Pletcher trainees exit Saturday runs in good order

Trainer Todd Pletcher had a slew of runners going in major events on

Saturday, and many conducted themselves in a manner befitting their Eclipse

Award-winning conditioner.

Grade 1 winner CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch) made his sophomore bow in the Risen

Star S. (G3) on February 10, but lost all chance when swerving to miss

a fallen jockey. On Saturday, the chestnut enjoyed a clean trip and posted an

easy 2 1/4-length win in the Louisiana Derby (G2), and he came out of that event in good order.

"I felt he ran a big race in the Risen Star, but unfortunately he couldn't

win with all the trouble he ran into," Pletcher said. "Yesterday, he showed what

he's all about."

"This is the kind of horse

it takes to win the Kentucky Derby (G1)," said assistant trainer Anthony Tamburino, who is taking care of Pletcher's Fair Grounds runners. "I've

said all along that this horse had what it takes to win the Derby, and the way

he ran yesterday justifies my faith in him. His running style is perfect for the

Kentucky Derby."

Circular Quay is tentatively scheduled to make his next

start in the April 7 Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct.

"The main thing is that it is four weeks out (from the May 5 Kentucky Derby)," Pletcher added. "I like that extra week."

Another of Pletcher's Louisiana Derby Day runners,

OCTAVE (Unbridled's Song), exited her second-place effort in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in good order

as well. The gray lass captured last year's Adirondack Breeders' Cup S. (G2) and

could go for her second stakes win in the April 7 Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland.

"I think we're going to (Keeneland's) Ashland then the Kentucky Oaks (G1)

with her," the trainer said.

"She had been away a long time and ran very well, and she should be able

to move forward off of that effort," Tamburino noted.

At Aqueduct, COWTOWN CAT (Distorted Humor) kept the ball rolling with a 2

1/2-length victory in the Gotham S. (G3). The three-year-old chestnut was in

tight quarters while splitting horses in the stretch, but still added a first

stakes win to his record after running third in the Swale S. (G2) in February.

"I liked his race," Pletcher said. "He relaxed beautifully, had no trouble

shooting through a tough spot and finished well. He looked like a horse that

wanted to stretch out."

Cowtown Cat could hook up with Circular Quay in the Wood next out.

"I spoke with (WinStar Farm's) Elliott Walden this morning and I'll also get

the Gulf Coast people together to figure out what we're going to do next," he

said. "The Wood is certainly a possibility."

It wasn't just three-year-olds making noise for Pletcher on Saturday. MASTER COMMAND

(A.P. Indy) posted his second straight graded win with a 3 1/2-length victory in

the New Orleans H. (G2). In his five-year-old bow just one month prior, the

chestnut captured the Mineshaft H. (G3) by six lengths.

"Master

Command ran a tremendous race yesterday," Tamburino said. "He's been doing

exceptionally well this year."

Tamburino said that most of Pletcher's trainees will ship back to Palm Beach

Downs, but he was awaiting word from the conditioner on whether Circular Quay

would be going back to California or head to Florida.