Saratoga Race Course Notes

NYRA PRESS RELEASE —-

• Gaffalione enjoying first taste of Spa life with ‘very special’ War of Will
• War of Will dazzles in final breeze for G2 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets
• No hassle for the ‘Hof’: Hofburg makes a winning return at Saratoga
• G3 winner Global Campaign to breeze Saturday with G2 Jim Dandy in mind
• Trainer Ortiz enjoying return to Saratoga with G3 winner Honey Bunny
• Wendell Fong targets G2 Amsterdam
• Turf Trinity: He’s No Lemon will target Jockey Club Derby
• Stall gives Tom’s d’Etat class relief in Alydar
• Finger Lakes’ New York Derby and Oaks to be redrawn for Wednesday
• Sunday’s card features three Pick 4 options in addition to a Pick 5 and Pick 6
• The Rookie Report: Motion, Stall to debut well-bred turf juveniles; Reeves discusses Super Saver colt

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A week into his first full-time foray at Saratoga, widely regarded as the most competitive race meet in the country for horses and jockeys alike, Tyler Gaffalione is feeling right at home.

The Eclipse Award-winning apprentice for 2015 was born and raised in Davie, Florida and rose to prominence at nearby Gulfstream Park. His star has continued its ascent, reaching new heights with his first American Classic victory aboard Gary Barber’s War of Will in the Grade 1 Preakness May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.

Gaffalione, 24, will climb back on Mark Casse-trained War of Will for the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets July 27 – their eighth straight race together dating back to a five-length maiden triumph last November at Churchill Downs.

“He’s always been special. Even before the Preakness, I fell in love with him the first time I got on him,” Gaffalione said. “I go and see him on the dark days and, even this morning when I got done, I stopped by to see him. He’s just a very special horse to me and I can’t thank Gary and Mark enough just to give me the opportunity to work with him. I’m very blessed.”

Entering Friday’s card, Gaffalione had two wins from 21 starters this summer at Saratoga, which opened its 40-day stand July 11. He was first with Conquest Hardcandy July 12 and maiden Call Me Harry July 14 for trainers James Ryerson and Kelsey Danner, respectively.

Though off to a slow start by his standards, Gaffalione said it was similar to when he first ventured to Kentucky full-time and wound up leading the rider standings at both Churchill Downs and Keeneland last fall.

“Just breaking into a new circuit, kind of like when we made the move to Kentucky it was a little slow at first but we’re just going to keep continuing to work hard and hopefully catch a couple breaks in the afternoon and try and win as many races as possible but have a good attitude about it,” Gaffalione said. “It’s exciting. It’s the place to be and very competitive, so I’m just enjoying everything about it.

“It’s going great,” he added. “I’ve really enjoyed being here. The people have been very friendly, very welcoming. Beautiful weather, great racing … I’m just looking forward to the rest of the meet.”

In Saratoga, Gaffalione is up against a riding colony similar to the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park, where he ranks as one of the leading riders every winter. Represented by agent Matt Muzikar, a Saratoga native, Gaffalione plans to return to South Florida again after stops at Kentucky Downs, Churchill and Keeneland.

“I’d just like to make a good impression on everyone here,” Gaffalione said. “By the end of the meet, I’d just like to look back and have it be a positive memory. Hopefully we can build on it and keep moving forward.”

On Thursday evening, Gaffalione was a guest of the At The Post Live-Serling on Saratoga radio show hosted by Andy Serling. The episode, which also includes Maggie Wolfendale and Kiaran McLaughlin, is available for download on Across the Board with Andy Serling podcast.

* * *
War of Will dazzles in final breeze for G2 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets

Grade 1 Preakness winner War of Will put in his breeze for the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets on Friday morning on the Saratoga main track.

Tyler Gaffalione, aboard War of Will for the easy half-mile in 49.33 seconds, said the move was his best yet.

