Saratoga Race Course Notes

NYRA PRESS RELEASE —-

Tax posts bullet breeze in preparation for G1 Runhappy Travers
Endorsed breezes Friday, likely for G1 Runhappy Travers
Mind Control returns to scene of first G1 win for G1 H. Allen Jerkens
Pletcher impressed with Mystic Lancelot; Keeps Spinoff a possibility for G1 Travers
Uncontested becomes sixth track record setter this meet in Thursday allowance
Romans rooting for the home team in G1 Forego, G1 Personal Ensign with Promises Fulfilled, Coach Rocks; both set to breeze Saturday along with G1 Runhappy Travers hopeful Everfast
Carrera Cat exits Union Avenue in good order; next start undecided
Code of Honor to breeze Monday morning over the Oklahoma
Clement gearing up for New York Breeders’ Showcase Day
The Rookie Report: Thomas debuts son of European champion Kingman; highly regarded Pletcher 2-year-old makes first start
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation fundraiser set for August 20
Saratoga Week 7 stakes probables

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable’s Tax breezed a half-mile in a bullet 47.33 seconds on Friday morning in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers, slated for Saturday, August 24 at Saratoga Race Course.

The 1 1/4-mile Travers is the centerpiece of a card featuring seven stakes and six Grade 1s, including the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer; Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti; Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina; Grade 1, $600,000 Forego presented by Encore Boston Harbor; and Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy. Rounding out the blockbuster card is the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa.

Trained by Danny Gargan and piloted in the work by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., Tax broke off behind a workmate and was able to easily take command down the lane despite encountering some unexpected traffic.

“We tucked him in behind a horse and we got some other company in the middle of it and he went to the rail and just went right on about his business. I was really happy,” said Gargan. “Irad said he’s getting stronger and bigger and faster. We’re really happy with how he’s doing. He seems to be blossoming at just the right time. He was bucking and squealing coming off the track. It was a big-time work. He worked in 47 [.33], and out three-quarters in 1:12.4.”

Ortiz, Jr. was equally impressed with the training session from the imposing dark bay son of Arch.

“He just did it so easy,” said Ortiz, Jr. “I asked him because I want to work him and when I asked him he responded really well and kept galloping out. He came back like it was nothing. He looks good going into the race.”

Gargan, who claimed Tax for his current connections for $50,000 of a winning effort at Keeneland on October 21, said this morning’s work reminded him of a breeze not long after the claim at Belmont Park. The veteran conditioner recalled watching Tax breeze at Belmont and as the horse stylishly overcame traffic trouble, he turned to fellow trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and said, ‘What am I going to do with this horse.’

McLaughlin replied, “You’re going to run him in the Remsen.”

Gargan supplemented Tax to the Remsen and enjoyed immediate dividends as the gelding ran third in the 1 1/8-mile test at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Tax continued to blossom on the Kentucky Derby trail winning the Grade 3 Withers and finishing second behind Travers rival Tacitus in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets. Following a difficult trip in the Kentucky Derby when pinched back and stuck on a bad rail, eventually placed 14th, Tax returned to form with a prominent fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Last out, on July 27 in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets, Tax broke alertly but sat off the pace of Grade 1 Preakness winner War of Will before taking command late in the turn and holding off Tacitus, who endured a difficult trip after stumbling at the gate.

A similar trip may be in store for Tax in the Travers.

“We’ll break running like we always do and figure it out from there,” said Gargan. “I’ve been training him to stalk horses. That’s the way we did it the other day. He broke in front and then took him back. He can be in front, but I prefer him to have a target.”

Gargan said Tax is currently in the best shape of his life as both horse and trainer look to earn a first Grade 1 win.

“He looks great after the work. This is the fittest we ever had him,” said Gargan. “This winter we missed a lot of training due to weather and a few things here and there, but he’s fit now. I don’t know if we can win the Travers, but we’re going to show up and run good.”

