Saratoga: Grade 3’s Quick Call, Schuylerville Headline Opening Day

By Keith McCalmont —-

Golden Pal ready to shine in G3 Quick Call on Opening Day at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg’s Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-winner Golden Pal will make his seasonal debut in Thursday’s Grade 3, $120,000 Quick Call, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomores on Opening Day of the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.

The Quick Call is named for the multiple graded stakes-winning gelding who won more than half of his 16 career victories at the Spa. Trained by Sid Watters, Jr. and Warren Croll, Quick Call finished fifth in the Saratoga Special in 1986, and went on to win nine races there from 1987-1990 including the Forego in 1988 and 1989. Quick Call, who died in October 2019 at the age of 35, enjoyed a remarkable second career as an equine teacher in the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances Program.

Golden Pal, trained by Wesley Ward, enjoyed a memorable juvenile campaign, finishing second in the Group 2 Norfolk at Ascot last June ahead of a stylish gate-to-wire maiden win in the 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore in August on the Saratoga turf, garnering a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sent to post as the odds-on favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, contested at 5 ½-furlongs over good going at Keeneland, Golden Pal set splits of 21.62, 44.63 and 56.42 seconds, holding off a late rally from Cowan to secure a three-quarter length score in a final time of 1:02.82.

Out of the 11-time stakes-winning Midshipman mare Lady Shipman, Golden Pal has posted five breezes dating back to June 6 in preparation for his sophomore debut, including an easy half-mile in 51.80 on the Belmont inner turf on Thursday.

“He’s doing really well. We’re excited about him,” said Ward. “I think he’ll be the best horse I ever had, but we’ll see if it comes out that way. He does things in the mornings that are just so impressive. He’s just an immensely talented horse and we’re looking forward to getting his season started here at Saratoga on Opening Day. Hopefully, that leads into the Breeders’ Cup at the end of the year.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 3.

Ward entered Silverton Hill’s Fire Sword, who has won 3-of-5 career starts, for the main-track only.

Bryan Hilliard’s Second of July will look to get back to winning ways for trainer Phil Gleaves after off-the-board finishes in his last two starts.

The Jack Milton chestnut graduated on debut in September at odds of 68-1 in a six-furlong inner turf sprint at Belmont and proved the result was no fluke, capturing the Grade 3 Futurity over the Widener turf course a month later.

Second of July finished 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to close out his 2-year-old season and was seventh after being bumped at the start last out in a six-furlong turf sprint in June at Belmont in his seasonal debut.

Gleaves said Second of July has excuses for his last two starts.

“In the Breeders’ Cup, he got hit with a clod of turf, so much so that when I got back to the barn his right eye was fully closed. That told the tale of that race and then I gave him the winter off,” said Gleaves. “I ran him back at Belmont and our plan was to sit second or third that day and he got hit by the horse outside him leaving the gate and that put him back to last. The jock tried to put him in the race and the horse ran off, so to speak, going from last to second into a 44 and change pace.

“Since then, he’s been doing good and training well,” Gleaves added. “I would hope he’ll get back to his best form on Thursday.”

Gleaves said Second of July, a longshot in both winning efforts, continues to be a good-moving horse.

“I wouldn’t say he’s grown that much from two-to-three, but he’s still a very sound and fluid-moving horse,” said Gleaves. “At some point, I want to stretch him out. He’s a Jack Milton, so you would think he would have no problems going two turns. For now though, coming off the bad race at Belmont, I’d like to have one more sprint under our belts.”

Dylan Davis, aboard for both winning efforts, will guide Second of July from post 2.

“He’s got very good speed if he needs to use it, but in his two winning races he came from off the pace,” said Gleaves. “So, I’m sure we’ll try something like that again.”

Although cross-entered in Sunday’s $75,000 My Frenchman at Monmouth Park, Gleaves confirmed the Saratoga-based Second of July will contest the Quick Call.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner’s Jaxon Traveler, a $140,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, has posted a consistent record of four wins and three seconds in seven starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

The dark bay Munnings colt, bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau, completed his 2020 campaign with a score in the seven-furlong Maryland Juvenile Futurity in December at Laurel Park.

Jaxon Traveler opened his sophomore season with a pair of starts at Oaklawn Park, finishing second in the Gazebo in March ahead of a 2 3/4-length score in the Bachelor in April.