“He went great. It was honestly one of his best works to date, really,” Gaffalione said. “He seemed to love the track, handled it real well, and was full of energy. Every week he’s just getting stronger and stronger. We’re really looking forward to his next race. It’s going to be a competitive field, but the way he’s been training and how he looks, his whole demeanor, we’ve got a ton of confidence.”

Casse was equally pleased with War of Will’s work.

“He went well, you couldn’t ask him to do anything better. I told Tyler I didn’t want him to go fast,” Casse said. “The first quarter he was a little slow, so we radioed Tyler to pick it up a bit., He gets over the Saratoga surface really well. Tyler said it reminded him of the work before the [Kentucky] Derby. He said last week was good and this week was even better.

“If you want to see poetry in motion for a horse, and what you would like to see out of a racehorse – he’s what it is. He’s the entire package,” Casse added.

Before graduating with a five-length win in his main track debut at Churchill Downs fifth out, War of Will raced four times on turf, including a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Summer at Woodbine last September. Following his maiden win, he scored victories in the Grade 3 LeComte and Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds on the Derby trail. After a disappointing eighth in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, he finished a troubled eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby but was elevated to seventh following the disqualification of Maximum Security.

Casse said that War of Will has displayed noticeable physical development throughout the year.

“I think he’s a bigger, stronger horse. He’s definitely carrying more weight now than he was for the Derby, Preakness or Belmont so he’s probably at his highest weight level,” Casse said. “I thought he put on a few pounds going into the Louisiana Derby and we tightened him up for the [Kentucky] Derby. His color is real good right now. He has a nice shine to his coat and he’s a happy horse.”

The Jim Dandy will be War of Will’s first start since the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, where he finished ninth, 7 ¼ lengths to winner and stablemate Sir Winston.

Also on the Friday morning work tab at Saratoga was Ashbrook Farms and BBN Racing’s Concrete Rose, who logged her first work since winning the first leg of Turf Triple series for fillies, the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 6. The four-time graded stakes winning Twirling Candy dark bay went a half-mile in 53.20 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course for trainer Rusty Arnold and remains on target for the $750,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, second leg of the Turf Tiara on August 2

Centennial Farms’ Preservationist went three furlongs in 36.86 seconds for trainer Jimmy Jerkens for his first breeze since winning the Grade 2 Suburban. St Elias Stable and Repole Stable’s Vino Rosso went five furlongs in 1:01.14 over the Oklahoma training track. Trainer Todd Pletcher is targeting the Grade 1 Whitney for the chestnut Curlin colt, who won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita last out.

* * *
No hassle for the ‘Hof’: Hofburg makes a winning return at Saratoga

Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Hofburg, a multiple Grade 1-placed son of Tapit, earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in his winning return to the races on Thursday at Saratoga.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the talented chestnut enjoyed a productive 2018 campaign winning the Curlin at Saratoga after finishing second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and third in the Grade 1 Belmont.

A half-brother to multiple Grade 1-winner Emollient, also campaigned by Mott for Juddmonte Farms, Hofburg employed a ground-saving trip under Jose Ortiz in Thursday’s nine-furlong optional-claiming event, stalking from third before angling three-wide to take command at the stretch call. Roaming Union battled gamely down the lane but could not make up any ground on Hofburg, who edged clear for a 2 3/4-length score.

“I thought he ran really well,” said Mott. “Tactically, he was good. He was up in the race and when Jose asked him, he drew away from his company. He didn’t hang at the end and it seemed like he had good energy the last eighth of a mile. It was a very good race.”

Mott said a start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward, also at nine furlongs on August 31 at Saratoga, is a possible next start.

“We’re probably a little late to run in the Whitney, so maybe we’ll look at the Woodward. We’ll shop around a little bit,” said Mott. “Hopefully, the fact that he showed up today is a sign of better things to come.”

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s multiple Grade 1-winner Channel Maker will look to defend his title in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green on July 27.

