Saratoga Race Course Notes 8/15

NYRA COMMUNICATIONS —-

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner Golden Tempo took to the Saratoga Race Course main track for his weekly breeze a little later than usual Saturday, working four furlongs in 47.46 seconds with Jose Ortiz up over a surface labeled fast, according to NYRA clockers.

For the second straight week, Golden Tempo worked inside stablemate Paige Turner but this time had a less vigorous gallop out compared to his three previous breezes here at Saratoga as he prepares for the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers, a 10-furlong test for 3-year-olds on August 29.

“He worked very well,” said trainer Cherie DeVaux. “Jumped right in the bridle, settled in nicely, and had a nice gallop out. We didn’t have him gallop out the way he has his last couple of works – just kind of eased him down just because he’s been doing a lot.”

In prior weeks, Golden Tempo had breezed just after 7 a.m., but this week his move was pushed back to 8:45 because of heavy fog. The track still had some moisture from rain on Friday afternoon.

“He handled [the track] fine, but [he] probably wouldn’t have gone as fast to start out if it were dry, a normal track,” said DeVaux.

DeVaux said she is feeling “confident” with Golden Tempo, a Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred, going into the Travers.

“He seems fit, he seems really happy,” added DeVaux. “He’s had a couple of really nice works, solid, and he’s not overly exerted, so I think he’s in a really good place.”

After closing from last of 18 to edge Renegade by a neck in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Golden Tempo skipped the Grade 1 Preakness and instead trained up to Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. In the Belmont, he once again trailed the field before making a determined run, eventually prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths over Commandment with Renegade an additional four lengths back in third.

Golden Tempo missed some training in June with a brief illness, but he returned to the work tab at Keeneland on July 17 [four furlongs in 48.40 seconds] and subsequently was shipped to Saratoga. His three prior breezes at Saratoga came July 26 [48.51], August 2 [47.67], and August 8 [48.94].

“He trains really well at both [Keeneland and Saratoga],” said DeVaux. “He’s starting to tout himself. Galloping, he’s taking the rider a bit, taking a good hold. He’s happy, the way he was going into all of his other races, like right before the race, just really getting into his training. His condition looks fantastic.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz has ridden Golden Tempo in all six of his starts and for his four breezes at Saratoga.

“We wanted 48 [seconds] today,” said Ortiz. “He went a little bit more, 47, but he did it on his own. The gallop out was good. He was in the bridle today. Just let him be happy, stretch his legs. I was very happy with him. We need a peak performance to win the Travers.”

Golden Tempo raced without blinkers in his first three starts, winning a six-furlong maiden race in November and the Grade 3 Lecomte in January before finishing an even third, beaten six lengths, the Grade 2 Risen Star in February. He came up one length short when third in his first start wearing blinkers, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March, before his breakthrough victories in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

“It’s been a beautiful journey,” said Ortiz. “Obviously, his debut was very nice, gave us a lot of hope. He ran good after that, but since we put the blinkers on him he’s changed a lot. He’s been a great horse to be around. Very successful, obviously, winning the Derby and the Belmont. We’ll see if we can get the Travers.”

“[Golden Tempo has been] more focused on his job [with blinkers],” the rider later added. “I think that helps him a lot. I mean, not in the race – he’s still a closer. We thought the blinkers would help him with positioning himself in races, but it wasn’t the case. But in the mornings, when I got on him the first day working with the blinkers, I knew he was a different horse right away. When he stepped on the racetrack, he was just different. He was going forward. Before, you had to ask him to do everything.”

DeVaux also provided updates on a trio of 3-year-olds owned by C R K Stable.

The trainer said Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun winner Englishman remains on track for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 29 after breezing four furlongs in 49 flat on Friday at Keeneland. He will ship to Saratoga the week of the seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

Remember Mamba, fourth in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing last Saturday, came out of the race in good shape, but DeVaux believes the Grade 3 Transylvania winner and Grade 1 Belmont Derby third-place finisher may benefit from a change of scenery.