He has finished second in both of his recent efforts in the Grade 3 Chick Lang in May at Pimlico and in the Woodstock last out on June 20 on the Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack.

Jaxon Traveler will make his turf debut from post 9 under Jose Ortiz.

Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable’s Fauci, runner-up to Golden Pal in the Skidmore last summer, completed his four-race juvenile campaign with a close second in the Juvenile Turf Sprint over soft going at Kentucky Downs.

Also cross-entered in the My Frenchman, trainer Phil Antonacci said Fauci will race at his Monmouth Park base on Sunday unless weather intervenes.

“The plan right now is Monmouth and, depending on weather, the race at Saratoga will be a backup,” said Antonacci. “The weather has been a little weird lately and they’re off the turf here today, so I want to be prepared in case it does come off the turf tomorrow.”

Initially trained by Ward, Fauci was transferred to Antonacci following a second-place finish in the Palisades Turf Sprint in April at Keeneland.

In two starts for Antonacci, Fauci finished fourth in the off-the-turf Paradise Creek in May at Belmont ahead of a rallying allowance win over older horses in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint on June 20 at Monmouth Park.

“Wesley put a great base into him,” said Antonacci. “He’s very easy to train and a gentleman and a pleasure to be around so far. We’re lucky to have him. He makes my job easy.”

Should he race at Saratoga, Fauci will emerge from post 6 under Nik Juarez.

Rounding out the field are Omaha City [post 4, Manny Franco], winner of the Hollywood Beach in September at Gulfstream; Kentucky Pharoah [post 1, Tyler Gaffalione], who captured the Dania Beach in January at Gulfstream; and allowance winner Rebel Posse [post 8, Reylu Gutierrez]. Maiden winner Mr. Sippi is entered for the main-track only.

The Quick Call is slated as Race 8 on Thursday’s 10-race Opening Day card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. 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, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Happy Soul headlines Opening Day’s G3 Schuylerville at the Spa

By Ryan Martin

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gayla Rankin’s Happy Soul seeks to build on her early winning ways, taking on her toughest test yet against eight other freshmen fillies in Thursday’s 103rd running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville on Opening Day of the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.

The six-furlong Schuylerville kicks off juvenile stakes action at the Spa and has been a steppingstone to champion honors in the careers of champions Cicada [1961], Numbered Account [1971], La Prevoyante [1972], Sacahuista [1986], Meadow Star [1990], Golden Attraction [1995], Countess Diana [1997] and Ashado [2003]. The city of Schuylerville is named after American Revolutionary War hero Phillip Schuyler, and is located just 12 miles east of Saratoga Springs.

Additionally, the Schuylerville is one of six stakes events scheduled for Runhappy Opening weekend July 15-18, led by the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana for fillies and mares going nine furlongs on the turf on Saturday, July 17.
Trained by Wesley Ward, Happy Soul won her last two starts by a combined 23 ¼ lengths and garnered a respective 81 Beyer Speed Figure in both races.

Following a runner-up effort at first asking to stable mate Nakatomi, Happy Soul romped by 11 ¾ lengths on May 13 going five furlongs at Belmont Park. The daughter of second-crop sire Runhappy replicated such dominant ways against stakes company, taking the Astoria by 11 ½ lengths.

The Astoria was not initially targeted for Happy Soul, who arrived at her first stakes engagement with no recorded breezes following her maiden triumph.

“She got beat on the squares there in her first start,” Ward said. “We were ready when she came back, so we were expecting a big effort. Then, the Astoria came up where she would have been the overwhelming favorite going in, so it was hard to pass up, even without a breeze under her belt.”

Happy Soul has gained experience in her morning training, working with Grade 1-winning stablemate Kimari.

“Visually, Kimari is a better horse, but she’s doing it with speed to spare as well,” Ward said. “She has had some nice works underneath her and she’s come to handle it quicker than I thought. The way she’s doing right now, we’re thinking Schuylerville.”

Breaking from post 7, Happy Soul will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who will vie for his sixth Schuylerville win.

Trainer Tom Amoss packs a powerful pair of last out maiden winners in Pipeline Girl and Cartel Queen.

Amoss used the Schuylerville as the stakes debut for subsequent multiple Grade 1-winner Serengeti Empress, who finished fourth in 2018 to Catherinethegreat.

