Grade 1 Alabama, Saratoga Derby Invitational Previews

By Ryan Martin —-

Swiss Skydiver seeks first Grade 1 win in $500K Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Peter Callahan’s Swiss Skydiver has established herself as one of the leading 3-year-old fillies in the country. On Saturday, she will attempt to build on her form in the 140th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama going 1 ¼-miles over the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

The prestigious event for sophomore fillies honors horse owner William Cottrell, who was too modest to have a race named after himself and requested that instead it be named after his home state of Alabama. As one of the oldest American stakes races for females, the historic test has seen many notable winners over the years, including Hall of Famers Miss Woodford (1883), Beldame (1904), Top Flight (1932), Tempted (1958), Gamely (1967), Mom’s Command (1985), Go for Wand (1990), Sky Beauty (1993), Heavenly Prize (1994), Silverbulletday (1999) and Royal Delta (2011).

The Alabama is a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” qualifying event, which offers an automatic berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on November 7 at Keeneland Race Course. NBC will have live coverage of the Grade 1 Alabama [Race 9, 5:43 p.m.] and the $500,000 Saratoga Derby [Race 8, 5:07 p.m.], first leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-olds, from 5-6 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, who saddled Eskimo Kisses to a win in the 2018 edition, Swiss Skydiver arrives at the Alabama off a runner-up finish against colts in the Grade 2 Blue Grass on July 11 at Keeneland, where she finished a game second to Art Collector.

This season, the daughter of second crop sire Daredevil has put together a ledger which includes three graded stakes triumphs over three different tracks, taking the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 28, the Grade 3 Fantasy on May 1 at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on June 6.

“Once we got her going to two turns, she really figured it out and it clicked,” McPeek said. “The further she goes, the stronger she gets. She’s been a real sturdy filly. She eats really well and she’s easy to be around. The Alabama is a great race. It’s a race I’ve won before and I would love to win it again.”

Swiss Skydiver was purchased for $35,000 by McPeek at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, from the Select Sales consignment. She is out of the Johannesburg broodmare Expo Gold.

“I don’t get enamored with pedigrees, I get enamored with the bodies,” McPeek said. “She just had a fantastic hip and balance. She was a filly that had all the right parts in all the right places. I’ve stuck with that MO for decades.”

With a record of 8-4-2-1, Swiss Skydiver is the most seasoned filly in the field and boasts the highest amount of lifetime earnings with $677,980.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who piloted Paris Lights to a Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks win on July 18, will attempt to sweep both two-turn Grade 1 events for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga as he climbs aboard Swiss Skydiver from post 5.

McPeek also sends out up-and-coming filly Envoutante for Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm.

The dark bay daughter of Uncle Mo is still in search of her first career stakes win, but acquired Grade 1 black type last out with a third-place finish to Speech in the Grade 1 Ashland on July 11 at Keeneland.

Third time was the charm for Envoutante, who broke her maiden going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park on April 2 and defeated winners two starts later going the same distance at Churchill Downs.

“This filly is sitting on her biggest race,” McPeek said. “She’s a filly that has done everything right and we have been pointing to this race for a while. I think the mile and a quarter will hit her right on the head. It’s unfortunate that I’ve got to run them against each other, but she’s going to run well.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz will attempt his fourth straight victory in the Alabama when piloting Envoutante from post 1.

McPeek said a strong run from both fillies would likely result in a start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on September 4 at Churchill Downs. The Alabama offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

“We’re still pointing both of them to the Oaks. The timing is a bit tricky this year, but it is what it is,” McPeek said.

A week after sending out Gamine to a monstrous triumph in the Grade 1 Longines Test, Hall of Fame Bob Baffert will seek another Grade 1 win at the Spa with Crystal Ball, who breaks from post 3.

Owned by WinStar Stablemates, the bay daughter of Malibu Moon made a big jump up in class last out when finishing a game second to Paris Lights in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks off a 6 ¼-length maiden victory.

Purchased for $750,000 as a 2-year-old from the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select Sale in March 2019, Crystal Ball is out of the Giant’s Causeway broodmare Déjà Vu, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Madcap Escapade and Dubai Escapade.
Crystal Ball will be ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, a three-time Alabama winner.

Harvey’s Lil Goil will look to give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his fourth Alabama win when she seeks to become a graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf.
Owned by the Estate of Harvey A. Clarke and Paul Braverman, Harvey’s Lil Goil won the Grade 3 Regret on June 27 over the turf at Churchill Downs in her most recent effort, and took the Busanda over the main track at Aqueduct two starts prior.

Harvey’s Lil Goil will attempt to give her 2015 Triple Crown-winning second crop sire American Pharoah his first Grade 1 win as a stallion and is out of the Tapit broodmare Gloria S. – a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another.

