It was a typically busy Sunday in the Todd Pletcher barn,
with the usual list of notables working at Belmont Park
on Independence Day.
On the main track, last month’s Grade 1 Metropolitan
Handicap winner Quality Road
worked an easy half-mile in 48.84.
“It was just an easy maintenance breeze for him,” said
Jonathan Thomas, Pletcher’s assistant. “He went well.”
Quality Road is expected to make his next start in the Grade
1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course.
Among other Pletcher trainees working four furlongs on
Sunday were sprinter Go Go Shoot, who went in 46.92, fastest of 46 at
the distance, and recent allowance winner Aikenite (48.68).
At five furlongs, 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver
covered the distance in 1:00.10, the fastest time of 22 others, including
stablemate Ibboyee (53.10), who had his first work since a third-place
finish in the Mike Lee for New York-breds at Belmont Park
on June 20.
On the inner turf, last month’s Grade 1 Just a Game
runner-up and two-time graded winner Phola breezed a bullet half-mile in
50.71, in company with stakes winning filly West Ocean.