Last year, Channel Maker dead heated with Glorious Empire for the win over soft going in the 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green during a solid run of form that saw the Canadian-bred English Channel chestnut follow up with a second in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer ahead of a decisive 4 1/2-length score in the Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont.

Mott said Channel Maker is in good order ahead of next Saturday’s return bout.

“Channel Maker is headed to the Bowling Green. I like the way he’s been training,” said Mott.
* * *
G3 winner Global Campaign to breeze Saturday with G2 Jim Dandy in mind

Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm’s Global Campaign is scheduled to breeze over the Oklahoma training track Saturday morning, a week ahead of an anticipated start in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets.

Global Campaign, a sophomore son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, is slated to work at 5:30 a.m. with regular rider Luis Saez aboard. Though stabled adjacent to the main track with trainer Stanley Hough, each of Global Campaign’s two previous works July 5 and 13 have come at Oklahoma.

“He’s doing good. We’ve had a foot issue with him that seems to be doing better. He’s going to work in the morning and hopefully that will bring him to next Saturday,” Hough said. “He’s going to go out early. He’s been galloping over here, but I’ve been breezing him over there. I think it’s little bit kinder for his foot.”

Global Campaign has battled nagging issues both before and since his victory in the Grade 2 Peter Pan May 11 at Belmont Park, his most recent race. Each of his first three starts came over the winter at Gulfstream Park, winning his debut and an optional claiming allowance before finishing fifth behind Code of Honor in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

“He grabbed a quarter very bad and then got over that. Then, when I ran him in New York, he lost his frog and that was another issue,” Hough said. “Then he had a quarter crack that we had to patch, so it’s just been one thing or another. But, hopefully it’s on the right track.

“He’s a very talented horse,” he added. “It’s going to be a very tough race, but the only disappointing race he’s had was the Fountain of Youth and that’s when he [hurt] himself. I don’t know how much it affected the actual race, but I believe it did.”

The Jim Dandy would be just the fifth career race for Global Campaign, whose Peter Pan triumph came at the same 1 1/8-mile distance. It also came 10 weeks after the Fountain of Youth; just seven days shorter than the gap since the Peter Pan.

“He’s pretty easy to train. He keeps himself pretty fit,” Hough said. “If the foot’s not an issue, I don’t think the time off will be an issue.”

Hough said that he may reroute Sagamore’s Recruiting Ready, nominated to the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on the Jim Dandy undercard, to the West Coast for the Grade 1 Bing Crosby the same day at Del Mar.

Winner of the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint in March, 5-year-old Recruiting Ready was most recently third by a half-length in the Grade 2 True North June 7 at Belmont Park. Both the Vanderbilt and Bing Crosby are run at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.

“The race here looks like it’s coming up pretty salty, so I might take him out there unless something happens here,” Hough said. “He’s great, and doing well here, too. I bought the horse for Sagamore. He’s always been a nice horse. He’s 5 years old now and he’s been through some surgeries and things but he’s doing very good.”

* * *
Trainer Ortiz enjoying return to Saratoga with G3 winner Honey Bunny

Hooties Racing, WSS Racing and Brent Gasaway’s Honey Bunny galloped over Saratoga’s main track for the first time Friday morning under trainer John Alexander Ortiz, who is enjoying somewhat of a homecoming with his stable star.

Honey Bunny, who had a five-race win streak snapped when fourth by 1 ¼ lengths in the Roxelana on June 22 at Churchill Downs, will make her next start in Wednesday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss for fillies and mares 3 and up going six furlongs.

Ortiz was up for Friday’s gallop, Honey Bunny’s second day on the track since arriving from the trainer’s base at Churchill Downs’ training center Wednesday morning. A 5-year-old Tapizar mare, Honey Bunny jogged on Thursday.

“It went great,” Ortiz, 33, said. “She loves the weather. It was nice and cool this morning. I walked her through the paddock this morning, and she was very calm and collected. When she got out on the track, she stood for a little bit and then galloped a mile and just took to the track easy.”

