Saratoga Race Course Notes 08/02

NYRA PRESS OFFICE —-

Saratoga Race Course Notes

Thorpedo Anna continues Saratoga preparations for G1 DraftKings Travers
McKulick earns career-best 96 BSF for G2 Glens Falls title defense
Diego Velazquez blows out ahead of G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational; Greenfinch scratches from G2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational
Appleby-trained stars on the turf work tab
Greavette works for Listed $150K Galway
G3-placed Gavea returns to the work tab

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Multiple Grade 1-winner and top 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna continues to make her preparations at Saratoga Race Course as she aims to take on the boys here on August 24 in the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, the daughter of Fast Anna went to the Oklahoma dirt training track at 5:30 a.m. Friday under regular exercise pilot Danny Ramsey and proceeded to break off in a strong gallop near the half-mile marker in a dense fog. She disappeared through the mist before resurfacing midway through the lane to keep on nicely through the wire in an effort McPeek described as a “happy half-mile.” Due to the heavy fog, an official time was not able to be recorded for the work.

“It was a nice and easy half-mile, nothing fancy,” said McPeek. “All I could see was coming up to the wire and out, but it was all good. We’re ducking rain drops since tomorrow it’s supposed to pour. I didn’t want to work her over a sloppy track. We just let her feel good and let her do what she feels like doing.”

The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks victress has won two Grade 1s against fellow sophomore fillies over the Saratoga main track, taking the DK Horse Acorn on June 7 ahead of a dazzling score in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20. With her dominance against her own sex clear, the next challenge for the talented bay will be to test her capabilities against the best of the male division in the 10-furlong Travers.

McPeek, who trained Swiss Skydiver to a win against males in the 2020 Grade 1 Preakness, said it is special to chase history with a filly like Thorpedo Anna.

“I don’t think she’s challenged by the fillies; she’s overmatching them. It’s fun and I think back to horses like Genuine Risk, Winning Colors, Rags to Riches, Rachel Alexandra and Swiss Skydiver who all beat colts, and none of them tried it in the Travers,” said McPeek. “Why not her? If it’s ever going to happen, it could happen with her.”

Owned by Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks and Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna seeks to become the first filly since Lady Rotha in 1915 to win the Travers. With her historic bid, she has garnered a strong following both at the racetrack and on social media platforms.

With so many fans excited to follow the filly’s training, McPeek made an open invitation to the public to come see her train daily over the Oklahoma, and shared the following post on “X” on July 21:

“Thorpedo Anna will continue to train daily at the Oklahoma side training track Monday through Saturday at 5:30am. She’s a creature of habit and goes early. @TheNYRA will allow fans inside early starting this Wednesday [July 24]. Our stable is located at 131 Fifth Ave and she will be there cooling out after her gallops. Fans can see her early each day.”

McPeek said allowing the public to get a daily view of Thorpedo Anna’s routine is good for both his barn and for the sport as a whole.

“I think sharing a good horse with people is fun. For me, when people come around, it brings me energy and it’s good for the game,” said McPeek. “There’s no sense in hiding any of the superstars. Let’s show them off.”

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McKulick earns career-best 96 BSF for G2 Glens Falls title defense

Klaravich Stables’ multiple graded stakes-winner McKulick was awarded a career-high 96 Beyer Speed Figure for a smart repeat victory in Thursday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls, a 1 1/2-mile inner turf test for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the daughter of Frankel stalked well off an honest tempo set by stablemate Royalty Interest before following the run of Chop Chop in the last of three turns to take dead aim at the leader. She flew home with a strong turn of foot under Irad Ortiz, Jr. to draw off from a triad of rivals and post the 2 1/4-length score over longshot Parnac. Royalty Interest faded to last-of-7.

Brown said both his runners were in good order after their efforts and that McKulick will likely set her sights on the 11-furlong Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl on August 31 here, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November at Del Mar.

“She [McKulick] came out of the race good and assuming everything is well and she trains good, she’ll head to the Flower Bowl,” Brown said. “The race set up well and Royalty Interest was up there setting the pace. This horse kicked on nicely and finished well. She didn’t mind a little give in the ground, either. She’s been such a pleasure to have.”

McKulick won last year’s Glens Falls by a neck over War Like Goddess – another dual Glens Falls winner – as part of a campaign that saw her notch an additional win in the Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Waya in October at Belmont at the Big A. The winner of the 2022 Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational boasts over $1.8 million in earnings through a record of 18-7-5-2.

Brown worked a strong set of turf specialists Friday over the Oklahoma training turf, led by last-out Grade 3 Kelso-winner Carl Spackler. The Lope de Vega 4-year-old covered five furlongs in 1:01.55 solo as he targets the Grade 1, $500,000 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap on August 10 here. The Fourstardave offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

Whitebeam, last-out winner of the Grade 1 Diana for the second year in a row, returned to the work tab Friday, posting a half-mile in 49 seconds flat. Grade 2-placed Coppice rounded out the triad of turf workers for Brown, covering five furlongs in 1:01.65.

