Good news! Constitution, who was sidelined with a shin injury after winning the Donn Handicap (gr. I) in February, returned to the work tab this morning at Saratoga.
The lightly-raced son of Tapit breezed three furlongs in an easy :39.45 over the training track, his first workout since March 7th. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Constitution has been troubled by injuries throughout his career–he missed the 2014 Triple Crown races after suffering a hairline fracture in a cannon bone–but when sound, he is clearly one of the best older horses in training. From six starts, he has won two grade I races, and defeated an excellent field in the Donn that included Lea, Commissioner, Protonico, and Prayer for Relief.
With today’s three-furlong workout under his belt, Constitution should be ready to return to the races by the end of August or early September, with the October 31st Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) looming as his eventual goal.
Also turning in morning workouts at Saratoga were 2014 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) winner Competitive Edge, who breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.34, and Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Carpe Diem, who worked a half-mile in :48.77.