Tax, despite boasting a record of 3-2-1 from eight starts and purse earnings on $756,300, is unlikely to go to post as the favorite in the “Mid-Summer Derby,” and Gargan said he’s fine with that.

“No one was talking about him going into the Jim Dandy either,” said Gargan. “I think a lot of people have a hard time thinking he’s going to be a good horse because we claimed him.

“If he runs big in this race he’ll start getting credit,” he added. “I just know at some point, if somebody is going to beat him, they’ll have to pass him a hundred yards before the wire because he’s going to be there.”

* * *
Endorsed breezes Friday, likely for G1 Runhappy Travers

Godolphin’s Endorsed breezed Friday morning on Saratoga Race Course’s main track and is now targeting the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 24, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

Endorsed, who ran a competitive second to Highest Honors in the Curlin on an off-track on July 26 at the Spa, went four furlongs in 48.33 seconds in his latest breeze, the 12th-fastest time of a group of 63.

“He worked really well and has been doing great since the Curlin and at this time are pointing to the Travers as long as he jogs up well tomorrow,” McLaughlin said.

After winning his debut by a neck last August at Saratoga, Endorsed ran sixth in the Grade 1 Champagne in October at Belmont Park. Following an eight-month break, Endorsed made a triumphant return by besting allowance company in a six-furlong race on June 23 over a fast Belmont track and stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in the Curlin, where he tracked the speed before finishing 1 ½ lengths back to Highest Honors on a muddy and sealed track.

The son of Medaglia d’Oro, out of graded stakes-winner Dance Card, will now look to get the Travers’ distance of 1 ¼ miles, which his conditioner said will be a challenge for any of the field’s contenders.

“That was the first time going a mile and a furlong, and he came out of the race great and he’s moved forward, so we’re happy with it,” McLaughlin said. “The distance is the distance. They all have to do it. But he’s bred for it. He ran very well going nine furlongs, so we’re happy with him.”

On Thursday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert announced Game Winner, the reigning Eclipse Award-champion 2-Year-Old, contracted a virus and will skip the Travers, while Maximum Security was also removed from consideration for the “Mid-Summer Derby.” McLaughlin said those recent developments helped make his decision.

“We were looking at it strongly, but it helps to know that two of the [potential] favorites aren’t running. We’re doing very well and excited about the prospects,” McLaughlin said.

Joel Rosario, who rode Endorsed in June, will have the return call in the Travers, where the jockey has had four previous mounts. His best Travers finish was a third-place effort aboard Tonalist in 2014, with his most recent start last year aboard Gronkowski [eighth].

Stonestreet Stables’ Dawn the Destroyer is also likely to make an appearance on Travers Day, with McLaughlin saying she is pointing to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park.

Dawn the Destroyer, who ran third in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Bed o’Roses contested at the Ballerina distance on June 7 at Belmont, breezed four furlongs in 48.09 on the main track Friday, continuing a string of five strong works since shipping up from Belmont in July.

In five graded stakes appearances, the 5-year-old Speightstown mare has finished third on three occasions, including the Bed o’Roses where she rallied from sixth to finish behind Chalon and the winner Separationofpowers on Big Sandy. She will race at Saratoga for the first time since running third in the 2017 Grade 2 Prioress.

“She worked this morning also and now we’re pointing that way,” McLaughlin said. “It’s tough to place her. Grade 1s are tough, but we’re hoping to get a piece of it. She’s doing very well.”

A Thread of Blue continues to do well after winning the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 4 and remains on target for the final leg of NYRA’s newly implemented Turf Triple Series with the $1 million Jockey Club Derby on September 7 at Belmont, McLaughlin said.

Owned by Leonard C. Green, A Thread of Blue, who ran second in the Grade 2 American Turf in May at Churchill before running fourth in the Grade 2 Penn Mile on June 1 at Penn National, captured the middle jewel of the Turf Triple Series with a one-length score in the 11-horse Saratoga Derby contested at 1 3/16 miles. The Jockey Club Derby will be held at 1 ½ miles.

