Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is in the process of making plans for a trio of stable stars which includes the Florida-based River Thames (Maclean's Music), Gate to Wire (Munnings) and Locked (Gun Runner).
WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s undefeated 3-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames bounced out of his Feb. 1 optional claiming allowance victory in good order and will have plenty of options moving forward said Pletcher.
The New York-bred bay romped by 6 1/2 lengths as the favorite going one mile in 1:36.34 on the undercard of the GIII Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream's latest stop in their series which culminates with the GI Florida Derby Mar. 29.
Next up is the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes Mar. 1. It would be the first time around two turns for River Thames, who debuted with a 4 3/4-length triumph sprinting six furlongs Jan. 11 at Gulfstream before wheeling back three weeks later. That unveiling is what earned the colt a 'Rising Star' badge.
“I was a little concerned about coming back quick off a strong debut,” Pletcher said. “There weren't too many options. There was a mile and an eighth [race] Feb. 27, but we didn't want to wait that long and we didn't want to go from six to mile and an eighth. Other options were to go in the Holy Bull at a mile and a sixteenth or the Sam Davis. When the allowance race going a mile went, it seemed like a good natural progression.
“He came back great. I'll talk to [WinStar's] Elliott [Walden] a little bit and see how the horse trains the next couple weeks and come up with a game plan,” he added. “We ran back in three weeks. It gives you four weeks to the Fountain of Youth from that race, eight weeks to the Florida Derby. There's obviously other prep races, as well. We're going to kind of just sit back and see, let him kind of guide us on when we think he wants to run back.”
Gate to Wire wins the Swale | Coglianese
The situation is similar for Donegal Racing's Gate to Wire, rallying five-length winner of the seven-furlong Swale Stakes for 3-year-olds on the Holy Bull undercard. It was his first race on dirt after trying both turf and synthetic in four prior starts including a second in last fall's GIII Futurity Stakes at Aqueduct.
“Same thing, we're weighing all our options,” Pletcher said. “I talked to [Donegal's] Jerry Crawford [Wednesday] and over the next couple weeks we'll decide whether to consider the Fountain of Youth or keep him around one turn one more time. The Gotham is the same day up in New York, and the Tampa Bay Derby is a week later.”
Meanwhile, Pletcher said no decision has been made on whether Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's Grade I-winning millionaire and 'TDN Rising Star' Locked, most recently second in Gulfstream's GI Pegasus World Cup, would run back in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
“We're just kind of monitoring everything, getting a line on the field, see how he's doing, probably give him a breeze Friday or Saturday. We're still looking at it,” Pletcher said. “It's back in four weeks. We're going to wait as long as we can. We've done everything that we need to do to go if we decide to go.”
Pletcher said the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 1 could be a possibility if Locked stays home or a break could be in the offing.
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