Saratoga Race Course Notes 08/17

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Saratoga Race Course Notes

Thorpedo Anna posts final work for G1 DraftKings Travers
Dornoch works in company for G1 DraftKings Travers
Fierceness works for G1 DraftKings Travers
G1 DraftKings Travers contender Sierra Leone leads Chad Brown-trained contingent on the work tab
Batten Down posts in-company work for G1 DraftKings Travers
Honor Marie breezes in company for G1 DraftKings Travers
Corporate Power looking to take next step up in G1 DraftKings Travers
Champion Idiomatic prepares for G1 Personal Ensign title defense
Tricky Temper earns career-best 91 BSF for Union Avenue; Mo Plex leans to Funny Cide

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s multiple graded stakes-winner Thorpedo Anna posted her final work Saturday in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers at Saratoga Race Course.

Under regular exercise pilot Danny Ramsey, Thorpedo Anna and the Julien Leparoux-piloted maiden Elko County made two laps around the Spa paddock around 6:45 a.m. before heading out to the main track immediately following the 6:30 renovation break. The two made their way to the top of the stretch before turning back to head towards their starting point on the backstretch.

With Thorpedo Anna on the outside, the pair took off in a steady gallop with all things running smoothly until they met up with another trainer’s horse at the top of the lane and needed to alter their course slightly to safely pass the slower trainee. Both of McPeek’s pupils were hardly bothered and finished up their work cleanly to complete five furlongs in 59.81 seconds, according to NYRA clockers.

“It was nice,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “That one horse got in her way, but we just wanted to let her stretch her legs over the main. The colt she worked against is not a high-level colt, but it was enough to keep her interested. It was a nice, happy five-eighths and a nice gallop out.”

The work was the Fast Anna filly’s first over the main track, a surface she already boasts two Grade 1 victories over when capturing the DK Horse Acorn in June and the Coaching Club American Oaks last out on July 20. The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks victress now takes on her toughest task to date as she attempts to become the first filly since Lady Rotha in 1915 to win the “Mid-Summer Derby.”

Bred in Kentucky by co-owner Judy Hicks, Thorpedo Anna boasts a near-perfect 6-for-7 lifetime record with earnings just shy of $2 million. With the expected services of regular jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the Travers, she will face a talented pool of sophomores likely to include Dornoch [Danny Gargan/Luis Saez], Fierceness [Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez], Batten Down [Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado], Sierra Leone [Chad Brown/Flavien Prat], Unmatched Wisdom [Chad Brown/Irad Ortiz, Jr.], Honor Marie [Whit Beckman/Tyler Gaffalione], and Corporate Power [Shug McGaughey/Javier Castellano]. Entries are taken Sunday.

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Dornoch works in company for G1 DraftKings Travers

West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables’ dual Grade 1-winner Dornoch logged his final work Saturday in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers, covering a half-mile in 47.65 seconds over the Saratoga Race Course main track, according to NYRA clockers.

Trained by Danny Gargan, the current leader of the sophomore male division stepped onto the fast main track just after the conclusion of the 6:30 a.m. renovation break and was guided through his exercise by regular morning rider Priscilla Schaefer. The talented colt worked to the outside of stakes-winner Ringy Dingy, with the two keeping on well together throughout and Dornoch inching ahead at the wire.

“He did it pretty easy,” said Gargan. “He galloped out in a minute and change, and it was kind of his routine work here. We were shooting for 48 and we got 47 and three, so that’s pretty close. They both had good energy and I’m pleased with it.”

Dornoch looks to become the eighth horse to win the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell and Grade 1 Travers, and the first to do it since Point Given in 2001. Point Given is also the only horse to have won the Belmont, Haskell and Travers, a feat Dornoch will look to replicate 23 years later.

Bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine, the son of Good Magic is out of the graded stakes-winning Big Brown mare Puca, making him a full-brother to last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner Mage. Puca is now one of just nine broodmares to have produced multiple Classic winners.

