Turbo Compressor led
from start to finish Friday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course as he took the
$75,000 Curlin in a performance that may have earned him a berth in the Grade 1
Travers.
The 3-year-old Halo’s Image colt, making his third start for
trainer Todd Pletcher, was allowed to cruise through moderate fractions of 24.70,
49.67, and 1:14.60, then shook clear of his five rivals in the stretch en route
to a 2 ¾-length victory over favored Raison d’Etat.
“I think they key was he beat the gate in the first jump,”
said winning jockey Javier Castellano. “After that, he was in the lead
and he sat a beautiful trip and relaxed. When I asked him, he responded so
well.”
Turbo Compressor’s winning time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.12
over the fast track.
“The horse broke great and some other horses we anticipated would
show some speed, didn’t” said Pletcher, who trains Turbo Compressor
for P and G Stables and Off the Hook Racing. “Javier rode a smart race
and laid down some kind fractions and the horse delivered a big run.”
Asked about the possibility of a start in the “Mid-Summer
Derby” on August 27, Pletcher said: “I think everything is a possibility,
we’ll wait and see.”
Sent off at 6-1, Turbo Compressor returned $16.20 for a $2 win bet and
extended his record to 3-1-1 from six starts.
Raison d’Etat, who was coming off a 7 ¾-length maiden victory at Belmont Park on June 11, also is under
consideration for the 1 ¼-mile Travers.
“This was a big step up with seasoned sort of horses, and it was
not a bad race at all,” said Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who earlier on the
card celebrated his 58th birthday by winning Race 2 with Reach a
Decision ($26.20), which marked the 13th time since 1992 the trainer has won a
race at the Spa on the date.
“I think we need to discuss [the Travers] with all the
connections, but I wouldn’t rule it out,” he added.
Completing the order of finish were Prime Cut, Point of Entry, Golden
Gulch, and Bold Warrior. Will’s Wildcat was scratched.