“I was a little concerned prior to the [Saratoga Derby],” said DeVaux. “In the paddock, he was quiet, and he kind of ran that way. I’m not really sure Saratoga is his favorite place, so we are going to regroup [and] probably run him back at Keeneland [in the Grade 3 Bryan Station on October 24].”

Supercharger, winner of the Grade 2 Secretariat at Colonial Downs on August 1, likely will make his next start back at Colonial in the Grade 3 Old Dominion Derby on September 7, the trainer said.

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Zeitlos wins Listed Smart and Fancy; Summer Starlet points to G1 Spinaway

Peter Leidel’s Zeitlos powered through the rain to earn her first grass win in Friday’s Listed $200,000 Smart and Fancy, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 6-year-old daughter of Curlin ended a 10-race win drought dating to the Listed Skipat last May at Pimlico Race Course. She earned her first turf win in her sixth attempt, improving her overall record to 29-10-7-3 with a bankroll of more than $1.5 million.

“She came back really good,” Asmussen said. “She’s been excellent to us and obviously continues to do so. That was a big win. She had run some really good races, including a couple of graded placings on turf. That was her first win on turf, but it was the right time to do it.”

Asmussen said upcoming targets for Zeitlos include the Grade 1 Ladies Turf Sprint on August 29 at Kentucky Downs or a try for a second score in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America on dirt on October 3 at Keeneland.

BC Stables, Wattswood Stables, Bob Albritton, Jay Graham and David Baggett’s juvenile filly Summer Starlet won her 6 1/2-furlong debut by 6 1/2 lengths on August 8 here. The City of Light bay earned an impressive 87 Beyer Speed Figure and now targets the local seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway on September 5, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“Very impressive filly,” Asmussen said. “It’s exciting to have one as good as her for the Spinaway. She has always shown a lot of class and is very fast.”

Summer Starlet, a $335,000 purchase at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is a half-sister to Grade 2-placed Coach Prime, out of the winning Street Sense mare Act Now.

For the seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful on September 6 here, Asmussen said it is looking like his contender will be Booked, owned by Jackpot Farm, Alvin Fults, Jason Itkin and Michael Smith. The Grade 3 Sanford-winning Yaupon dark bay was a two-length second to Twinkle Town last out in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 1.

“I expected him to win, and he was second, so we need to improve,” Asmussen said.

Some stablemates of note include Obliteration, possible for the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 29 here, and Magnitude, who Asmussen plans to train up to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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Robson seeks her first graded score with Rebel With a Cause in G3 Mahony

Tristar Farm’s Rebel With a Cause looks to provide trainer Lauren Robson with her first graded score in Sunday’s Grade 3, $225,000 Mahony, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

“Hoping it will happen here,” Robson said. “That would be amazing.”

The Leinster gelding enters from a 1 1/4-length score over returning rival Big Destroyer in the 5 1/2-furlong My Frenchman on July 11 at Monmouth Park. The performance earned a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He’s coming into this race well,” said Robson. “He shipped in well and is eating good, seems to be happy. He’s been an honest horse. He’s tried every time, so it’s always nice that you feel you can rely on them to bring their race with them. He’s coming back a little quicker than last time, but he seems to be happy.”

Ahead of the My Frenchman, Rebel With a Cause was fourth to returning rival Outfielder in the Listed William Walker in May at Churchill Downs off a Florida-bred allowance win in March over Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. He graduated second out in a February maiden optional claimer there when trying turf and as a first-time gelding.

“That [gelding] might’ve settled him down a touch, but he’s still got a lot of personality,” Robson said, with a laugh. “He’s always been OK training-wise, but he was kind of rough in the stall.”

Rebel With a Cause drew post 1 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano to ride, tabbed at morning line odds of 8-1.

“He does have speed if he needs it, but he’s just handy that he can sit off of the pace, too,” said Robson. “His trip just depends on who goes. We are the one-hole, it’s OK, we were going to save ground either way. He showed last time he doesn’t mind being down inside, so that’s good to know. We’ll let Javier play the break and go from there.”

Rebel With a Cause, out of the Mizzen Mast mare Glenwood Pines, was a $10,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. His second dam is stakes-winner Cayuga’s Waters.

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