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Diego Velazquez blows out ahead of G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational

Westerberg, Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Group 2-winner Diego Velazquez visited the Saratoga Race Course main track this morning for a brief blowout ahead of Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 1 3/16-miles for sophomores over the Mellon turf.

For the second consecutive year, per a partnership between the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Moonee Valley Racing Club, the winner of the Saratoga Derby will receive an automatic berth into the prestigious Group 1, AUD$5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate, set to take place on October 26 in Australia.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Diego Velazquez arrives from a seven-length romp over elders in the nine-furlong Group 3 Meld on July 18 at Leopardstown.

O’Brien’s traveling assistant TJ Comerford said the Frankel colt has arrived in good order and made the most of this morning’s training session.

“He’s just gone a little bit quicker today. He went easy for four [furlongs] and then a little bit quicker the last four over a mile,” Comerford said. “He’s done very good. He’s a great traveler.”

A half-brother to multiple Group 1-winning multi-millionaire Broome and three-time Group 1-placed Point Lonsdale, Diego Velazquez was also a respectable 4 3/4-length eighth-of-14 in June’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club [French Derby] over 10 1/2-furlongs at Chantilly. He captured the Group 2 Champions in September at Leopardstown.

Diego Velazquez, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, will exit post 4 under Ryan Moore.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg’s Greenfinch scratched from today’s Grade 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational due to a foot abscess per Comerford. The daughter of Justify, a last-out winner of the Cairn Rouge on July 17 at Killarney, was listed at 9-2 morning line with Moore to ride.

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Appleby-trained stars on the turf work tab

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby had an octet of Oklahoma turf workers on Friday at Saratoga Race Course, most preparing for stakes action either in New York or elsewhere. Two international superstar jockeys were in action among the team, as well, on what was a busy morning on the green.

Chief among upcoming targets here for Appleby is the Grade 1, $500,000 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap on August 10 with both Ottoman Fleet and Master of The Seas nominated. The Fourstardave offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

“We had Nations Pride leading Ottoman Fleet down there and obviously Nations Pride is in next week in the Arlington Million,” Appleby said. “I was delighted with him. He had William [Buick] on him there and looked really well. Ottoman Fleet had [six-time British champion jockey] Kieren Fallon on him and he looks in good order. He’s staying here for the Fourstardave. He looks in good nick at the moment.

“Master of The Seas, he didn’t come out to the turf today. He will go to the main track tomorrow,” Appleby added. “We’ll have a look at the pair of them, to be honest with you. Obviously, Master of The Seas will carry top weight around there, needless to say, and there are very much options for him here, possibly Canada or back for the [Coolmore Turf Mile at] Keeneland. He runs well fresh and we’ll run him when he’s happy. Ottoman Fleet is in great order and deserves another crack at a Grade 1, himself. He’s in such great form.”

Master of The Seas, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, is unraced since winning the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in April and has been training regularly at Saratoga.

Winner of the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on this weekend two years ago and a three-time group/grade 1 winner in as many countries, Nations Pride had his fifth consecutive weekly recorded work since a good second to stablemate Measured Time in June’s Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan here.

Nations Pride, a homebred son of Teofilo, was timed in 52.52 for four furlongs and is headed to the 10-furlong Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 10 at Colonial Downs. The same time was assigned to Ottoman Fleet, fresh off a pair of graded stakes wins in Kentucky and set to cut back in distance to the Grade 1 Fourstardave on the same day.

Star of Mystery, fresh off a domination of 3-year-old males in the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation on July 14, will be running against solely fellow sophomore fillies for the first time this season in the Listed $150,000 Galway on August 10 here.

Musical Act, second behind stablemate Legend of Time in stakes company this winter and a disappointing fifth in April’s Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland, does not yet have a target. Musical Act finished up his four furlongs in 53.22, while the fleet-footed Star of Mystery drew alongside to stop the clock in 52.85.

“The first pairing going past us we had Musical Act giving Star of Mystery a lead around there,” Appleby continued. “[Star of Mystery] seems in good nick and she runs next week in the Galway. She’s in great order and it might be a quick turnaround, but she’s already here and she gains experience with another race. From there, we’ll probably head to Keeneland and have a prep hopefully into the Breeders’ Cup [Turf Sprint on November 2].”

One who surely does have a goal is perhaps the most promising member of the American wing of Appleby’s empire, aforementioned Manhattan victor Measured Time. A dual group/grade 1-winning half-brother to Rebel’s Romance, the son of Frankel is riding an inspired trajectory through a mere eight starts.

He worked four furlongs in tandem with Group 2 Dubai City of Gold winner Bold Act in 48.88. Bold Act was third in June’s Chorleywood at Churchill Downs and was having his first breeze since. The son of New Approach has no named target, yet.

Appleby said Measured Time is pointing to the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 24. The 12-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar.

