Pletcher tests positive for COVID-19

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who was inducted to the National Racing Hall of Fame on Aug. 6, has tested positive for COVID-19.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Trainer Todd Pletcher, who was inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 6, has tested positive for COVID-19, he confirmed by text on Sunday.

Pletcher, who is vaccinated against COVID-19, said he will remain in isolation until Thursday before going back to work at Saratoga Race Course.

He told the Thoroughbred Daily News that he went for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test last week after feeling allergy-like symptoms and after a co-worker had tested positive.

Pletcher’s test result came back positive.

As a condition of his isolation, Pletcher was not at the track on Saturday when he won back-to-back in the sixth and seventh races.

Through Sunday, Pletcher stands third in the trainer standings with 14 winners to 21 for Michael Maker and 17 for Chad Brown.

A 14-time winner of the training championship at Saratoga, Pletcher was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Fasig-Tipton Humphrey S. Finney sales pavilion on Aug. 6. He told the TDN he did not attend the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings sale at the pavilion last Monday and Tuesday, although he was on the grounds during the day to inspect auction prospects.

ALABAMA FIELD

Saturday’s Grade I Alabama will likely feature a Coaching Club American Oaks rematch between Maracuja and Malathaat.
They’re among seven 3-year-old fillies listed as probable for the race.

The Pletcher-trained Malathaat came into the CCA Oaks undefeated from five starts, but Maracuja won by a head after Malathaat fended off several challenges throughout the race.

The Alabama field is also likely to draw Black-Eyed Susan winner Army Wife, Clairiere, Delaware Oaks winner Crazy Beautiful, Played Hard and Will’s Secret, who was third to Malathaat in both the Grade I Ashland and Grade I Kentucky Oaks.

Clairiere was a distant third in the CCA Oaks.

The 3-year-old fillies will also get an opportunity to run in a graded stakes on the turf during the Alabama card, in the Grade II Lake Placid.

The field likely will include Bubbles On Ice, Illiogami, Lovestruck, Por Que No, Runaway Rumour, Spanish Loveaffair, Technical Analysis and Tobys Heart.

Technical Analysis is the likely favorite off her win in the Grade III Lake George for trainer Chad Brown.

ALVARADO SUSPENDED

Alvarado has been suspended for three racing days for careless riding aboard Annex during the Grade III National Racing Museum Hall of Fame stakes last Friday.

Annex drifted in under a right-handed stick by Alvarado and clipped heels with Original, ridden by Luis Saez, causing Original to stumble awkwardly. There was a steward’s inquiry into the incident, but no action was taken and Annex remained in second place.

Saez pulled up Original before the wire, and the horse walked off the track.

Alvarado waived the right to appeal and will serve the suspension next week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.