Team Pletcher ready to take on the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga with Onetwentyeight and Shanghai Bobby
This year the Saratoga meet has attracted more attention than before - that may not seem entirely possible - but the interest has increased massively as it was reported that “at Saratoga, maiden sprints will be worth $80,000, compared with $50,000
in 2011, and routes will be worth $85,000, compared with $51,000.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher has brought some of his best gems to Saratoga to train and race, and he looks optimistic about the chances of his runners.
The juvenile, Onetwentyeight, is in seriously good shape as he aced the only start he competed in Bel maiden at Belmont Park on 28th June, 2012.
Teamed up with jockey, Javier Castellano, the son of Discreet Cat, out of mare Box Of Joy, brought the best to the track, when he defeated the John Salzman trained, Volastic, by a wide margin of five lengths.
Over the distance of 5 ½ furlongs, the 2-year-old covered the distance in an impressive time of 1 minute and 04.33 seconds.
The next race on the agenda for this young runner is the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes at the Saratoga meet, which is due to take place on 22nd July, 2012.
The Repole Stable owned runner might have to stretch a little to take on the slightly larger distance of six furlongs.
The only other confirmed entry at this point is his stable-mate, Shanghai Bobby, who is under the ownership of Starlight Bobby.
The Kentucky bred son of Harlan's Holiday, out of mare Steelin', delivered exceptionally well in his most recent race, when he zoomed past the rest of the competition in the Track Barron Stakes, which took place at Belmont Park on 27th
June, 2012.
Riding in the capable hands of jockey Rosie Napravnik, the juvenile finished ahead of Handsome Jack, who is owned and trained by Wesley A. Ward. Whereas the John J. Robb trained, Nice Going, finished in third place at about 5 ½ furlongs.
This year the meet at Saratoga will be worth watching, because the most talented runners will be taking the track with the hope of emerging victorious.
16 Grade 1 races will take place at the racecourse known as “The Spa” and some trainers have already gotten busy.
Their runners have been already brought here for early training with the hope of winning some big races.
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