“He’s doing very well. We didn’t know if he would get a mile and three-sixteenths and we don’t know if he’ll get a mile and a half, but there’s a million reasons to try,” McLaughlin said with a laugh.

* * *
Mind Control returns to scene of first G1 win for G1 H. Allen Jerkens

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables’ Mind Control, who captured the Grade 1 Hopeful in September of his juvenile year at Saratoga, is training well for his return to the Spa in the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy, trainer Gregory Sacco said.

“It was fantastic winning the Hopeful,” said Sacco. “He can’t be doing any better right now. He’s really blossomed. He’s a medium-sized horse, but he’s filled out and his coat is great. His weight is great and his energy level is where we want it. We’re excited about bringing him back to Saratoga.”

The Stay Thirsty bay graduated at second asking at his Monmouth Park base ahead of a three-quarter length score over Mucho in the seven-furlong Hopeful. Mind Control bobbled at the start of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, yet still managed to split the field, finishing seventh to close out his 2-year-old campaign.
After finishing second in the Grade 3 Gotham in his seasonal debut, Mind Control won the seven-furlong Grade 3 Bay Shore at the Big A. Subsequently eighth in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens after stumbling at the break, Mind Control suffered another troubled trip when third, defeated just a neck, in the seven-furlong Concern at Laurel.

Sacco said Mind Control’s last two starts have been difficult to watch.

“The last two starts have been disastrous,” said Sacco. “In the Woody Stephens, he stumbled to his face and then he got bumped at the quarter pole. The last trip wasn’t much better at Laurel. He was blocked the whole stretch it seemed. The main thing is, he came out of those races well. You don’t always have the racing luck, which you need, hopefully we’ll have some racing luck in the Allen Jerkens.”

Mind Control, who will ship in to Saratoga on Wednesday, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 on August 10 at Monmouth and is scheduled to breeze again on Saturday.

“Last week was a pretty serious work. He went five-eighths in a minute and out in 1:12 well within himself under his regular exercise rider Benny Sanchez,” said Sacco. “He’ll go five eighths again tomorrow, probably in about 1:01, and gallop out in 1:14. It’ll be more of a maintenance work, all the hard work is done.”

Sacco said Hall of Famer John Velazquez will have the mount.

“We know with Johnny aboard, he’ll be perfectly positioned,” said Sacco. “Johnny always has him in the right spot and when the running starts, we’ll see if we’re good enough.”

Sacco said Michael and Jeff Fazio’s Joevia, a pacesetting third last out in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, is enjoying some down time in Florida.

“We were on schedule to go to the Haskell and he had an issue with a pulse in the foot,” said Sacco. “We were going to miss the Travers and the Pennsylvania Derby, so I discussed it with the owners and sent him to Good Chance Farm, the Red Oak farm bought by the Brunetti’s in Ocala. We’ll give him three months off and bring him back to New York for the winter. We’ll pick out some races for him as a 4-year-old and hopefully have a top-notch horse for next year.”

The Shanghai Bobby colt graduated at first asking on a sloppy Monmouth main ahead of a good second to well-regarded Haikal in the Jimmy Winkfield at Aqueduct. After running second in the Private Terms at Laurel, Joevia was compromised badly in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial finishing seventh ahead of a winning effort in the Long Branch once again on a sloppy Monmouth main track.

“It just made sense for us to let him unwind and give him three months off,” said Sacco. “We had a good stake win at Monmouth and the second in New York and Maryland, and, of course, his unbelievable third in the Belmont where we couldn’t have been any prouder of him. It just made sense to give him some time and the owners were great about it. We hope he rewards us next year as a 4-year-old.”

* * *
Pletcher impressed with Mystic Lancelot; keeps Spinoff a possibility for G1 Travers

Trainer Todd Pletcher picked up his 10th win of the meet on Thursday’s card with maiden-breaking juvenile Mystic Lancelot for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, putting the veteran conditioner in second place in the trainer standings.

Pletcher said he was impressed with the effort and was looking forward to a possible start in the Grade 1 Summer, a one-turn mile on the turf offering Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” status, slated for September 15 at Woodbine.

