Monday marked the first appearance of a pair of Todd Pletcher-trained sale-topping juvenile colts on the worktab at Palm Beach Downs. While the Malibu Moon–Lizzy's Bluff colt, a $1.2-million Fasig-Tipton Florida purchase (:10 flatbreeze); and the Giant's Causeway–Dixie Dreamer colt who topped Barretts March at $1.15 million (:9 4/5 breeze) are still developing, Pletcher says his initial impressions of each are favorable.
“We like them both. They're obviously two well-bred, good-looking horses,” said the six-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer. “There's been some typical baby stuff that's held them up a little bit, but both are very impressive-moving horses based on the little bit of work they've done so far.”
Pletcher noted that the colts, both purchased by Coolmore representative Demi O'Byrne, have been in his barn for about 45 days at Palm Beach Downs and have trained over the surface in recent weeks. On Monday, the tandem breezed three furlongs in :37.60.
“[Monday] was their first published work but they've been gate-schooling and such,” Pletcher noted. “They're a little further along than the worktab would suggest.”
Pletcher kicked off opening weekend of Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet in style, winning the first race Saturday and saddling the winning exacta in Sunday's seventh race, a seven-furlong maiden contest for 2-year-olds. Starlight Racing's first-time starter Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid), a $350,000 FTSAUG yearling, prevailed by a nose over Old Mountain Lane (War Front), who went for $520,000 at EASMAY earlier this year.
“We'll probably run Itsaknockout back in a two-turn allowance race in a month or so,” offered Pletcher. “We feel like he's a colt who should appreciate some added distance and he trained very well prior to his maiden race.”
Old Mountain Lane, making his second career start for E.H. Beau Lane and Bortolazzo Stable LLC, unleashed a late rally to nearly catch his stablemate on the wire. Pletcher says he sees longer races in the colt's future.
“Old Mountain Lane will stretch out as well in a maiden race and build from there.”
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