As for The Estate of Peter Callahan and James Reiley McDonald’s Ringy Dingy, Gargan said the full-sister to dual Grade 1-winner Defunded will target allowance company next after a last-out fifth in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 8.

“We’re going to run her here in a ‘two-other-than’ going seven-eighths,” said Gargan. “She’s doing really well.”

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Fierceness works for G1 DraftKings Travers

Repole Stable’s Fierceness breezed a half-mile in 48.22 seconds Saturday over the Saratoga Race Course main track in company with Grade 1-winning 5-year-old Bright Future as he prepares for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers, a 10-furlong test for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the City of Light bay won the nine-furlong Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun last-out on July 27 here. The Champion 2-Year-Old Colt drifted far out in the stretch, but still had enough in reserve for a one-length victory over likely Travers returning rivals Sierra Leone and Batten Down.

Pletcher said Fierceness moved well Saturday heading into the “Mid-Summer Derby.”

“Perfect. Bright Future was inside. [Exercise rider] Danny Wright was up,” said Pletcher. “I’m super happy with it. I thought he went well, finished up strongly, galloped out great, seemingly effortlessly.”

Pletcher said Fierceness has always been a strong workhorse.

“Pretty much his whole life. He’s always been a very good work horse,” said Pletcher. “He couldn’t look better.”

Fierceness boasts a career-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure for a 13 1/2-length Grade 1 Florida Derby mockery on March 30 at Gulfstream Park. He bounced in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby with a distant fifteenth after attending the pace, ahead of his Jim Dandy score.

Pletcher said he hopes Fierceness can string back-to-back wins together for the first time in his career.

“Every other time, [he races] terrific,” said Pletcher. “He’s trained as well as we could’ve hoped since the Jim Dandy.”

Also on the tab for Pletcher was Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Speak Easy, who breezed a half-mile in 50.95 seconds with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard over the main track in company with Whisper Hill Farm’s Grade 3-winning turfer Grand Sonata.

The 2-for-2 Constitution chestnut prepares for the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 24. Speak Easy debuted successfully as a sophomore in January at Gulfstream and earned a 100 Beyer at the Jerkens distance. He returned here on July 27 and made quick work of a six-furlong allowance field versus elders.

“It went well. He’s not always an ambitious workhorse,” Pletcher said of the lightly raced sophomore. “I thought it went well, particularly the gallop-out was good.”

Pletcher added that workmate Grand Sonata is probable for Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile turf test for horses 3-and-up, that offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar.

Pletcher-trained Grade 1-winner Tapit Trice covered the same course and distance in 49.63 and is pointed towards the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 10-furlong main track test for 3-year-olds and up on September 1 here.

The Tapit gray and Bright Future, who worked with Fierceness, are pointed at that same race.

“That’s what we are planning on, both horses worked well this morning. Contemplating an equipment change with Bright Future,” Pletcher said. “We will work him with blinkers next week and see how that goes.”

Bright Future, the winner of last year’s running, looks to rebound from an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Whitney here on August 3. Tapit Trice made a winning seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 20 at Monmouth Park.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

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Sierra Leone leads Chad Brown-trained contingent on the work tab

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing and Peter Brant’s dual graded stakes-winner Sierra Leone breezed a solo half-mile in 49 1/5 Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track in his final preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers.

“Perfect. He’s been very consistent,” said four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown of the Gun Runner’s colt’s second breeze back since closing to finish second, one length back of returning rival Fierceness in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun on July 27 here.

Sierra Leone will stretch back out to 10-furlongs for the third time in the Travers having previously finished second at the Classic distance in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs when a nose back of Mystik Dan and third, 1 1/2-lengths back of the victorious Dornoch, in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8 here.

“I think he wants a mile and a quarter. It comes down to pace and how the track is playing,” Brown said. “That’s not just for this track, that’s every track. Tracks change and all tracks are different.