“He had been training okay on the dirt previously,” said Pletcher. “We breezed him on the turf and he showed some improvement, but even then I thought his race was more impressive than what we were expecting. We were happy to see it and he seemed to do everything professionally. A race like the Summer Stakes at Woodbine might be something we have in mind, but we’ll talk with Phoenix Thoroughbreds and then decide. It would be a nice fit and a gradual stretch out.”

Wertheimer and Frere’s 3-year-old Spinoff rebounded to win an allowance race on August 9 when facing elders, following a flat off-the-board effort on turf in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational.

Pletcher said Spinoff is now possible for the Grade 1 Travers following news Thursday that both Game Winner and Maximum Security would miss the 10-furlong event, but noted the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on September 21 at Parx would be a more likely target.

“It was a good effort. Having blinkers on seemed to have him a little bit more locked in,” said Pletcher. “I nominated him to the Travers. It’s back quick. My first thought is the Pennsylvania Derby from a timing aspect, but with the couple of major defections we had yesterday, it’s something we’ll keep an eye on.”

Calumet Farm’s Channel Cat, who won the Garde 2 Bowling Green on July 27 remains on target for the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer. Channel Cat visited the Oklahoma training turf Friday morning breezing four furlongs in 49.49.

Lastly, Pletcher reported Vino Rosso, Coal Front, and Wooderson each remained possible to make their next starts in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on August 31.

* * *
Uncontested becomes sixth track record setter this meet in Thursday allowance

The 2019 meet has already seen a track record equaled or lowered for five separate distances, including on Thursday afternoon when Robert LaPenta and Harry T. Rosenblum’s Uncontested tied a 41-year-old track record for seven furlongs over the Saratoga Race Course main track.

This marked the sixth track-record performance of the meet, four of which took place in stakes company. Newly minted track record holders this meet include Leinster [five furlongs on the Mellon turf in the Grade 3 Troy, 1:00.23], Imperial Hint [six furlongs on the main track in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt, 1:07.92], King Zachary [1 ¾ miles on the main track in the Birdstone, 2:52.97] and Got Stormy [one mile on the inner turf in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, 1:32.00], who broke a record set by Macagone [1:33.13] just eight days earlier in an optional-claiming event.

Uncontested, a 5-year-old son of Tiz Wonderful, was the pacesetter in the five-horse field and drew off to win by 2 ¼ lengths, stopping the clock in 1:20.52, which when translated to fifths is equal to the time recorded by Darby Creek Road, who in 1978 completed his seven furlongs in 1:20 2/5.

In an 18-race career, Uncontested has passed through the hands of trainers Wayne Catalano and Jennifer Patterson and is currently conditioned by Tom Amoss.

“He ran really well,” Amoss said. “He’s a horse whose courage got very big after the opening quarter. He was on the lead and I think you saw the real Uncontested [Thursday].”

Amoss said that a stake is likely in order for Uncontested but is unsure as to where. He already is a two-time stakes winner, having won Oaklawn Park’s Southwest as a 3-year-old, and earlier this year he won the Grade 3 General George at Laurel Park.

“He’s very healthy today, which is what we were looking for,” Amoss said. “I’ll get together with the owners to figure out what’s next. He had a great resume before I got him and nothing has been penciled in, but a stakes will likely be next.”

Bred in Kentucky by Richard Forbush, Uncontested is out of the Lil E. Tee broodmare Galileo’s Star and was purchased for $20,000 from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015.

* * *
Romans rooting for the home team in Forego, Personal Ensign with Promises Fulfilled, Coach Rocks; both set to breeze Saturday along with Runhappy Travers hopeful Everfast

Trainer Dale Romans has had his share of major stakes victories at Saratoga Race Course through the years, including the 2004 Whitney (G1) with Roses in May, the 2012 Just a Game (G1) with Tapitsfly, and, perhaps most memorably, the 2015 Travers (G1), in which he upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah with Keen Ice.

