Trainer Todd Pletcher has nine 2-year-old fillies nominated
to Sunday’s Grade 1 Spinaway, but is likely to start “only” four – Valiant
Passion, Sky Hosoya, Stopspendingmaria and R Heat
Lightning.
“I would be surprised if Sky Hosoya were not the
pacesetter,” said Pletcher of the Bluegrass Cat filly, a 9 ¾ length maiden
winner at the Spa on July 29. “With Stopspendingmaria, in her last race [Grade
3 Schuylerville] she had to gun from the rail over a sloppy track, we’ll look
to let her settle into a rhythm.”
Pletcher, who has saddled three
Spinaway winners in Adieu (2005), Ashado (2003) and Circle of Life (1999) said
that Javier Castellano would be aboard Sky Hosoya, John Velazquez on
Stopspendingmaria, Julien Leparoux on Valiant Passion, and Garrett Gomez on R
Heat Lightning.
The trainer said that Summer Laugh, who had been
under consideration for the seven-furlong race, would instead await an
overnight stakes at Belmont
Park.