The Honorable Miss will be the 33rd career start for Honey Bunny and her 16th since being claimed by Ortiz for $16,000 out of a win April 8, 2018 at Oaklawn Park. She has won eight times for her new connections, taking the Prairie Rose second off the claim last spring and stringing together five consecutive wins this year between March 5 and May 25, capped by the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs.

“This filly, she’s proven herself that she can be up here and can compete with the best fillies in the country,” Ortiz said. “She was just a length short of winning her last start in the Roxelana, so we’re going to give her a shot here. It’s a Grade 2, and nowhere better to do it than here.”

Ortiz has 23 horses stabled in Kentucky, and has taken up residence at trainer and friend Ray Handal’s Barn 57 while in Saratoga, also exercising some of Handal’s horses in addition to his duties with Honey Bunny.

“I just brought up the one horse and we’ll see. If it works out, we may bring up some more,” Ortiz said. “If she runs well, we’ll leave her up here and keep training her out of Saratoga and aim her for the [Grade 1 Ketel One] Ballerina [August 24]. She likes seven furlongs. That’s the main goal. We came up here to use this as a prep for that race. We’ll find out after Wednesday whether we stay here or go back home and [regroup].”

Before going out on his own, Ortiz worked for several trainers in New York, mostly at Belmont Park, among them Hall of Famer Bill Mott and Kentucky Derby winner Barclay Tagg. Ortiz also spent time in Saratoga working for trainer Phil Serpe.

“New York is home for me. I grew up down at Belmont so all those people come up here and recognize me and I recognize them, so it’s fun,” Ortiz said. “I feel really good that I’m up here on my own and they see that I’m coming up. A lot of people here are my mentors … so it’s pretty cool seeing those guys in the morning.

“If I ever came back to New York I always said I wanted to come back here with the right horse or, for myself, make sure I’m here doing the right thing,” he added. “She hasn’t proven us wrong yet, so you have to give it a shot. She’s peaking right now.”

Wendell Fong targets G2 Amsterdam

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart plans on keeping Gold Square’s stakes winner Wendell Fong against graded stakes company and will point the Flat Out dark bay to the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam on July 28.

Wendell Fong was fifth last out in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on June 8 at Belmont Park to Hog Creek Hustle. Prior to that effort, he won three of his four efforts including a maiden and allowance win at Laurel Park as well as his stakes debut in the Gold Fever at Belmont Park in May.

Englehart said seven-time New York-bred stakes winner Pat On the Back who has not raced since besting multiple graded stakes winner Giant Expectations. The 5-year-old chestnut son of Congrats is not slated for action in the near future, but has resumed training at Saratoga.

“Wendell Fong will point towards the Amsterdam,” Englehart said “Pat on the Back had his first gallop over the track [Thursday] and did everything well. Looks like we’ll be okay, and the foot seems like it’s healed up enough. Pat’s Pat. He’ll let me know when he’s ready and we’ll look to work him maybe next week sometime and go from there.”

Owned by Harold Lerner in partnership with AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables, Pat On the Back has won both of his starts in 2019. Prior to a hard-fought win in the Commentator, he notched a triumph in the Affirmed Success by 1 ¼ lengths. He has won stakes every year he has been in training.

* * *
He’s No Lemon will target Jockey Club Derby

Following a victory against winners in a 1 3/8-mile allowance over the inner turf at Saratoga, trainer Graham Motion has the inaugural running of the $1 million Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park on September 7 in mind for Alex Campbell Jr.’s He’s No Lemon.

The 1 ½-mile Jockey Club Derby is the final leg of the Turf Trinity, part of the newly designed “Turf Triple” series, which also features the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby and $1 million Saratoga Derby.

Both of the gelded bay sophomore son of Lemon Drop Kid’s wins took place at the 11 furlong distance. He’s No Lemon broke his maiden at fourth asking over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs in February by one length after finishing behind eventual stakes winners Moon Colony and Onthewaytonevrland.