“At any track there’s mild biases for a period of time, but overall at the main meet here versus the little Belmont Festival, I think the track has been pretty fair. I’ve had horses win from anywhere,” Brown added.

In the Jim Dandy, Sierra Leone unleashed a strong stretch kick, angling to the inside of a retreating Pony Express before being brushed by a veering-in Batten Down and taken further inside.

“In the Jim Dandy, the inside was pretty deep when he went down in there,” Brown said. “I’m not saying he was going to win but it definitely leveled him off a bit when he went down in there.”

Bred in Kentucky by Debby M. Oxley, Sierra Leone was a $2.3 million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. He notched graded stakes wins this winter and spring in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds Race Course and the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland. He has banked just over $2.2 million in purses through a 7-3-3-1 lifetime record.

On Friday, Klaravich Stables’ undefeated Travers contender Unmatched Wisdom worked five-eighths in 1:00.41 to the outside of Commander of Truth. Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Unmatched Wisdom, last-out winner of the restricted Curlin on July 19 here.

“It was a beautiful work, just what we were looking for,” Brown said. “At eight days out, it was perfect. I wanted a bit of a stronger work for this horse because he lacks some of the overall conditioning of my other horse in the race, who has run a lot more and is very fit. I loved what I saw.”

Unmatched Wisdom, by Cairo Prince, was a $450,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase. He made his first two starts pressing from second position against elders at Belmont at the Big A, graduating by 6 1/4-lengths in May traveling a one-turn mile and following with a 5 3/4-length romp in a nine-furlong allowance on June 22. He made every pole a winning one in the nine-furlong Curlin when one length better than reopposing Corporate Power.

Brown said the lightly-raced colt has the potential to provide a mild upset.

“He’s got very good positional speed,” Brown said. “If nobody goes, he can go. If he has a target, he’s fine – just as well, maybe better. Hopefully, he breaks clean and can be very forward in this race.”

Klaravich Stables’ dual graded stakes-winning Kentucky homebred Domestic Product worked a half-mile solo over the Oklahoma training track Saturday in preparation for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores on Travers Day.

“I had him in 48 and change. He worked super,” Brown said. “He’s been doing that the last couple weeks. He’s really doing well.”

The Practical Joke dark bay captured the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in March ahead of an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He finished a distant second to Tuscan Sky in the Listed NYRA Bets Pegasus traveling 1 1/16-miles in June at Monmouth Park before cutting back to a one-turn mile in the Grade 3 Dwyer on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A and romping by 7 1/2-lengths to earn a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Klaravich Stables’ recent Grade 1 Ogden Phipps-winner Randomized worked in company Saturday on the main track with Alpha Delta Stables’ last out Grade 2 Shuvee-winner Raging Sea in preparation for Friday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign.

“They worked super,” Brown said. “Randomized missed a work in there because she was sick a few weeks ago. She got over it pretty quick. She’s had two works since that happened and they looked good, particularly this one.”

Entries for the Personal Ensign are being taken today.

Klaravich Stables’ Kentucky homebred Ways and Means, last out winner of the Grade 1 Test presented by Ticketmaster on August 3 here, worked Saturday over the Oklahoma training track.

“It was just a little maintenance half – first work since her Test win,” Brown said. “I don’t have any immediate plans for her. It went great. I’m debating whether to run her again before the Breeders’ Cup. I’m leaning towards running her again, but I’m not certain.”

The sophomore daughter of Practical Joke sports a record of 6-3-2-0 for purse earnings of $569,500.

Batten Down posts in-company work for G1 DraftKings Travers

Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred Batten Down, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, worked a half-mile in 48 3/5 seconds in company with older graded stakes-placed stablemate Bendoog Saturday in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers.

Batten Down, with Junior Alvarado up, was led into the breeze by Bendoog, who was piloted by exercise rider Neil Poznansky. Batten Down arrived on even terms to the outside of his workmate at the wire as the pair galloped out through the turn while being chased by solo working Idiomatic.

