Pletcher loaded for bear for opening weekend at Aqueduct

Although he will be in California for the Breeders' Cup, trainer Todd

Pletcher will have a strong presence in all three graded stakes during opening

weekend at Aqueduct.

A trio of three-year-olds will represent the Pletcher barn for Saturday's

Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery Handicap, headed by Eclipse Thoroughbred

Partners' Battier, most recently third behind winner Will Take Charge and Moreno

in the Pennsylvania Derby on September 21. The Tale of the Cat colt rallied four

wide from seventh to come within a half-length of Will Take Charge in the

stretch but flattened out and was beaten 2 1/2 lengths. His effort earned him a

career-high BROS Speed rating of 102.

"He gave us a thrill for a moment there," Pletcher said of Battier, who

previously had finished fourth in the Smarty Jones at Parx and third in the

off-the-turf Hall of Fame at Saratoga Race Course. "I thought that race was

excellent. He's a horse who is maturing. He's always trained impressively so we

think he has a big race in him."

Also pointing to the 1 1/8-mile Discovery for Pletcher are a pair of Repole

Stable runners: Midnight Taboo, beaten a head by Vegas No Show in the Coastal

overnight stakes on October 9 at Belmont, and Micromanage, most recently fourth

in the Indiana Derby on October 5.

Sunday's Grade 2, $250,000 Nashua for juveniles at a mile will see the Pletcher-trained Intense

Holiday, fifth in the Champagne behind winning stablemate Havana, and Master

Lightning, winner of a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on October 5 for owner Alan Cook.

The Grade 3, $250,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies is the target for Starlight

Racing's Potosi's Silver, a 6 1/4-length maiden winner on September 22, and Repole

Stable's Stopchargingmaria, second in the Spinaway and third in the Frizette.

"Intense Holiday just missed fourth in the Champagne, and this will be a little

class relief for him," Pletcher said of the Starlight Stable colorbearer.

"Potosi's Silver seemed to handle her last assignment well so we'll see how she

handles the stretch out in distance. Stopchargingmaria has run well every time,

and this should suit her."

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will be represented by Paul Braverman

and Namecook Stables' Cairo Prince in the Nashua, while Darley's Divided Attention is possible for the

Tempted for juvenile fillies.

Cairo Prince has made one start, showing early speed and going on to break his

maiden by 2 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight on October 6 at

Belmont.

"He's ready to go," McLaughlin said. "Nice horse. This is a big step up from a

maiden win, but it seems like we do that all of the time with the young ones. He

should get the distance. He's doing well and worked well this morning (four

furlongs on the training track in :48 4/5)."

McLaughlin said the complexion of the Tempted field will determine whether

Divided Attention competes on Sunday.

"We might run, but we're really pointing for the Demoiselle (at 1 1/8 miles November 30 Aqueduct)," McLaughlin

said. "She's here and we'll

look at it, but if (more horses) enter, then we might wait until the

Demoiselle."

Arriving at Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's barn Sunday morning from Kentucky for

Saturday's Discovery Handicap is Mr Palmer, last seen in New York

finishing fourth behind winner Verrazano in the Wood Memorial at

Aqueduct.

Subsequently given time off, the Pulpit colt returned to action on October 5 at

Indiana Downs, where he finished seventh over a sloppy, sealed track in the

Indiana Derby.

"He ran well in the Wood, but he needed time after that; it took a lot out of

him," said Mott's assistant, Leana Willaford. "The Indiana Derby wasn't ideal;

he caught a very mucky racetrack. The horse had been training well for

(assistant Kenny) McCarthy, who's been very happy with him."

Winless at two, Mr Palmer broke his maiden on the inner track at the Big A on

February 17 and next took the Private Terms at Laurel Park. Overall, he is 2-1-1

from nine starts.

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