But there is little that would make him happier on Travers Day, August 24, than to lead a couple of horses carrying the colors of local owners Robert Baron and Roddy Valente into the winner’s circle after two of the six Grade 1 races on the day’s card.

“I’m running two horses here at Saratoga owned by guys who live in the Capital Region,” said Romans, “and I think that’s pretty cool.”

Baron, of Voorheesville, will be represented in the $600,000 Forego presented by Encore Boston Harbor by Promises Fulfilled, already a two-time stakes winner at the Spa, while Valente’s hopes, and those of his family in Loudonville, will be riding on Coach Rocks in the $700,000 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti.

“I know the thrill it was [for Baron] to win [the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) and the Amsterdam (G2)] last year,” said Romans, who will also be saddling Preakness runner-up Everfast in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers. “If Roddy were to win, I’m sure he’d be in the same place. He’s been a huge supporter of the sport, a huge supporter of Saratoga – he never misses a day. For him to win a Grade 1 race, especially of this magnitude, in front of his home crowd, would have to be very special.”

Promises Fulfilled, a son of the Romans-trained Shackleford, has won seven of his 15 career starts and more than $1.4 million since being purchased at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by the trainer for a bargain $37,000. It was in the colt’s third and final start as a 2-year-old, said Romans, that he knew he gotten a good, if not great, deal.

“He ran third in the Kentucky Jockey Club [G2] after popping a splint,” he said. “He was getting out every step – getting out bad – but he kept going to run third behind some good horses., He had every right to run last or pull himself up, but he didn’t. To run with adversity is a sign of a very good horse. That’s when I knew he was special.”

Promises Fulfilled went on to win the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland as a sophomore, and this year has finished fourth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), third in the Churchill Downs (G2) and enters the Forego off a front-running 4 ½-length victory in the John Nerud (G2) on July 6 at Belmont Park.

“He always shows up,” said Romans. “He doesn’t have to have the lead, but I wouldn’t try to win in front of him.”

Coach Rocks, purchased for $95,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2017, did not break her maiden until the following year, but won the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and finished second in the Delaware Oaks (G2) and the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) before wrapping up her sophomore season with a fifth in the Alabama (G1). Owned by Valente, RAP Racing and Wet Point Thoroughbreds, she comes into the Personal Ensign with a solid second-place finish in the Molly Pitcher (G3) behind odds-on Mitole.

Calumet Farms’ Everfast, who will have his final breeze Saturday morning along with Promises Fulfilled and Coach Rocks, weather permitting, enters the 1 ¼-mile Travers off a fourth-place finish in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park.

“I would have like to see him finish stronger,” said Romans, “but he still picked up a nice check. He’s proven he can run with these horses, although he hasn’t proven he can beat them. But he keeps knocking at the door, and eventually, it will open.”
* * *
Carrera Cat exits Union Avenue in good order; next start undecided

Trainer John Morrison reported that Carrera Cat was no worse for the wear emerging from her victorious stakes debut in Thursday’s Union Avenue.
Normally a frontrunner, the daughter of Courageous Cat sat just off the pace in the 6 ½-furlong sprint for New York-bred fillies and mares and was in pursuit coming around the far turn, drawing off to win by 2 ¼ lengths.

Morrison was pleased with the effort but was unsure as to where the now five-time winner would make her next start.

“She appears to have come out of it fine; we’ll get her back to the track on Monday and see how everything is,” Morrison said. “We’re keeping all of our options open. She’s done well with her races spaced out about a month and I would hate to break that.”

Two starts prior to the Union Avenue, Carrera Cat bested open company going the same distance at Belmont Park in a race that featured stakes winner Aunt Babe.

Bred in the Empire State by W.S. Farish, Carrera Cat is out of the Mineshaft broodmare Top Value and comes from the same family as Grade 1-winning millionaire Student Council as well as multiple graded stakes winner Don’t Get Mad.
* * *
Code of Honor to breeze Monday morning over the Oklahoma

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey reported that dual graded-stakes winner Code of Honor will put together his final serious preparations for the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers with a breeze on Monday morning at 5:30 a.m. over the Oklahoma training track.