“He worked a nice half. He went off with his company, tracked his company, finished up OK and looked good,” Mott said. “Appeared to finish up well enough.”

The Tapit colt, out of the multiple Grade 1-winner and 2014 Champion Older Mare Close Hatches, is a full-brother to the Mott-trained multiple graded stakes-winner Tacitus. He is also a full-brother to multiple graded stakes-winner Scylla, who is still active for Mott.

Batten Down graduated at fourth asking in April going 10 furlongs against elders at Churchill Downs and followed with a breakthrough score in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown. He was a game third last out in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun.

Mott is cautiously optimistic about his colt’s chances in the Travers.

“We are certainly not one of the favorites. There are some other horses that will get a lot more action at the windows than us,” Mott said. “We are in there and we are going to give it our best shot. It is a nice race, and we think he deserves a shot. We haven’t talked about strategy yet, we will sit down and see what it looks like on paper. The horse is doing well.”

Batten Down has banked $454,850 through a 6-2-1-2 record.

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Honor Marie breezes in company for G1 DraftKings Travers

Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein and Dave Fishbein’s Honor Marie posted his final work Saturday for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the Honor Code bay, with Tyler Gaffalione up, worked a half-mile in 50 2/5 seconds over the Oklahoma dirt training track to the outside of older allowance winner Stowaway.

“We wanted something fluid and smooth,” Beckman said. “They went in 25 and change and came home in 24 and change. I got them in 50. We didn’t need to do a ton and they did exactly what they were supposed to do.”

The $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase took down the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November at Churchill Downs to close out his juvenile campaign. The deep-closing colt has competed exclusively in graded company in four starts this year, finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Risen Star in February and second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March at Fair Grounds.

Honor Marie was a troubled eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs before closing from last-of-10 and 13 lengths off the pace to finish fourth last out in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

The talented bay has banked $626,175 through a 7-2-2-0 record. Gaffalione will ride Honor Marie for the first time in the afternoon in the Travers.

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Corporate Power looking to take next step up in G1 DraftKings Travers

Courtlandt Farms’ Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers contender Corporate Power worked a bullet half-mile in 47.44 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track, breezing in company to the inside of maiden Act of Mutiny.

“I was very pleased with his work yesterday,” said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

The Curlin bay graduated at second asking in February at Gulfstream Park and two starts later was a nose winner over Gould’s Gold in the restricted Sir Barton on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. He enters the Travers from a close second to returning rival Unmatched Wisdom in the nine-furlong restricted Curlin on July 19 here.

“I think there will be some pace in the race and that is what I want, especially going a mile and a quarter,” McGaughey said. “The other day he kind of had to chase because there wasn’t any pace. I think there will be a little pace, nothing real fast, but it would be nice if they did go fast. I just hope we are not the one having to do the work in behind. Fierceness is going to go, the filly [Thorpedo Anna] is going to lay close, and I think Chad [Brown, Unmatched Wisdom] has to lay close, so maybe we can kind of lay in behind there and see what happens.”

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Corporate Power, out of the graded stakes winning Quality Road mare Road to Victory, was a $925,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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Champion Idiomatic prepares for G1 Personal Ensign title defense

Reigning Eclipse Champion Older Dirt Female Idiomatic put in her final piece of work Saturday before a title defense of next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign, a 1 1/8-mile test for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.

The Brad Cox trainee, a Juddmonte homebred, worked at 7:30 a.m. on a busy Oklahoma training track. Sporting a pair of black blinkers, the regal bay daughter of Curlin took command of the track as camera shutters clicked trying to capture her beauty.

She worked a solo five-furlongs stopping the clock in 1:00 3/5 according to the NYRA clockers. The track was busy with horses working and she got caught up in the fray catching up to the pair in front of her [Batten Down and Bendoog] in the gallop out.

On site for the work was Blake Cox, assistant trainer and son of Brad Cox.

