Trainer Todd Pletcher is poised with two strong contenders, High Official and Stock Rising, for Saturday’s $250,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. This 1 1/16-mile turf race for 2-year-olds offers an automatic spot in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in October at Keeneland to the winner.
Pletcher, aiming for his seventh win in the Pilgrim to extend his record, has consistently had top prospects in this event over the years, including notable winners like The Leopard (2007), Eskendereya (2009), and Agate Road (2023). He emphasized the importance of having precocious talent ready to compete in stakes races by summer or early fall and hopes these two runners can advance to the Breeders’ Cup.
High Official, owned by Lawana and Robert Low, impressed in his debut win at Saratoga on firm turf, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.66 with a strong closing move. Although he was scratched from the Grade 3 With Anticipation to try dirt in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, where he finished last, he has returned to turf training well. High Official is by Not This Time out of the American Pharoah mare Sweet Melania and has pedigree ties to Eclipse Award winner Up to the Mark. He has recently put in solid workout efforts at Saratoga ahead of the Pilgrim.
Stock Rising, owned by Resolute Racing and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., comes off a promising third-place finish in a maiden route at Saratoga. Despite the slow early pace in that race, Stock Rising finished strongly and gained valuable experience. Purchased for $1.5 million at Keeneland, he is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Golden Pal and sired by Flightline out of graded stakes winner Lady Shipman. He has also worked well recently in preparation.
Another competitor, Pass On By, trained by Shug McGaughey, captured a close turf win at Saratoga after switching from dirt. The Not This Time colt has shown progress with each start and has put in encouraging works on both dirt and turf at Belmont. Pass On By comes from solid bloodlines as well, being a half-brother to graded stakes winner Scarlett Sky.
Dover Street, trained by Richard Hannon Jr., arrives from England with two runner-up finishes including a close second in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown Park. Although winless in three starts overseas, the chestnut son of Persian Force has shown promise under jockey Pat Dobbs.
Chief of Peace, a $300,000 Keeneland purchase trained by Miguel Clement, will also run after a head victory in a Saratoga maiden race, clocking a 69 Beyer. This colt by Munnings is out of stakes-placed Bernardini mare Love Beach, adding quality credentials to the mix.
Other entrants include maiden winners Kipros, Let Em Know, Blaring Ambition, Berta’s Stitch, House of War, And The Runner Is, and Roscoe Goose, making for a competitive field in this pivotal juvenile turf race.
Fan Take: This preview highlights the upcoming generation of turf stars, spotlighting promising young horses poised to shape the future of racing’s turf division. Fans should watch closely—performances in the Pilgrim Stakes often forecast the next big names on the Breeders’ Cup stage and beyond.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