Harvey’s Lil Goil will leave from post 6 under Junior Alvarado.

Robert and Lawana Low’s Spice Is Nice makes her Grade 1 debut in the Alabama for trainer Todd Pletcher, who trained Princess of Sylmar (2013) and Stopchargingmaria (2014) to Alabama victories.

The well-bred chestnut daughter of Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning Bernardini mare Dame Dorothy won a first level allowance optional claiming event on July 3 going a one-turn mile-and-a-sixteenth at Belmont Park last out. Spice Is Nice made a dazzling career debut when besting a field of maidens by a dozen lengths at Gulfstream Park en route to a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at the South Florida oval.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, a three-time winner of the Alabama, will pilot Spice Is Nice from post 2.

Juddmonte Farms’ Bonny South will attempt to add a second graded stakes victory to her resume for trainer Brad Cox.

The chestnut Munnings filly won the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 21 before a distant fourth in the Grade 1 Ashland.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Bonny South from post 4.

Rounding out the field is Susan Moulton’s Fire Coral for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The daughter of Curlin broke her maiden at second asking on January 31 at Oaklawn Park en route to a 3 ½-length score against allowance optional claiming company at the Arkansas oval.

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. was aboard both of Fire Coral’s career wins and will be back aboard from post 7.

The Alabama is slated as Race 9 on Saturday’s 11-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

By Brian Bohl —-

Decorated Invader looks for another conquest in Saratoga Derby Invitational

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Decorated Invader, who already has registered a graded stakes win over Saratoga Race Course’s turf this meet, will put his undefeated sophomore record on the line in a return engagement Saturday, headlining the second running of the $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

The Saratoga Derby was initiated last year as part of the New York Racing Association’s Turf Triple series to showcase the country’s best 3-year-old turf runners, joining the Belmont Derby Invitational and the Jockey Club Derby. Contested as the middle jewel of the series last year following the Belmont Derby, the Saratoga Derby, held at 1 3/16 miles on the Mellon turf course, will be the first leg of the 2020 Turf Triple.

NBC will offer live coverage from 5-6 p.m., airing stakes action that will also include the Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama for sophomore fillies with a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on the line.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, William Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning, Decorated Invader is 3-for-3 in 2020, starting with a 1 ¼-length score in the one-mile Cutler Bay in March at Gulfstream Park before romping a six-horse field by 4 ¾-lengths in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge, also at one mile, on Belmont Stakes Day, June 20, at Belmont Park.

Returning to historic Saratoga, Decorated Invader won the Grade 2 Hall of Fame on July 18, registering a Beyer Speed Figure in excess of 90 for the second consecutive start thanks to his 1 ¼-length victory.

With five wins and a runner-up in seven career starts, the Declaration of War colt has already racked up three graded stakes wins, including a victory as a juvenile in the Grade 1 Summer last September at Woodbine. The Christophe Clement trainee has only failed to hit the board once, running fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November at Santa Anita to cap his impressive 2-year-old year.

“I’m very happy with how he’s been training. He looks great,” Clement said. “He’s been training with [fellow Saratoga Derby entrant] Gufo and they continue to work well and help each other. They work very willingly, so I’m excited to see both of them run.”

Decorated Invader made his first two starts at Saratoga, running second to fellow Saratoga Derby contender Field Pass in July 2019 before a maiden-breaking 3 ¼-length win last August going 1 1/16 miles. His Hall of Fame effort last out marked the first time Clement stretched him out to 1 1/8 miles, and the $200,000 purchase at the 2019 Ocala Breeders’ Sale will now look to handle additional ground.

“You never know until you try, but I thought he ran great last time, so there’s no reason why he can’t do it this time,” Clement said. “The way he ran last time, it’s very encouraging.”

Joel Rosario, aboard for his last three wins, will be in the irons again from post 2.
Clement will send out another last-out stakes winner in Otter Bend Stables’ Gufo, who has won four straight since a second-place debut effort in November at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Like Decorated Invader, Gufo is also a son of Declaration of War, and has showed an affinity for longer distances by capturing the 1 1/16-mile English Channel in May at Gulfstream before a strong closing kick secured the Grade 3 Kent, going 1 1/8 miles, on July 4 at Delaware Park. All four of his victories have come at distances of at least 1 1/16 miles.

“The further, the better for him,” Clement said. “He’s a little different kind of horse. He always shows less speed in his races than Decorated Invader, but he has a really good turn-of-foot.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Gufo for the first time, drawing post 5.
Get Smokin, who ran second to Decorated Invader in the Hall of Fame and was third to him in the Cutler Bay, will get another opportunity. In five starts this year, Get Smokin has been a runner-up three times, starting when he ran a half-length back to Island Commish in January at Gulfstream and finishing a neck behind Field Pass in the Dania Beach in February at the same track.