“I actually questioned a little bit how far he wanted to go but the way he won [Thursday afternoon] he put that to rest. We’ll point to the last leg of the Turf Triple,” Motion said.

A homebred, He’s No Lemon is out of the Dynaformer broodmare It’s Tea Time, who was a stakes winner on grass and Grade 1 placed on dirt. She is a half-sister to two-time graded stakes winner and Grade 1 placed Ultra Brat.

* * *
Stall gives Tom’s d’Etat class relief in Alydar

Following three straight starts against graded stakes company, Tom’s d’Etat will receive a drop in class for trainer Al Stall, Jr. in the $100,000 Alydar on Friday, August 2 at Saratoga.

Owned by Gayle Benson’s G M B Racing, Tom’s d’Etat was third last out in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster to Seeking the Soul after finishing second in the Grade 2 Alysheba to McKinzie. His first start of the year was a distant ninth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup in January.

Lightly raced for a 6-year-old, the Smart Strike bay horse won both of his starts at the Spa. He broke his maiden at third asking by four lengths in August 2016 and won a second level allowance event by nine lengths the following July. Both races were run at the Alydar’s 1 1/8-mile distance.

Tom’s d’Etat worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Stall’s Churchill Downs base on Friday morning.

“He worked five-eighths this morning and everything seems to be going well,” Stall said. “Everything is on schedule. I’m comfortable with running him and not using the track as an excuse. He’s coming out of two Grade 2s in a row, running second to McKinzie and then the Stephen Foster. [The class drop] should be good for him.”

Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock, Tom’s d’Etat is out of the graded stakes placed Giant’s Causeway broodmare Julia Tuttle whose dam Candy Cane is a full-sister to multiple champion producing stallion Candy Ride. Tom’s d’Etat was purchased for $330,000 from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2014.

* * *
Finger Lakes’ New York Derby and Oaks to be redrawn for Wednesday

Finger Lakes rescheduled the $150,000 New York Derby and the $75,000 New York Oaks for Wednesday, July 24 after cancelling Saturday’s scheduled card due to expected excessive heat. Both races will be re-drawn on Sunday.

A number of NYRA-based locals are set to compete at Finger Lakes; however, a pair of Linda Rice trainees Blindwillie McTell and Newly Minted, are expected to stay home for stakes events.

Jerold Zaro’s Blindwillie McTell, who started his career with three wins and two runner-up finishes with all five starts at NYRA tracks, was expected to start in the New York Derby, the second leg of the Big Apple Triple for state-bred 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles.

Rice said the Posse bay is likely to start instead in the $150,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes Cab Calloway, a one-mile turf event set for July 24 at the Spa.

“We’re leaning towards the Calloway,” said Rice. “We’re not certain if he’s going to take to the turf, but we’re weighing the options and really haven’t made a firm decision. The Calloway, because it’s here at home, is a strong consideration.”
Rice also indicated that Newly Minted, originally slated to run in the New York Oaks, will stay in Saratoga and point instead to the $200,000 Fleet Indian, a nine-furlong route set for August 23.

Not That Brady will return to stakes company in Wednesday’s New York Derby for trainer Rudy Rodriguez after finishing second to well-regarded Looking At Bikinis last out in an optional-claiming event on June 27 at Belmont.

The talented Big Brown chestnut captured the Damon Runyon on New Year’s Eve at the Big A ahead of a strong second to Tax in the Grade 3 Withers. After finishing off the board in the Grade 3 Gotham, Not That Brady returned to form when fifth in a loaded renewal of the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets.

Rodriguez said Not That Brady will make the trek to Finger Lakes.

“He’s training well. We’re going to stick to the plan and run him on Wednesday,” said Rodriguez.

Other NYRA locals that initially entered the 47th running of the New York Derby include Bankit for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen; Durkin’s Call for Hall of Famer Bill Mott; and Just Right for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The New York Oaks, for state-bred sophomore fillies going 1 1/16 miles, will include both Elegant Zip and Espresso Shot.