“He seems to be doing very well,” McGaughey said.

McGaughey will be seeking his fourth victory in the “Mid-Summer Derby” having previously won with Easy Goer (1989), Rhythm (1990) and Coronado’s Quest (1998).

Code of Honor will enter the Travers off of a victory in the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont Park, which came after being placed second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. The chestnut son of Noble Mission won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park earlier in the year before finishing third to Maximum Security in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Hall of Fame jockey and five-time Saratoga leading rider John Velazquez will retain the mount as he seeks his second Travers triumph.

* * *
Clement gearing up for New York Breeders’ Showcase Day

With seven of his current nine Saratoga wins coming from sophomores and juveniles this summer, trainer Christophe Clement is having a successful meet with young horses.

The successful string was recently extended by 3-year-old New York-bred Kerry’s Ring, who broke her maiden for Waterville Lake Stable in her fourth career start in Thursday’s finale.

“I thought she was very professional in her last two races,” said Clement. “She finished second in her previous start at Belmont and ran great. She was wide all the way yesterday and good enough to overcome the circumstances, so I’m delighted. We’ve been running well, especially with our younger horses, and the whole team has been doing a very good job, so it’s exciting.”

With New York Breeders’ Showcase Day set for next Friday featuring six New York-bred stakes, Clement looks to be well represented.

Juvenile City Man, a New York-bred Mucho Macho Man colt for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles, won his debut on July 18 at Saratoga. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.51 on Thursday in company with stablemate Listentoyourheart for Merrylegs Farm.

Listentoyourheart, an Afleet Alex colt, won his debut on June 23 at Belmont and followed with a second-place finish in the Rick Violette on July 17. Both are expected to enter next Friday’s $200,000 Funny Cide.

“They both breezed yesterday and came out of it in good shape,” said Clement. “They both deserve a shot and each are training forwardly so I’m very excited.”

In the $250,000 Albany for 3-year-olds, Clement expects to saddle New Phoenix Stable’s Doups Point, who finished third in the allowance on July 12.

Oak Bluff Stables’ 4-year-old Therapist will also look to make his next start on New York-bred Showcase day pointing for the $150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank off a third place allowance optional claiming finish on July 3 at Belmont. The Freud gelding began the year by winning the Elusive Quality at Belmont on April 27 and followed with a fourth-place finish in the Kingston.

* * *
The Rookie Report: Thomas debuts son of European champion Kingman; highly regarded Pletcher 2-year-old makes first start

Two open company maiden special weights are scheduled for Saturday’s card at Saratoga.

In the first race, a 1 1/16-mile event over the inner turf, trainer Jonathan Thomas will saddle a well-bred son of 2014 Cartier Horse of the Year and second-crop sire Kingman in King’s Honor. The Michael Ryan-owned Irish-bred bay is out of the Perfect Soul broodmare Soul of Houdini, whose dam Houdini’s Honey is a full sister to French champion and champion-producing sire Machiavellian. He also is a direct descendant of Canadian Hall of Famer and prolific broodmare Natalma.

Other notable members of the family include French Group 1 winner Coup de Genie, French champion Denebola and Grade 1 winning millionaire Emollient.

“Traditionally for us, first out, we want to have a good outing and a good experience. If they’re good enough to win, that’s up to the horse and their ability level,” Thomas said. “We’re looking for a nice trip and would love to see him finish up late in the race. He seems to have a nice turn of foot and he’s a scopey horse. He’s small but very scopey. It’s a good launch pad. First time out, we’re trying to get some momentum out of him.”

King’s Honor has recorded a series of works at Saratoga, three of which were over the Oklahoma training turf course. His most recent breeze was a three-furlong move in 38.40 seconds over the main track on August 11.

