Todd Pletcher stole the show on the Belmont's “Super Saturday” undercard, sending out 'TDN Rising Star' Copper Town to an ultra-impressive first-level allowance score and adding a new 'Rising Star' designation when highly regarded first-time starter Montauk (Medaglia d'Oro) crushed a field of maidens by 11 1/4 lengths. The latter, a 2-year-old, is considered possible for a bid in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 4.
“We were hoping for a good effort from him and we certainly got that,” Pletcher said. “We think he's talented enough so we'll have a conversation about the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but we're based in New York and to only have had one start and travel to Del Mar where the likely favorite [Bolt d'Oro {Medaglia d'Oro}] has had two races over that track and three starts already, it would be a tall order–but we'll give it some time.”
Copper Town, meanwhile, won by 6 1/4 lengths in just his third career start. Owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing and Head of Plains Partners, the 3-year-old will likely try graded stakes company at Aqueduct in his next start.
“He's a promising horse as he's shown in his last two races,” said Pletcher. “He looked very good and I like the way he handled the step up in class and stretch out in distance. We'll play it by ear from here but he'll likely be pointed for the [GIII] Discovery H. or the [GI] Cigar Mile H.”
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