Pletcher Getting In Kentucky Derby State Of Mind With Noble Indy

By Ryan Martin —-

3-24-2018 – Noble Indy with John Velazquez aboard gets a head in front of Lone Sailor to win the 105th Grade II Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

• Gr. II New Orleans ‘Cap Winner Good Samaritan Has Options
• Synchrony Could Be Churchill Bound

PLETCHER GETTING IN KENTUCKY DERBY STATE OF MIND WITH NOBLE INDY

Saturday’s Grade II Louisiana Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com winner Noble Indy is scheduled to be reunited with trainer Todd Pletcher’s contingent at Palm Beach Downs Training Center in South Florida this upcoming Monday. From there, Pletcher will begin making plans regarding preparation for the Gr. I $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 5.

“We haven’t made any form plans yet,” Pletcher said. “Currently, the only plan is that he’ll come back to Palm Beach Downs on Monday. We’ll regroup there if everything holds true between now and Churchill, we could ship in twelve to thirteen days before the Derby and have a breeze over the track.”

Owned by Repole Stable and WinStar Farm LLC, Noble Indy sits atop the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 110 points following Saturday’s victory where he earned 100 points. He acquired ten when finishing third in the Gr. II Risen Star Stakes last month.

Meanwhile G M B Racing’s Lone Sailor, who earned 40 points with a runner-up finish in the Louisiana Derby, emerged from his performance in good order and will ship to Churchill Downs on Monday, April 2 along with Gr. II Fair Grounds Oaks winner Chocolate Martini.

“Both horses look good and physically they’re fine,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “They will ship with the rest of the stable after the meet is over on the day after Easter.”

Chocolate Martini was claimed by Amoss for Double Doors Racing LLC three starts back for $25,000 and has won both of her starts when under the care of her current trainer.

GR. II NEW ORLEANS ‘CAP WINNER GOOD SAMARITAN HAS OPTIONS

WinStar Farm CEO Elliott Walden believes that better days lie ahead for Gr. II New Orleans Handicap winner Good Samaritan and is hopeful for a stellar campaign with the 4-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday.

“Were hoping to win a Grade I with him,” Walden said. “He’s a high quality horse that is able to do a bunch of different thing. I think that as long as we keep him in the right spots then she shows up every time.”

While Walden did not specify where Good Samaritan would see action next, he did mention the $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 9 and the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 16 (both Grade I events) as options.

“They could be on his radar,” Walden said. “He’s a horse that is really has been so consistent for us on the dirt and the turf and he’s a high class horse so we’re blessed to have a number of options with him.”

A victory in the New Orleans Handicap pushed Good Samaritan’s career earnings over the seven figure mark with a bankroll of $1,191,116. The New Orleans Handicap was his third graded stakes victory As a 2-year-old he won the Gr. II Summer Stakes over the turf at Woodbine and the following year took the Gr. II Jim Dandy Stakes in his first start on the main track.

SYNCHRONY COULD BE CHURCHILL BOUND

Trainer Mike Stidham is considering the Gr. I $500,000 Old Forester Turf Classic on Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby undercard with Synchrony, who maintained a perfect record over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course when taking the Gr. II Muniz Memorial Stakes. The regally bred son of Tapit is a spotless 3-for-3 over the local going.

“This was a pretty big step up in class,” Stidham said. “It was a deep, contentious field. We’re going to be looking at a lot of different spots. Certainly we’ll look at Churchill. Throughout the spring and summer there are so many opportunities for this kind of horse.”

Since switching to the turf, Synchrony has never finished worse than second in five starts on grass. In addition to the Muniz Memorial Stakes, he also won the Gr. III Fair Grounds Handicap in February in his first start in nearly nine months.

Photo Courtesy of Hodges Photography

Cover Photo :Todd Pletcher; NYRA Photo