[Kasept]

Battalion Runner to Wood, One Liner to Arkansas Derby
Dave Grening

With Always Dreaming, winner of Saturday's Florida Derby, and Patch, runner-up in Saturday's Louisiana Derby having secured enough points to start in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher, Battalion Runner will get his chance to do likewise in Saturday's Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Pletcher confirmed that Battalion Runner, a winner of a maiden and an allowance at Gulfstream this winter, will make his stakes debut in the Wood. Johnny Velazquez will ride. On Sunday, Battalion Runner worked four furlongs in 49.23 seconds by himself over the main track at Palm Beach Downs. He got his last quarter in 24.23 seconds.

Also, Pletcher confirmed that One Liner, undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Southwest stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 20, will return to Oaklawn for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 15. Velazquez will ride him in that race.

Pletcher also will run Malagacy, undefeated winner of the Grade 2 Rebel, in the Arkansas Derby.

Tapwrit was to ship Sunday to Keeneland for Saturday's Blue Grass.

Patch was to return to Palm Beach Downs on Sunday and Pletcher will evaluate the horse and talk to owner Brad Kelley before a final decision is made on running in the Kentucky Derby.

Always Dreaming was scheduled to van back to Palm Beach Downs from Gulfstream later Sunday morning. He will be based at Palm Beach until after the Arkansas Derby is run. After that, it is likely Pletcher will consolidate all his 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs to prepare for the Derby.

More later on drf.com