destin been more than three lengths back in a race, and that came in the Lecomte Stakes when he was a well beaten fourth. He's finished first or second in each of his other four races—ranging from about a length to three lengths off the pace—and that looks like his sweet spot.

In the Tampa Bay Derby, Destin was a half-length back after an opening half-mile in a tepid :47.88. He has had no trouble staying within striking range of relatively easy fractions; I'm interested to see if he can keep pace with a brisk early tempo and still finish strongly. That usually is the key to winning the Kentucky Derby for horses with tactical speed.

Connections: Trainer Todd Pletcher has three wins in Triple Crown races on his résumé. He won the Kentucky Derby in 2010 with Super Saver   and the Belmont Stakes with Rags to Riches in 2007 andPalace Malice   in 2013. A seven-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding trainer, Pletcher served as an assistant to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas before going out on his own in 1996.

The all-time leader among North American trainers by purse earnings with $311,267,210 through March 16, Pletcher's career-best season total of $28,116,097 came in 2007. He led all North American trainers by purse earnings from 2010 through 2015.

Pletcher has nine victories in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Javier Castellano won his third consecutive Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 2015, when he exceeded his own previous single-season earnings record with $28,120,767 in purse earnings, exceeding his previous mark of $26,219,907 set in 2013. He also won 17 Grade 1 races and ranked first by number of wins in 2015 with 344. Castellano's lone victory in a Triple Crown race came with Bernardini   in the 2006 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). He has twice finished second in the Belmont Stakes (Comissioner, 2014; Stay Thirsty  , 2011) and finished third with Divining Rod in the 2015 Preakness Stakes. From nine Kentucky Derby mounts, his best finish was fourth aboard Normandy Invasion   in 2013.

Established in 2007, Twin Creeks Racing Stables is a racing partnership managed by Randy Gullatt and Steve Davison. They've successfully raced horses such as grade I winner Graydar   and multiple graded stakes winner Red Rifle, and bred in partnership grade I winner To Honor and Serve  . Multiple graded stakes winner Mission Impazible   was Twin Creeks' first Kentucky Derby starter, finishing ninth in 2010, and the operation raced in partnership Vinceremos, who finished 17th in the 2014 Derby.

Pedigree: By three-time leading sire Giant's Causeway out of grade I winner Dream of Summer, Destin certainly has the pedigree to excel in elite races going a route of ground. He's a full brother to grade I winnerCreative Cause  , who finished second in the 2012 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), third in that year's Preakness, and fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Creative Cause also finished third in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in 2011.

Giant's Causeway led the general sire list in 2009, 2010 and 2012. A spectacular racehorse who won nine times and finished second four times in 13 races, Giant's Causeway earned $3,078,989, won five group I races and was named European Horse of the Year in 2000. He is perhaps best remembered in the U.S. for his thrilling stretch duel withTiznow   in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), in which he came up a neck short.

As good as he was as a racehorse, Giant's Causeway has been equally powerful as a sire with 99 group or graded stakes winners and eight champions to his credit.

Dream of Summer was a four-time graded stakes winner who earned $1,191,150 on the racetrack. She was a multiple graded stakes-winner sprinting whose career-defining victory came in the grade I Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1/16 miles in 2005. Destin is her fourth winner from five starters to date.

Destin's grandam, Mary's Dream, by Skywalker, was unraced. However, his third dam (maternal great-grandmother), Proper Mary, won three stakes races and his fourth dam (maternal great-great-grandmother), My Mary, was a stakes winner who also produced three stakes winners, including grade II winner Somethingmerry.

From a pedigree standpoint, Destin should boast plenty of class and stamina to be a major threat in the Triple Crown races. For a horse who looks like he's just beginning to mature and learn his job, Destin's combination of ability and pedigree could prove an especially potent combo.

Twelve-time defending Gulfstream ParkChampionship Meet leading trainer Todd Pletcher reached a personal milestone March 18 when Eagle Scout won the fifth race to give the multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer his 4,000th victory. Watch Video

In his seventh try since win No. 3,999 March 13, Pletcher hit the 4,000 mark with WinStar Farm homebred Eagle Scout ($9.80), a first-time starter in the mile maiden event on the main track. Luis Saez was aboard for the victory.

Pletcher, 48, became just the 10th trainer to win at least 4,000 races, a list that features five Hall of Famers, including his mentor, D. Wayne Lukas. Pletcher spent parts of seven years with Lukas before going out on his own in 1995.

"We’ve been blessed with a lot of great horses and a lot of great opportunities. There’s a lot of people to be thankful to. It’s fun," Pletcher said. "I think the whole team enjoys these types of milestones. When you get to these larger numbers, I think it makes you appreciative of every single one. Everyone is significant and every win is significant."

According to Equibase statistics, Pletcher has won 767 races at Gulfstream, including his first victory with Majestic Number in 1996, as well as his 3,000th with Spring Hill Farm in 2012.

North America’s all-time leader with more than $311 million in purse earnings, Pletcher also owns 134 stakes victories at Gulfstream, 94 of those graded, including back-to-back editions of the Florida Derby (gr. I) with Constitution   in 2014 and Materiality in 2015. He is one of only three trainers to win Gulfstream’s signature race three times, getting his first with Scat Daddy   in 2007.