“Measured Time was having his first bit of serious work back, going around there with Bold Act,” Appleby said. “He’s in good order. It was a simple piece of work there, but he looks in good nick. He will go straight to the Sword Dancer.”

Naval Power worked his four furlongs in 49.95 in tandem with talented Meydan winner Beautiful Love, who was given the same time. Beautiful Love was a good second to subsequent Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks winner Cinderella’s Dream in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic in February and has yet to make her U.S. bow.

“Naval Power did a bit of work there, his first work back [since finishing second in the G1 Turf Classic], and he’s going to go to Canada for the Woodbine Mile,” Appleby said. “To be honest, we had intended on going to the Wise Dan with him that Ottoman [Fleet] wound up winning. He had a bit of a setback there with his foot and, to be fair, we saw that Ottoman was in such good nick, so we just went on with him there and gave Naval Power some time. He runs well fresh, so we’ll go straight to Canada with him.

“Beautiful Love moved up alongside him well there and she runs next week in the [Grade 2, $200,000] Lake Placid [presented by Caesars Sportsbook on Aug. 17].”

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Greavette works for Listed $150K Galway

After the usual faces from the barns of turf powerhouses Charlie Appleby and Chad Brown worked Friday over the Oklahoma turf, trainer Jamie Begg sent out a promising candidate for next Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Galway in Upland Flats Racing’s dual stakes-winner Greavette.

With Luis Saez aboard, the sophomore Astern filly covered a half-mile in 50.55 seconds, according to NYRA Clockers, as she prepares for the 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomore fillies.

“We didn’t want her to do too much, just wanted Luis to have a little test ride on her, and he was happy enough,” said Begg. “She can get a little keyed up in her works and do too much, so she just went 50 and two today and we were happy with that.”

The Pennsylvania-bred Greavette won the state-bred Malvern Rose sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on synthetic last-out on July 8 at Presque Isle Downs. Begg removed her blinkers for the victory.

“It was good, she kind of came back to what we thought she was last year. We played with some equipment stuff. I kind of had an inkling that as a 3-year-old with the blinkers on, that she was getting a little keyed up in her races and her works,” Begg said. “She was just not working the way she was as a baby, so we worked her a couple times without blinkers, and I thought we just need to do this, and it paid off.”

Last year, Greavette graduated at third asking in the six-furlong Finest City versus fellow state-breds at Presque Isle ahead of a strong third at odds of 52-1 in the Stewart Manor at that distance on turf in November at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“We are very happy with the way she is training. She is coming back into her own,” Begg said. “I feel like this race was kind of setting up for her and we’d like to try to win the big races at Saratoga, so this is probably the one we should bring her to.”

The Malvern Rose has been a productive race in recent memory, 2022’s victress Roses for Debra was a subsequent multiple graded stakes-winner, before that Just One Time was an eventual Grade 1 winner, and in 2020 Caravel was a future multiple Grade 1-winning turf sprinter.

Greavette, a $92,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds-in-Training Sale, looks to add her name to that list with an open-company stakes score at the Spa. She is out of the Forestry mare Convertible, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Cosmic Kris and multiple stakes-placed Foret.

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G3-placed Gavea returns to the work tab

Bal Mar Equine’s Gavea returned to the work tab this morning for the first time since her fourth-place effort in the Grade 3, $175,000 Lake George a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies on July 20 at Saratoga Race Course.

In the Lake George, the Al Stall, Jr. trainee broke alertly and led the field through fractions of 23.88 seconds and 47.93 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. before being overtaken in the stretch and ultimately falling one length short to the victorious Pounce. She earned a career best 87 Beyer Speed Figure in the effort.

“When she drew the one hole on the inner, her hand was kind of forced a little bit to lay close or to be on the lead. She was in front, and I thought she was going comfortable enough on the front end and she fought really hard and just got passed up by stakes winners,” Stall, Jr. said.

The top-three finishers of the Grade 3 Lake George, which included runner-up Oversubscribed and third-place Vive Veuve, were all previous stakes winners.

“We gave up quite a bit of seasoning to those horses, but I think that race should set her up for a good race next time,” Stall, Jr. said. “She should be sitting on a good race so we’re going to be careful and take our time to find the right spot for her.”

The 3-year-old Gleneagles filly covered a half mile in 52 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course this morning under Julien Leparoux.

“I told Julien to just go even, and he went 26 and 26, so that was just fine for her. She is not a big filly, so that was perfect for her,” Stall, Jr. said of the work.

The Stall, Jr. barn is also home to Strong State, a winner here over opening weekend. The juvenile filly prevailed by a neck in her second career start in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race and now looks to stakes company next in the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway, a seven-furlong test for juvenile fillies on August 31 here.

Strong State is from the first crop of the Stall, Jr. trained Grade 1 winner Tom’s d’Etat, who had an affinity for the Spa winning three races over the oval, including the 2019 Alydar.

“She works tomorrow. She came out of the race fine and we are hopeful that she will be a nice fresh and fit horse for the Spinaway,” Stall, Jr. said.

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