Belmont Stakes 2024: Pletcher discusses trio of contenders

Mindframe’s first two starts suggest he can be something special. Antiquarian comes off an encouraging win in the Grade 3 Peter Pan. Protective is much better than his maiden status through four starts suggests.

They represent Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher’s hand as he bids for a fifth Belmont Stakes triumph under very different circumstances from his previous successes.

The Belmont will be run at Saratoga Race Course to allow for the ongoing construction of a new Belmont Park. And it will be contested at a mile and a quarter rather than the traditional mile and a half.

Pletcher noted that the shorter distance was a major factor in deciding to ask Mindframe to leap into the Belmont after he broke his maiden by 13 3/4 lengths March 30 at Gulfstream Park and set a comfortable pace when he was ridden out by 7 1/2 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile optional allowance claiming race at Churchill Downs as part of the May 4 Kentucky Derby undercard.

“It may be a little early to ask Mindframe to go a mile and a half after two starts,” he acknowledged.

Even with the cutback in ground, much is being asked of the son of Constitution out of the Street Sense mare Walk of Stars. “He’s a very talented horse and he’s been impressive in his two races,” Pletcher said. “But he’s giving up a lot of experience and seasoning to some of the best 3-year-olds in the country. We just hope he has enough talent to overcome it.”

Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables, Mindframe is expected to command plenty of respect from handicappers. He is listed as the second choice in the morning line at 7-2. Sierra Leone, who missed to fellow Belmont starter Mystik Dan by a nose in the Kentucky Derby, is favored at 9-5 to rebound from that agonizing defeat.

Mindframe, a May 15 foal, is set to break from farthest outside in a field of 10. “I think the outside draw is favorable for him,” Pletcher said. “It gives him an opportunity to see how the race is shaping up and not have to, hopefully, get too much kickback, which he does not have a lot of experience with.”

Centennial Farms’ Antiquarian had done little wrong until he broke through the starting gate before the March 23 Louisiana Derby. Don Little, president of Centennial Farms, is convinced that contributed to an eventual sixth-place finish with Johnny Velazquez aboard.

“It definitely threw him off even though Johnny did a great job of catching him,” Little said.

The Preservationist colt was a perfect gentleman at the gate before the Peter Pan and sat a nice stalking trip before coming on to turn back fellow Belmont starter The Wine Steward by three-quarters of a length.

Centennial Farm also campaigned the sire. Little is convinced a mile and a half would have benefitted Antiquarian based on everything they’ve seen in training, especially his powerful post-breeze gallop outs.

“His father could run all day, too,” Little said.

Protective is searching for his first Grade 1 victory in his fifth lifetime start. He came on to be third in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Peter Pan in his most recent efforts.

“I think a mile and a quarter will suit him. He’s probably not going to have much say in the early part of the race, so hopefully he can continue closing. We’d be delighted if he got a piece of it,” said Pletcher,  who has gotten all of it four times.