Todd Pletcher, Dunkirk's trainer, shares his thoughts on race strategy for Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes, his superstitions, and Dunkirk's demeanor.
I don't think there is a particularly good or bad post (with a 10-horse field going 1 1⁄2-miles – Dunkirk drew post 2). It's a non-issue, basically.
I think Charitable Man is the most likely pacesetter, possibly also Miner's Escape. Depending on how aggressively they go up front, I would like to see Dunkirk get in a situation where he can get in his rhythm. I probably anticipate he will be a little closer to the pace because it is going to be a slower pace.
I won't really give (John Velazquez) instructions. We'll talk some strategy in terms of what the possible pace scenarios are. Obviously, he knows who the horses are that he needs to keep on eye on. There won't be a whole lot of strategy talk, though.
Dunkirk isn't one of the horses that gallops alone to the starting gate (a method Pletcher sometimes utilizes to give a horse a brisk warming-up away from the lead pony on the way to the starting gate). He goes with a pony every day when he trains. He occasionally will see something that will spook him. I don't want him to take a journey around Belmont Park before the race.
He's really a pretty laid-back horse most of the time. Like I said, we take him with the pony to and from the track, so he has a companion. He's not what I would describe as a mean horse, but if you walk up to his stall, he might reach out and give you a nibble.
I'm looking for the same thing as everyone else is: A neutral and fair surface. Not speed-favoring or closer-favoring; just a good honest and safe track.
I'm optimistic. I'm not one to make bold projections, but I do think Dunkirk will run well.
I have four horses running before the Belmont is run. Munnings (Woody Stephens, eighth race) and Cowboy Cal (Manhattan, 10th race) are doing very really well. They are, of course, both extremel y tough races. I have this filly from South Africa in the Just a Game (seventh race), Captain's Lover, and she has been training very well. Allrightsreserved, a maiden, is also running (third race). They are all very live . . . but are running in competitive races.
I do have a few superstitions, but wearing a lucky suit is not one of them. Generally, I don't like 50-dollar bills and black cats.