“He’s very athletic, he’s a good mover,” Thomas said. “He’s a good-minded, enthusiastic training horse He has a lot of nice qualities out of him. I’m a big fan of some of the European blood that’s making its way over here. Certainly, we’re opening our arms to getting horses like that.”

Trainer Chad Brown debuts a son of Spendthrift Farms stallion Temple City in Digital Software. Owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, the dark bay colt is out of the Dansili broodmare Special Charm and is related to turf graded stakes winners Liam the Charmer, Charm the Giant and Olympic Charmer.

Digital Software was purchased for $80,000 as a weanling from the 2017 Keeneland November Mixed Sale. He was bred in Kentucky by Derrell Brown and Lendy Brown.

In Race 7, 2-year-olds take to the main track for a 6 ½-furlong maiden race. Trainer Todd Pletcher will debut Mathis Stables’ Candy Tycoon, a bay son of Lane’s End sire Twirling Candy, who is currently enjoying one of his best years yet with four graded stakes winners.

Bred in Kentucky by Jerry Romans, Jr., Candy Tycoon is out of the Unbridled’s Song broodmare Liberty’s Lyric and was purchased for $170,000 from the Ocala Breeders Sales Company’s 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in April.

Candy Tycoon has worked from the gate in his past two breezes, the most recent of which was a five-furlong move in 59.44 seconds on August 10.

“He’s a Twirling Candy colt that has shown progression in each of his works,” Pletcher said. “We’re excited to get him started. His last two breezes were from the gate so hoping we get a good trip and can show us what he has done in the mornings in the afternoon.”

Also featured in the event is Feisty Bird for the Estate of Marylou Whitney trained by Ian Wilkes. The chestnut son of Curlin is out of the Unbridled’s Song broodmare Tweeter, a half-sister to 2004 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone and 2003 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town.

“All good. He’s been doing fine,” Wilkes said. “He’s a decent workhorse. He still makes a few mistakes but once we get those mistakes out of the way, he’ll be fine.”

Wilkes trained another notable member of the family in two-time graded stakes winner Bird Song, who was out of Bird Town.

“They’re a bit different at the moment, but hopefully they turn out the same,” Wilkes said. “It’s still very early, he’s still learning still getting it together and hopefully we’ll get a good account for him when he runs.”

* * *
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation fundraiser set for August 20

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s [TRF] BBQ At The Barn fundraiser is slated for Tuesday, August 20 from 6-9 p.m. at The Saratoga Winery located on Route 29 in Saratoga Springs.

The TRF, now in its 36th year, is the world’s largest equine sanctuary. Founded in 1983, the TRF cares for horses retired from racing with 650 horses located at 18 farms across nine states including New York, with seven TRF Second Chances program in partnership with correctional facilities.

All are welcome to attend the event for an opportunity to meet some of the retired Thoroughbreds, while enjoying great food and live music. Raffle and auction items include:

– Hamilton Tickets at Proctors’ Theater
– Travers’ Table for 4 – Turf Terrace
– Box Seats at Saratoga Clubhouse
– One Week at luxury condo in Vero Beach, Florida
– Nick Martinez Saratoga Racetrack Print
– Framed Anthony M. Alonso limited edition prints

Tickets for the event are $30 and available at www.TRFinc.org or call 518-226-0028.
* * *
Saratoga Week 7 stakes probables

Thursday, August 22, 2019

$100,000 Riskaverse
Probable: Alasaayil (Kiaran McLaughlin); Be Nimble (Mike Maker); Catch a Bid (Chad Brown); Dalika (Al Stall); Ionic (Arnaud Delacour); Solar Kitten (Ian Wilkes)
Possible: Boxwood (Eddie Kenneally); Hotsy Totsy (Christophe Clement)

Friday, August 23, 2019

$250,000 Albany
Probable: Bankit (Steve Asmussen); Blindwillie Mctell (Linda Rice); Daddy Knows (Rice); Doups Point (Christophe Clement); Funny Guy (John Terranova); Kazmania (Eduardo Jones); Not That Brady (Rudy Rodriguez)

