Federal Case (Gemologist), a disappointing seventh after bobbling at the start in the GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. Feb. 2, turns back in distance to six furlongs for Saturday's GIII Hutcheson S. at Gulfstream Park.
Purchased by Robert and Lawana Low for $650,000 out of last year's KEENOV Sale with a Keeneland debut victory already under his belt, he posted a hard-fought optional claiming win with an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in his first attempt for trainer Todd Pletcher going a mile at Gulfstream Dec. 23.
Working bullets at Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base since the Holy Bull, the bay, favored at 9-5 on the morning line for the Hutcheson, adds blinkers.
“I thought after watching him train a little bit, we decided to back him up to six [furlongs] and regroup,” Pletcher said. “I'm not saying we won't try longer down the road, but right now we'll back up to this and see how he goes.”
The Iowa-bred Topper T (Bellamy Road), well-beaten in eighth in both the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GII Kentucky Club S. at Churchill, endured a rough trip while third in the GIII Swale S. here Feb. 2.
Lutsky (Yes It's True), a smart debut winner for trainer Jason Servis versus New York-breds last summer, returned from the bench for new connections with a solid third after setting a hot pace behind the talented Mucho (Blame) Mar. 1.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
