Battalion Runner re-routed; Wood and Ark Derby now in play
Dave Grening
Battalion Runner will not compete in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8, and his options now include the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct the same day, and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 15, trainer Todd Pletcher said on Tuesday.
Battalion Runner will be entered on Wednesday in the Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, but he is not an intended runner. Pletcher will run Always Dreaming, whose ownership overlaps with Battalion Runner. The only way Battalion Runner would run would be if something unforseen happened to Always Dreaming between now and Saturday.
Pletcher is based at Palm Beach Downs in south Florida for the winter. He said the decision to bypass the Santa Anita Derby came because of an expected large field, plus a cross-country ship.
Pletcher also has One Liner under consideration for both the Wood Memorial and Arkansas Derby. Malagacy is definitely going to the Arkansas Derby, he said.
Both Battalion Runner and One Liner are scheduled to work this weekend, after which final decisions on their next starts will be made.
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine
Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
|