$200,000 Fleet Indian
Probable: Behind the Couch (Jeremiah Englehart); Elegant Zip (David Donk); Kid is Frosty (Brad Cox); Maiden Beauty (Gary Contessa); Newly Minted (Rice); Wait a Minute (Jackie Stauffer)
Possible: Bangle Gal (Michael Stidham)

$200,000 Seeking the Ante
Probable: Big Q (Gary Gullo); Fierce Lady (Dermot Magner); Jewel of Arabia (Clement); My Italian Rabbi (Englehart); Time Limit (Maker); Violent Point (Mark Casse); Wharf Cat (Oscar Barrera)

$150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank
Probable: Cross Border (Maker); Dot Matrix (Cox); Everyonelvoesjames (Jonathan Sheppard); Hoboe (Donk); Mo Maverick (Dave Cannizo); Offering Plan (Brown); Rapt (Bobby Ribaudo); Therapist (Clement)
Possible: Voodoo Song (Rice)

$150,000 Yaddo
Probable: Belle of the Spa (Bruce Brown); Conquest Hardcandy (Jim Ryerson); English Soul (Ray Handal); Fifty Five (Brown); Kreesie (Donk); Munchkin Money (Clement); Wegetsdamunnys (Clement) Wish Upon (Terranova)

$200,000 Funny Cide
Probable: Bank on Shea (Jason Servis); Bull of Bayern (Rodriguez); City Man (Clement); Cleon Jones (Englehart); Listentoyourheart (Clement); Mission Wrapitup (Bruce Brown); No Lime (Bill Mott); Sky of Hook (Rodriguez); TheItalianAmerican (Contessa)

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers
Probable: Chess Chief (Dallas Stewart); Code of Honor (Shug McGaughey); Endorsed (Kiaran McLaughlin); Everfast (Dale Romans); Highest Honors (Brown); Laughing Fox (Asmussen); Looking At Bikinis (Brown); Owendale (Cox); Tacitus (Mott); Tax (Danny Gargan)
Possible: Spinoff (Pletcher)

Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer
Probable: Annals of Time (Brown); Channel Cat (Pletcher); Channel Maker (Mott); Sadler’s Joy (Tom Albertrani); Ya Primo (Brown)

Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti
Probable: Coach Rocks (Romans); Elate (Mott); Midnight Bisou (Asmussen); She’s a Julie (Asmussen); Wow Cat (Brown)
Possible: Golden Award (Mott)

Grade 1, $600,000 Forego presented by Boston Harbor
Probable: Bon Raison (Carlos Martin); Diamond Oops (Patrick Biancone); Mitole (Asmussen); Promises Fulfilled (Romans)
Possible: Catalina Cruiser (John Sadler); Coal Front (Pletcher); Prince Lucky (Pletcher)

Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy
Probable: Borracho (Rusty Arnold); Hog Creek Hustle (Vickie Foley); King Jack (Jerry Hollendorfer); Mind Control (Greg Sacco); Nitrous (Asmussen); Rowayton (Don Chatos); Shancelot (Jorge Navarro); Super Comet (Casse); Twelfth Labour (Stewart)

Grade 1, $500,00 Ketel One Ballerina
Probable: Bronx Beauty (Anthony Margotta, Jr.); Come Dancing (Martin); Dawn the Destroyer (McLaughlin); Mia Mischeif (Asmussen); Special Relativity (Robertino Diodoro); Separation of Powers (Brown)
Possible: Chalon (Delacour); Honey Bunny (John Alexander Ortiz)

Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa
Probable: I’m so Fancy (Delacour); Indian Blessing (Ed Walker); Mascha (Brown); Mitchell Road (Will Mott); Rushing Fall (Brown); Secret Message (Graham Motion)
Possible: Candy Store (Clement)

Sunday, August 25, 2019

$100,000 Better Talk Now
Probable: Bulletin (Pletcher); Front Run the Red (Brown); Limonite (Asmussen); Our Braintrust (Casse) Swamp Rat (Phil Gleaves)