Pletcher duo Wit and Power Agenda lead talented G1 Hopeful field
At 0h21, on September 6, 2021 • By SARATOGA
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a pair of strong contenders in Wit and Power Agenda in Monday’s 117th renewal of the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful, a seven-furlong sprint for juveniles at Saratoga Race Course.
Monday’s 12-race card, which closes out the 40-day Spa summer meet, will also feature the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch, a 1 1/16-mile turf handicap for 3-year-olds and up.
Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway Stable’s Wit, by 2016 Hopeful-winner Practical Joke and out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Numero d’Oro, is perfect through two starts. Wit posted a six-length maiden win sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs at Belmont in June ahead of an eight-length score in the six-furlong Grade 3 Sanford on July 17 here that garnered a co-field high 90 Beyer Speed Figure.
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Power Agenda, by Nyquist and out of the Afleet Alex mare Dream Dance, prevailed by a nose in a gutsy gate-to-wire debut win sprinting six furlongs on August 14 at the Spa.
Pletcher, who has won the Hopeful with Circular Quay [2006], Shanghai Bobby [2012] and Competitive Edge [2014], said both entrants should appreciate the additional furlong.
“Wit has the advantage of having a couple of starts. He deserves the chance to step up. I think the way Wit finished up going six furlongs you would think seven would be no problem,” Pletcher said. “Power Agenda was game in his only start and he should be able to handle the distance.”
Wit, a $575,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, will exit post 6 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., while Power Agenda, a $120,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale acquisition, will exit post 10 under Manny Franco.