Elegant Zip, who ran third in the Maddie May on March 31 at Aqueduct, made his first nine starts on a NYRA track before running fourth in the Niagara last out on June 17 at Finger Lakes. The Run Away and Hide filly is trained by David Donk.
Donk said a good effort could earn Elegant Zip a turn in the Fleet Indian.

“We’ll still ship up and run there,” said Donk. “It will give us an idea of how successful she can be going two turns. I know she can get the mile, going one turn, but this will give us a feel for the Fleet Indian in late August.”

Last out, Elegant Zip shipped to the Farmington oval for the six-furlong Niagara, finishing fourth.

“She’s done well. We have limited opportunities for a 3-year-old filly,” said Donk. “We elected to run her in the Niagara which was a little short for her. She got a trip over the track and we’ll see how successful we can be in the Oaks, but it’s not an easy spot.”

Elegant Zip has hit the board in all four starts going a one-turn mile, including an optional-claiming score in March at the Big A and a second in the Maid of the Mist in October.

“It’s encouraging,” said Donk. “She’s gotten the mile well, but it’s a little different going two turns. I’m hoping it won’t be a problem.”

Espresso Shot, the winner of the Busher on March 9 at the Big A, is a two-time stakes winner for trainer Jorge Abreu, having also won the East View on December 29 at Aqueduct.

The Mission Impazible bay started her 3-year-old season with a win in the Busher on March 9, but has finished off the board in two subsequent starts when fifth in the Grade 2 Gazelle and sixth last out in the Bouwerie.

“I think the Gazelle was a result of a lack of pace, but I don’t have much of an excuse for her last start. She ran flat and it just wasn’t her day,” said Abreu.

Abreu said Espresso Shot, bred by Twin Creeks Farm and owned by NY Final Furlong Stable and Maspeth Stable, has breezed well into Wednesday’s test including a five-furlong bullet breeze in 1:00.47 on July 6 and a four furlong effort in 48.24, both on the Oklahoma training track.

“She did that on her own. When I put her in company she tries to do a little bit too much,” said Abreu of the July 6 work. “She came home in 23 and two and galloped out three-quarters in 1:14. That was a good breeze. The last breeze was an easy mile in 48 and change.”

Espresso Shot will ship to Finger Lakes on the day of the race.

* * *
The Rookie Report: Motion, Stall to debut well-bred turf juveniles; Reeves discusses Super Saver colt

Two fields of aspiring juvenile winners have been assembled for Sunday afternoon’s program.

A field of 10 fillies plus four also eligibles and two main track only entrants has been drawn for Race 7, a 5 ½-furlong maiden event over the Mellon turf course.

Trainer Graham Motion will debut Sharing, a well-bred chestnut filly by Speightstown out of Shared Account, who won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 2010 and also was conditioned by Motion.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable, the Maryland-bred juvenile was purchased for $350,000 from the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale last August.

“Their temperaments are similar, just very kind,” Motion said. “She’s very classy to be around. Shared Account was always a lovely filly to be around and very straight forward.”

Sharing has trained all summer at Fair Hill Training Center where Motion is based throughout most of the year. Her most recent work was a three-furlong move over the all weather surface at Fair Hill in 37.80 seconds.

“I don’t bring two-year-olds to Saratoga if I don’t like them,” Motion said. “We tend to bring up the ones that show ability at Fair Hill and this filly handled the main track fine. She handles the synthetic, but you have to think she would like the turf as well.”

Sharing was bred by Kevin Plank’s Sagamore Farm, who owned Shared Account, and will break from post 2 under Manny Franco.

Claiborne Farm’s Meritaten will also make her career debut in Race 7 on Sunday for trainer Al Stall, Jr.

The dark bay filly is by War Front out of the Galilieo broodmare Queen Nefertiti, who is a full-sister to two-time Group 1 winner The Gurkha.

