Monday, February 06 2012

Pletcher Holds Strong Hand in Two Thursday Allowance Features

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - Thursday’s 10-race program at Gulfstream Park offers a pair of 6 ½-furlong allowance features, one for 3-year-olds and one for older horses, and leading trainer Todd Pletcher appears have the favorites in both races with E. Paul Robsham Stable’s 4-year-old Travelin Man in the third and Bortolazzo Stable’s 3-year-old Stat in the eighth.

Jockey John Velazquez, who will ride both horses, teamed up with Travelin Man for all six of his career starts, beginning with three over the Gulfstream track early last year. The Kentucky homebred by Trippi won his debut, finished second in the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) to Flashpoint and then won the Swale Stakes (G2) on Florida Derby Day, Apr. 3