Don Alberto Stable, WinStar Farm, and Twin Creek Racing Stables' First Constitution will look to score his second stakes victory this year in the April 2 $150,000 Excelsior Stakes for older horses traveling nine furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, First Constitution started his career in his native Chile where he won the Gran Criterium Mauricio Serrano Palma (G1) by eight lengths in October 2020. He finished ninth in his American debut, an allowance optional claiming race at Saratoga Race Course in September, his only off-the-board finish from nine lifetime starts.
The son of Constitution earned his first American win last time out in the nine-furlong Jazil Stakes Jan. 22 at Aqueduct, setting the pace under Jose Lezcano and drawing away to a 6 3/4-length victory.
First Constitution was sent to Palm Beach Downs in Del Ray, Fla., after his Jazil victory and returned to the Empire State last week. He breezed a half-mile in company with stablemate Untreated in :48.65 over Belmont Park's training track Saturday.
"He's doing well," said Byron Hughes, Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant. "We breezed him here and he went well. He looks great and we're hoping he puts in a big effort."
Hughes said that the chestnut would likely vie for the lead again after his front-running tactics proved successful in the Jazil.
"He'll be forwardly placed again and we aren't going to take away anything that comes easy to him," said Hughes. "Hopefully, he breaks well and puts himself in a good spot and we'll go from there. He seems to like the track based on that last performance."
Kendrick Carmouche picks up the mount from post 3.
Pletcher will also be represented by three-time winner Untreated, who enters from a sixth-place finish in the Feb. 19 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Owned by Team Valor International, the Nyquist colt scored a pair of one-turn mile allowance victories at Aqueduct last November and December following a seven month lay-off.
"He's doing good, too. He breezed pretty much on even terms with First Constitution," Hughes said. "He looks great and is a talented horse. We definitely think he's a two-turn horse, so we're hoping that's what he likes. He likes the track and we're hoping for a big effort from him, too."
Trevor McCarthy will ride from post 2.
Meanwhile, Queens County Stakes winner Forewarned returns from a nose defeat in the Feb. 19 John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park where he earned a field-best 115 Equibase Speed Figure for his runner-up effort to Galerio.
"He came out of the race fantastic," said owner and trainer Uriah St. Lewis.
St. Lewis said he is hopeful the bay will relish a return to nine furlongs after he cut back to 1 1/16 miles last time out.
"I think it will help him tremendously," St. Lewis said. "I think he can make a nice run at the end."
The Ohio-bred finished fourth in the Jazil behind First Constitution and has shown an affinity for more ground, posting three consecutive victories in the Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes at Mahoning Valley Race Course going 10 furlongs.
Dexter Haddock gets the call again from the outermost post 5.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, April 2, 2022, Race 8Entries: Excelsior S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Splicethemainbrace (PA) Abner Adorno 118 Robert E. Reid, Jr. 8/1 2 2Untreated (KY) Trevor McCarthy 118 Todd A. Pletcher 7/5 3 3First Constitution (CHI) Kendrick Carmouche 122 Todd A. Pletcher 1/1 4 4Son of an Ex (NY) Samuel Camacho, Jr. 118 Randi Persaud 10/1 5 5Forewarned (OH) Dexter Haddock 120 Uriah St. Lewis 5/1
