Edward P. Evans’ 2009 Florida Derby (G1) winner Quality
Road worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 Sunday morning for trainer Todd Pletcher
as he continues preparation for his next start in the $500,000 Donn Handicap
(G1) to be run on Sat., Feb. 6 at Gulfstream Park.
The 4-year-old Virginia homebred colt made an impressive
season debut here on opening day, Jan. 3, when he drew clear to win the
$100,000 Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3) by 2 ¾ lengths going one mile under regular
rider John R. Velazquez. That was his first start since finishing second in The
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Oct. 3 at Belmont
Park.
His performance in the Hal’s Hope dispelled any concerns of
any lingering side effects from the incident that led the son of Elusive
Quality to be scratched at the gate before the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at
Santa Anita on Nov. 7. Quality Road won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida
Derby early last year when trained by Jimmy Jerkens before recurring foot
problems forced him off the Triple Crown trail.
Quality Road was prominent among a team of Pletcher-trained
stakes runners on the Sunday morning tab including three 3-year-olds that are
considered potential Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders – Zayat Stable’s
Eskendereya (51 1/5), WinStar Stable’s Rule (1:01 2/5) and E. Paul Robsham
Stable’s Discreetly Mine (51 2/5).
Eskendereya was impressive winning an allowance going a
mile here on Jan. 7 in his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita. Pletcher has indicated that the $250,000
Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) here on Sat., Feb. 20 is among the
options being considered for his next start.
Rule is a Kentucky
homebred colt by Roman Ruler who won the $750,000 Delta Jackpot (G3) at Delta
Downs in Louisiana
last out on Dec. 4. Discreetly Mine is a Kentucky
homebred by Mineshaft who finished fourth as the favorite in the Spectacular
Bid Stakes on Jan. 9 in his first start since a runner-up performance in the
Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont
Park
on Oct. 10.
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