Pletcher brigade breezes ahead of Belmont Stakes Day engagements

Pletcher brigade breezes ahead of Belmont Stakes Day

engagements

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a string of stakes-bound

horses to work on Sunday morning at Belmont Park, most notably Palace Malice, Princess of

Sylmar, and Belmont Stakes probables Commissioner and Matterhorn.

Commissioner and Matterhorn went in company on the

fast Belmont training track. The former was clocked

in :49 4/5 for four furlongs, while the latter turned in the same time

for the half-mile.

"I thought they worked very well; it was a good,

well-executed breeze," Pletcher stated. "Both horses seemed very comfortable and

relaxed and galloped out well. I thought (Matterhorn) breezed well enough to continue to

consider it; we'll see how he comes out of it and make a final decision, but I

did like the breeze."

Commissioner was a top Kentucky Derby prospect earlier this year but saw his

plans derailed after a sixth in the Fountain of Youth. The bay son of A.P. Indy

has yet to score a stakes win, though he has placed in the Peter Pan and Sunland

Derby. Matterhorn's only stakes attempt came in the Peter Pan, where the Tapit

colt was fourth to Commissioner's second in the 1 1/8-mile sloppy contest.

Last year's Belmont Stakes hero, Palace Malice, who is targeting the Grade 1, $1.25 million

Met Mile, nearly had his work disrupted when a horse got loose just as he was

beginning his run on the Belmont training track.

"It's one of the benefits of having radio on your riders,"

Pletcher noted, "because if that work gets underway there's no way to undo it.

Fortunately, we were able to stop it before it really got started. Had we not

had the radios, at least the gallop out would have been compromised."

After the horse was successfully corralled by an outrider

and escorted off the track, Palace Malice was able to work successfully, turning

a bullet half-mile in :47 1/5 in company with Celebrator.

"Typical impressive breeze from him; he's doing

unbelievable," Pletcher remarked.

Palace Malice brings an unbeaten seasonal record into the Met Mile following

victories in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, New Orleans Handicap and Westchester.

The latter event came as a 9 3/4-length triumph over track and distance on May

11.

The 2013 Kentucky Oaks victress, Princess of Sylmar,

went

five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 in preparation for her showdown with dual champion

Beholder and multiple Grade 1 star Close Hatches in the Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps

on Saturday.

"It was a very good breeze," Pletcher said. "She was very

relaxed and happy and moving well, so we're excited about the race."

Princess of Sylmar, Beholder and Close Hatches all traded decisions during

their sophomore campaigns. Close Hatches got the best of Princess of Sylmar in

the Gazelle at Aqueduct in April before running seventh in the Oaks. Beholder

just missed by a half-length in the Oaks but would go on to beat both fillies in

the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

"I have a lot

of respect for how good Beholder and Close Hatches are, so I'm excited about the

race and how our filly is doing, but it's going to be a very difficult task,"

Pletcher added.

The Pletcher brigade also saw some action on the grass, as

Unlimited Budget and Boisterous took to the firm inner turf in advance of the Grade 1,

$750,000 Just a Game and Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan,

respectively.

"(Unlimited Budget) handled it well," Pletcher said. "She

went :47 and 4/5 and seemed to be excited about being (on the turf). She went

with a Grade 1 winner and handled her own."

Grade 1 scorer Boisterous was caught in :47 4/5 for the half-mile, tying

Unlimited Budget's bullet time for the distance. The Street Sense filly hasn't

won since taking last year's Fair Grounds Oaks and is exiting a well-beaten

fifth in the La Troienne on Kentucky Oaks Day. Boisterous captured an allowance

at Keeneland in April in advance of a nice third in the Woodford Reserve Turf

Classic on Kentucky Derby Day.

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