Pletcher: Audible 'Most Likely' To Train Up To Florida Derby
Audible wins the Holy Bull
Holy Bull (G1) winner Audible’s next start could well come in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park March 31.
“I think you have to leave all the options open and see how he trains,” trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday afternoon. “Talking to (WinStar Farm’s President, CEO and Racing Manager) Elliott (Walden) a little bit after the race back at the barn, we felt like the most likely thing we’d do is just train up to the Florida Derby, but we’ve got plenty of time to sort that out.”
Pletcher reported that he was pleased how the New York-bred colt had exited his 5 ½-length romp.
“He came out of the race very well. He seemed to be in good order this morning,” Pletcher said.
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While making his stakes debut and first start around two turns for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing, Audible stalked the early pace before taking over the lead on the far turn and drawing off to a convincing victory, covering 1 1/16 miles in a solid 1:41.92.
“It was very impressive. The (speed) figures obviously came back to support that,” Pletcher said. “I was just very, very pleased with his effort.”
Audible’s thoroughly dominant win that stamped the son of Into Mischief as a prime prospect for the Florida Derby and the Triple Crown was somewhat of a surprise to his trainer.
“We felt like we belonged in the race and we felt like he’s been training well,” Pletcher said. “We thought he had a shot to win, but I didn’t think he’d blow everybody away like that. I was happy to see it.”
Pletcher has saddled three of the last four Florida Derby winners, scoring with Constitution (2014) and (Materiality (2015), as well as Always Dreaming (2017), who went on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Gulfstream’s Road to the Triple Crown continues with the $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth (G2) March 3.