The Get Stormy colt, trained by Tom Bush, has one win in eight starts but has earned blacktype on six occasions [1-3-2], including his career debut at Saratoga in August 2019 when third at 5 ½ furlongs.

“He wants the turf firm, for sure,” Bush said. “This race will probably be deeper than last time, so we’ll have to step it up for sure. But we’re happy to be taking a chance with him.”

Owned by Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust, Get Smokin’s Hall of Fame effort was his first start at more than a mile. Bush said going 1 3/16 miles is challenging but he is hopeful his charge is up to it.

“I’m concerned about it, but he’s trained hard for the race with a lot of long gallops and he’s well prepared,” Bush said. “We’ll see if he can get the distance. If he can’t, we’re going to find out.”

Get Smokin breezed five furlongs in 1:02.47 on August 8 over the Oklahoma turf training track. Prior to the Hall of Fame, Bush had Get Smokin work at Belmont before shipping up.

“We’ve been happy with him since the last race,” Bush said. “He had a nice, easy work on the grass last week and galloped out good. He’s showing plenty of energy, so we’re going to take a run at it.”

Luis Saez, who rode Get Smokin to a 10th place-finish in the Awad in October, will return to ride from the outermost post. Saez won the inaugural Saratoga Derby aboard A Thread of Blue last year.

Three Diamonds Farm’s Field Pass is already a four-time stakes winner, including back-to-back triumphs in the Audubon at 1 1/8 miles on June 20 at Churchill Downs before edging Street Ready by a nose in the Grade 3 Transylvania on July 12 at Keeneland.

Trained by Mike Maker, Field Pass in the field’s most experienced entrant, compiling a 5-2-1 record in 11 starts with earnings of $418,610. Saratoga served as the site of Field Pass’ first victory last July going 1 1/16 miles, and also saw him run second to Fighting Seabee in the Grade 3 With Anticipation last August.
The Lemon Drop kid colt has won four of his five starts this year, with the Dania Beach and Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in March at Turfway Park starting his campaign. He recorded a third-place effort in the War Chant on May 23 before starting a new streak.

Tyler Gaffalione, who piloted Field Pass to the Audubon win, will return to ride from post 7.

The trifecta in the Hall of Fame will be represented in the Saratoga Derby, as third-place finisher Domestic Spending will go for trainer Chad Brown. The English-bred son of Kingman did not run as a 2-year-old, with the patience paying off as Domestic Spending won his first two starts, scoring at Tampa Bay Downs and subsequently Belmont before facing stakes company.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has been aboard for both of his starts in New York and will ride again, drawing post 4.

Colonel Liam won his first race on turf last month at the Spa and will now take a big step up in class following his 100 Beyer against older allowance company at 1 1/16 miles going against six other competitors. The son of Liam’s Map, owned by Lawana and Robert Low, was purchased as a 2-year-old for $1.2 million at the 2019 Ocala Breeders’ Sale.

“I’ve been very pleased,” Pletcher said. “He was the only 3-year-old in that race. It was really competitive and he handled it well, so I was happy with that. I was also happy with the way he breezed back and it seems like we found what we were looking for putting him on the turf.”

Unraced as a juvenile, Colonel Liam made it to the track on April 11 at Gulfstream, where he crossed the wire second after Saez, his jockey. was forced to check after a bump. He was elevated to first when the stewards ruled Per Capita caused interference, giving Colonel Liam a debut win that he parlayed into a third-place effort over a sloppy and sealed Gulfstream track on May 24.

Pletcher moved him to turf last time, where he thrived in putting up a big number. He will now pick up the services of Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano from post 6.

“He’s always given me the impression that longer distances won’t hurt him,” Pletcher said. “The key is if he can settle as well as he did in the last race.”

His stablemate, Wertheimer and Frere’s No Word, has two wins in five starts and will be making his first stakes start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Pilgrim in September at Belmont.

No Word registered a win by a neck over Shamrocket on July 9 over firm Belmont turf and will return to the site of his debut win last August, drawing post 3 with Jose Ortiz set to ride.

Bama Breeze, second to Field Pass in the Audubon, will make his fifth career start. Owned by Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing, Bama Breeze made just one start as a 2-year-old, winning in September at Churchill, before an eight-month layoff.

Upon his return in May and under the care of trainer Rusty Arnold, Bama Breeze ran ninth in the War Chant before his runner-up effort. The Honor Code gelding made his graded stakes bow last out, running sixth after encountering traffic in the Transylvania.

Manny Franco will have the call from post 1.

The Saratoga Derby is slated as Race 8 on Saturday’s 11-race card, which offers a first post at 1:10 p.m. Eastern and will also include the Alabama in Race 9. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.