Monday, March 26, 2001
Spiral winner weighs options
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Todd Pletcher, who trains Saturday's Turfway Spiral Stakes upset winner Balto Star for owner-breeders Stuart and Anita Subotnick, said Sunday morning he had not decided on the 3-year-old gelding's next start.
Chief among his several options is Keeneland's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I). Pletcher also mentioned Aqueduct's Wood Memorial (Grade II) and Oaklawn Park's Arkansas Derby (Grade II). All three are April 14. There's also Keeneland's Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Grade II) on April 21.
Left alone on uncontested lead after second-choice Keats stumbled at the start Saturday, Balto Star, under jockey Mark Guidry, sped through swift factions of :22 2/5, :45 2/5 and 1:10 3/5 for the first six furlongs and turned back the challenge of third-place finisher Mongoose at the top of the stretch. Balto Star drew away through the lane to beat longshot Halo's Stride by 12 3/4 lengths in 1:47 1/5, third-fastest time for nine furlongs in the race's history.
Halo's Stride might be tried on the grass at Keeneland or the April 7 Lone State Derby.
Sunday story: Balto Star upsets Spiral field
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Spiral winner weighs options