“She’s well-bred and done everything right so far,” Stall said. “She had a nice breeze at the Oklahoma last weekend and I’m looking for a good starting point for her. She seems quick enough to get her career started going five and half furlongs.”

Meritaten is from the same family as Solemia, who won the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2012. She will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 5.

Another impressive group of juveniles will seek their first career victory in Race 8 on Sunday, a six-furlong sprint on the Saratoga’s main track.

Debuting for trainer Kathy Ritvo and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing is He’s Super Lucky.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the chestnut colt is by Super Saver and out of the Flower Alley broodmare My Wandy’s Girl, who was a multiple Group 1 winning champion in Puerto Rico and won the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel in 2014.

He’s Super Lucky trained with Ritvo’s string at Gulfstream Park before shipping to Saratoga, where he most recently breezed a half-mile in 49.90 seconds over the main track.

“I think the race is short for him and what I hope to see is that he’s in the bit and is running and gives a good effort,” said Dean Reeves of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. “I would probably like to see him close well because I don’t know just yet on the speed. He’s definitely a two-turn horse, but we wanted to get him started. He’s ready to run, and he’s been training well. This is a good spot to start.”

He’s Super Lucky was purchased for $375,000 from last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Summerfield. He is distantly related to Grade 1 winner Wow Cat.

“We bought him as a yearling. He was expensive, but he was very well built and a very strong-muscled looking horse,” Reeves said. “He has grown into that. He still looks the part and I think this is the kind of horse, if he has a little bit of talent, a year form now he could be running in some big races. He’s well-built, balanced and good sized. What you have to find out now is how is his speed is, and how he takes to the track and gallops out.”

Reeves believes that He’s Super Lucky will get better when stretching out in distance.

“He’s not a six-furlong speedster,” Reeves said. “I would like to see him get it going turning for home and gallop out well, so when we stretch out to seven furlongs and further, he’ll be suited for it.”

He’s Super Lucky will leave from post 9 under Rajiv Maragh.

Jackpot Ranch’s Basin will look for a second out maiden win. The dark bay son of multiple Grade 1 winning freshman sire Liam’s Map was second, beaten a nose to By Your Side, who won the Grade 2 Sanford.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Basin is out of the Johannesburg broodmare Appenzell, who produced graded stakes winning millionaire Rise Up.
Basin was bought for $150,000 from last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Basin will be guided by Ricardo Santana, Jr. from post 6.

* * *
Sunday’s card features three Pick 4 options in addition to a Pick 5 and Pick 6

Sunday’s 13-race card at Saratoga Race Course will offer bettors plenty of options, including three separate Pick 4s, two Pick 5s and a Pick 6 wager.

With Saturday’s card cancelled due to excessive heat forecast for Saratoga and greater Capital Region, racing will resume on Sunday with a first post of 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

The first Pick 4 sequence will commence with Race 3, a maiden race for 3-year-olds and up, with a 1:30 p.m. post. The second leg will be the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-olds fillies, originally scheduled for Saturday but re-carded as Race 4 on Sunday. The 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club American Oaks will not offer show wagering.

Race 5 will feature another maiden race, at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, and the first Pick 4 will conclude with Race 6; a one-mile turf race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up who have never won two races.

The second Pick 4 will start with Race 5 and will conclude with a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies in Race 7 and a six-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track in Race 8.

The final Pick 4 will include two stakes; starting with an allowance optional claimer in Race 10 at 5:43 p.m. and continuing with the $200,000 Caress, also rescheduled from Saturday, as Race 11, a New York-bred allowance in Race 12 and the day’s finale with the Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up in Race 13.

The Early Pick 5 will encompass Races 2-6, with the first leg set for 12:55 p.m. and encompassing the Coaching Club American Oaks as the lone stakes in the sequence.

The Late Pick 5 will start with Race 9 and run through the end of the card, concluding with the Shuvee.

The Pick 6 starts with Race 8 at 4:32 p.m. and continues through the end of the card.