Owned by Jerry Caroom, Pipeline Girl scored at first asking, travelling the Schuylerville distance on June 25 at Churchill Downs. The daughter of first crop sire Air Force Blue broke sharply from post 2 and tracked a trio of frontrunners down the backstretch before making a four-wide move in upper stretch and capturing command in the final strides to win by a head.

“I thought her race was a very good experience,” Amoss said. “Any time you get a good experience out of a race and can win it is always a good thing. With a lot of these young horses at this stage, their running style is still something that you’re trying to learn about.”

Bred by Lynch Bages LTD, Pipeline Girl is out of the black-type producing Pulpit mare Guide, whose dam Tour produced graded stakes winner Trip – the second dam of Grade 1-winners Bolt d’Oro and Global Campaign. She was bought for $100,000 from the Hunter Valley consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Also flying the Amoss banner is Jeff Ganje’s Cartel Queen, who arrives off a maiden win at second asking. After finishing second behind runaway winner Golden Bell on debut in April at Keeneland, the daughter of Cairo Prince registered a 2 ¼-length triumph on May 20 at Churchill Downs.

Cartel Queen will sport blinkers for the first time in the Schuylerville, having worked in the hood when blitzing through a half-mile in 47.60 on July 9 at Saratoga.

“We’re making an equipment change with her and adding blinkers,” Amoss said. “She worked at Saratoga with blinkers [Friday] morning and did fine, so she’ll wear them for the Schuylerville.”

Cartel Queen is out of 2009 Oklahoma Horse of the Year Peach Brew – a half sibling to prominent Oklahoma-bred champion and millionaire She’s All In. She was bought for $50,000 from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by co-breeder Buck Pond Stable.

Pipeline Girl will break from post 3 under Jose Ortiz, while Cartel Queen will be piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 9.

Swilcan Stable and LC Racing’s Mainstay will attempt to level up to the status of her champion half-sister Vequist for trainer Butch Reid, Jr.

The daughter of freshman sire Astern was highly impressive on debut, gliding home to a 7 ¾-length victory on June 4 over a sloppy and sealed main track at Monmouth Park.

Jockey Frankie Pennington will pilot Mainstay from post 2.

Trainer Norm Casse will saddle Pretty Birdie on behalf of Marylou Whitney Stables. The homebred daughter of freshman sire Bird Song was never in doubt in her career debut on June 18 at Churchill Downs, leading at every point of call to win by 3 ¾ lengths.

Dear Birdie, an influential broodmare for the late Marylou Whitney’s breeding operation, appears twice in Pretty Birdie’s pedigree. She is the paternal third dam and the maternal fourth dam of Pretty Birdie.

Pretty Birdie will be piloted by jockey Luis Saez from the inside post.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen will saddle two fillies in pursuit of his fourth Schuylerville victory, winning with Jardin [2008], Hot Dixie Chick [2009] and Brazen Persuasion [2013].

W.S. Farish’s Eagle Express ships to Saratoga by way of her native state after capturing the Texas Stallion Pan Zareta on June 13 at Lone Star for Asmussen. A victory would give the Farish family a fourth Schuylerville victory, boasting prior wins with Sweet Revenge [1980], Weekend Surprise [1982] and Weekend Delight [1984].

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. will ride Eagle Express from post 8.

Asmussen will also send out Stonestreet Stables’ Velvet Sister following a successful debut on June 10 at Belmont Park. The daughter of Bernardini led at every point of call over Big Sandy, extending her advantage throughout and romped home a 9 ¾-length winner.

Bred in New York by Godolphin and Michelle Nevin, Velvet Sister was a $500,000 acquisition from the Fasig-Tipton March 2020 Sale, where she was consigned by Eddie Woods. She is a half-sister to multiple New York-bred stakes-winner My Boy Tate.

Jockey Joel Rosario will return to the irons aboard Velvet Sister from post 4.

Cammarota Racing’s Queen Camilla [post 6, Junior Alvarado] invades from South Florida for trainer Antonio Sano. The daughter of first crop sire Connect was a one-length winner against her Florida-bred counterparts on July 1 at Gulfstream Park.

Completing the field is Saucy Lady T, a dark bay or brown Tonalist filly trained and co-owned by James Chapman in partnership with Van Camperlengo.
Saucy Lady T won at second asking on April 25 over a sloppy and sealed track at Belmont Park. Jockey Manny Franco will ride from post 5.

The Schuylerville is slated as Race 9 on Thursday’s 10-race Opening Day card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. 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, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.