“It was a very good move for her. We wanted to keep her off the rail a little bit. There was a pair working in front of her and she ran them down in the gallop out. She is such a nice horse, and she just keeps getting better the further she goes,” Cox said.

Idiomatic will look to defend her title in the Personal Ensign. The emphatic victory last year propelled her to a Championship season that culminated in a win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park.

Also working at 7:30 this morning under jockey Flavien Prat was the Godolphin homebred, Highland Falls. The 4-year-old son of Curlin and the multiple Grade 1 winning Awesome Again mare Round Pound was most recently second to Tapit Trice in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at Monmouth Park and has since put in three works, including this morning, over the Oklahoma dirt.

Highland Falls is targeting a start in the Grade 1 $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 1 1/4-mile test for 3-year-olds and up on September 1 here which offers “Win and You’re In” status to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

“Another good work for him. Flavien was aboard this morning. I had him in 47 2/5, 1:00 1/5 out in 1:12 4/5. He had a little bit of traffic trouble, so he was wide coming down the lane and wide on the gallop out,” Cox continued. “He kept getting better the further he went. He is on track for the Jockey Club Gold Cup.”

He is the fifth foal to race out of Round Pond, all of which were stakes winners or stakes placed.

Highland Falls broke his maiden first out last August at Ellis Park and has strung together a record of 8-4-2-1 with $642,060 in earnings. His wins include the June 1 Grade 3 Blame at Churchill Downs before the last out second at Monmouth. He was also second to Skippylongstocking in April at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

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Tricky Temper earns career-best 91 BSF for Union Avenue; Mo Plex leans to Funny Cide

Mark Stanley’s New York-bred Tricky Temper won a six-furlong optional-claimer on August 2 at Saratoga Race Course and returned to the same course and distance two weeks later to win Friday’s state-bred Union Avenue Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the sophomore Into Mischief bay traveled a stalking trip under Flavien Prat before surging to the front to beat Leeloo by three lengths among the field of elders.

“She showed in the morning that she was feeling good with great energy, but you never know, sometimes they give you false hope about their energy,” said Englehart. “We took her over to the paddock and schooled her and kind of used that as a breeze, and she settled down for the race.”

The performance earned a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure. After the race, Englehart joked about a first-level open allowance scheduled two weeks out on August 31 that she is eligible for. The conditioner said his comment had some truth to it, but the Union Avenue effort also warrants further stakes consideration.

“With her, she’ll let me know. If she comes out here in a few days and is full of energy again, I wouldn’t put past her to come back [soon]. But something like a New York-bred stake [is possible],” said Englehart. “Or maybe try to get her to win an open stake. She has talent and I like the way she is progressing.”

In open stakes, Tricky Temper placed in October’s off-the-turf Listed Matron at Belmont at the Big A. She exited to run off the board on turf in the Listed Chelsey Flower there ahead of a successful return to state-bred company in the six-furlong Key Cents on the main track in November.

R and H Stable’s Grade 3 Sanford-winner Mo Plex was on the work tab this morning for Englehart, covering a half-mile in 48.85 seconds solo on the Spa main track.

“He worked very well. He actually picked up two of Chad Brown’s horses and his riders did a great job of letting the work progress itself,” Englehart explained. “He went in 48 4/5 and out in 1:14 1/5, so I thought it went very well.”

The New York-bred Complexity bay earned a career-best 73 Beyer for his pacesetting score over stakes-winner Studlydoright in the local Sanford on July 13. The performance improved upon a 10-length score sprinting on debut in June at Belmont at the Big A.

Regarding a possible start in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Hopeful here on September 2, Englehart said he is leaning towards next Sunday’s Funny Cide presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles.

“I think I’m probably going to stick with the Funny Cide with him next week and go from there,” said Englehart. “The owners seemed like that is what they wanted to do and I wanted to give him a little bit of a lighter race from the Sanford, just because he was all-out to go. I think this is the right race for him.”