Pletcher has won an unprecedented 12 consecutive Championship Meet titles and is well on the way to a 13th, with 54 wins at the current stand, 17 more than Jorge Navarro in second. He would break a tie with Arnold Winick, who led the Gulfstream trainer standings 12 times between 1959 and 1973.

"Gulfstream has been good to us over the years. For whatever reason, the style we train fits the style of this track," Pletcher said. "Horses tend to get involved early and I think that’s an effective style. We’ve been fortunate over the years to have consistent success here."

Pletcher has been voted the Eclipse Award winner as leading trainer a record seven times (2004, 2005, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2014). He has trained 10 horses to 11 year-end championships, including Hall of Fame mare Ashado.

Pletcher won the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in 2010 with Super Saver  , the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in 2007 with filly Rags to Riches and in 2013 with Palace Malice  , and owns nine Breeders’ Cup victories.

“I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been able to develop a lot of stakes horses, and I think over 25 percent of those wins are in stakes,” Pletcher said, “and, the fact that we’ve developed some stallions that are doing well is even more important to us. When you see the Uncle Mo  s and Super Saver  s coming up, having a lasting impact on the breed, that’s what’s great.”

Entering Thursday, Pletcher ranked first nationally in 2016 with $4.21 million in purse earnings and second with 71 wins. In addition to victories, he led the Championship Meet standings with $2.87 million in purses.

The late Dale Baird leads all trainers with 9,445 career wins. Pletcher ranks 10th overall and eighth among active trainers behind Steve Asmussen (7,252), Jerry Hollendorfer (7,054), Jack Van Berg (6,468), King Leatherbury (6,465), Scott Lake (5,662), Lukas (4,748), and Bill Mott (4,616).

Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Destindelivered a second straight stakes win atTampa Bay Downs March 12, this time setting a track record in landing the track's top classic prep race: the $350,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Stakes (gr. II). Watch Video

Trainer Todd Pletcher's horses secured the top two spots as Destin edged past game stablemate Outwork in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile race, earning 50 points and 20 points respectively on the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points list.

"It was a beautiful trip; he broke sharp out of the gate and put me in good position behind the top two horses. I thought there would be a little more speed, but the way he set out was beautiful," said winning rider Javier Castellano after Destin completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:42.82 on a fast track. "I asked him turning for home and he responded so well. He finished good and the way he galloped out was phenomenal, especially after the (track-record time). The way he's been doing, he could be a (gr. I Kentucky Derby) horse. He could be destined to win it—who knows?"

The race did not go as well for grade I winner Brody's Cause, who was bumped at the start and trailed in the field of nine early, made a bit of a rally in the turn, but finished seventh in his 3-year-old season debut.

The top two finishers entered Saturday's race off wins on the same Tampa Bay Downs card. Destin, a son of Giant's Causeway  , earned a clear victory in the Feb. 13 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) and Outwork cruised to a 4 1/4-length score in an allowance/optional claiming race that day.

On Saturday Outwork led early under Racing Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez through a half-mile in :47.88 and six furlongs in 1:11.43 while tracked by grade III winner Riker and Destin. Just after the leader completed six furlongs, rider Javier Castellano asked Destin for more.

The two stablemates dueled in early stretch, with Outwork racking inside. Destin battled his way into the lead in midstretch and registered a one-length victory in 1:42.82 on a fast track. Star Hillfinished third to earn his first stakes placing, and Rafting followed in fourth.

"I was very, very pleased with (Destin's) performance," said Pletcher, who watched the outcome from Gulfstream Park. "He seems to be getting more and more professional and is learning how to finish his races. I felt he would improve with more experience and that is proving to be true. After his first two races, he was still piecing things together, but he has gotten better with experience."

Pletcher also was pleased with the first stakes start for Repole Stable's Outwork, a son of 2015 leading freshman sire Uncle Mo  .

"For Outwork to put forth that type of performance in only his third start is quite impressive," Pletcher said. "We were hoping he would move forward, and he certainly ran well enough to put himself in the next round of preps, where hopefully he will move forward again."

Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks Racing Stable said Destin also is improving.

"He has come a long ways (since winning the Sam F. Davis) and I think he is ahead of even where we thought he would be," Gullatt remarked. "He's making big jumps and we're very happy. Obviously, this race gives you the option of (another prep) because of the timing. He ran super last time, but I think he was even more into the bit today and just took Javier right where he wanted. I'm elated. I think he ran even better than I was hoping he would."

Destin returned $9.20, $4.80, and $3.60 across the board while Outwork returned $5.20 to place and $4.20 to show. Star Hill returned $6.80 to show.

Bred in Kentucky by James C. Weigel & Taylor Made Stallions out of grade I winner Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer, Destin is a full brother to classic-placed Grade I winner Creative Cause  . Twin Creeks landed the colt for $400,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, where he was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Earlier this year, Bill Mathis purchased controlling interest in the 3-year-old fillySophia's Song after trainer Todd Pletcher told him of the filly's potential after she won an allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park.

The potential Pletcher spoke of was in clear view Saturday at Laurel Park when Sophia's Song was never headed and ran away from five other fillies to win the $75,000 Caesar's Wish by four lengths over Wide Country Stakes winner Great Soul. Watch Video

Jockey Victor Carrasco could have won by as many as he wanted, continually looking behind him for a threat that never materialized. A daughter of Bellamy Road  , Sophia's Song covered the mile in 1:38.40.

Co-owned by Head of Plains Partners LLC, Sophia's Song, who finished second in her debut at