Montauk Gets Back to Work
By Steve Sherack
MONTAUK GETS BACK TO WORK
‘TDN Rising Star’ Montauk (Medaglia d’Oro), unraced since posting one of the more visually impressive debut victories of 2017, took his first steps toward a 3-year-old campaign in South Florida this past weekend.
The $300,000 KEESEP yearling turned $850,000 OBSAPR juvenile (:10 1/5), campaigned in partnership by Robert LaPenta, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Bridlewood Farm, covered three furlongs in :37.20 (1/2) at trainer Todd Pletcher’s Palm Beach Downs base Jan. 28.
“He was smooth as silk and well within himself throughout the breeze and he seems to have emerged in good order,” Eclipse President and Founder Aron Wellman said. “We’re very pleased with his condition, and while Todd and our ownership group have no intention of pressing on him, we anticipate Montauk coming to hand rather expediently as things just come so natural to him.”
Montauk ran to his lofty reputation and justified even-money favoritism in a field of 11 with a jaw-dropping, stalk-and-pounce 11 1/4-length tally, or, “from here to the end of Long Island” as track announcer Larry Collmus put it, going seven furlongs on debut at Belmont Park Oct. 7. He earned a very solid 89 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. The time off since has been by design, per Wellman.