Circular Quay Possible
Trainer Todd Pletcher, already planning to enter King of the Roxy in the Preakness, surprised on Monday with the announcement that he’s strongly considering Circular Quay for the race as well. Circular Quay, who worked four furlongs in :44.4 with A.P. Arrow on Monday morning, finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby. “Basically since the Derby he’s trained very well, and I just wanted to keep my options opens,” said Pletcher (DRF). Running Circular Quay back in two weeks would be a very un-Pletcher like move: According to Formulator, he’s started horses off such short rest just 177 times out of 4,814 races in the last five years (3.7%). Of those, he’s won 30 (17%) and finished in the money 87 times (47%). In graded stakes, Pletcher has 21 such starts out of 885 in the past five years (2.4%), winning two (10%), both in 2004, and finishing in the money seven times (33%).
Tuesday morning update: DRF reports that Circular Quay will start in the Preakness.
