Pura Vida Investments' talented juvenile Rhyme Schemes has won 2-of-3 lifetime starts with each score coming by a margin of 9 1/2 lengths, led by a romp in Saturday's $200,000 Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special (G2), a 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juveniles at Saratoga Race Course.
“Everything looks good this morning and he seems happy; no complaints,” said trainer Norm Casse, who celebrated his fifth career graded victory. “Overall, it's so rewarding. I've been doing this for a long time and Saratoga is an iconic place – the Saratoga Special is an iconic race. Just to be involved is humbling, and to win it is something to be really proud of.”
A son of Ghostzapper, Rhyme Schemes was awarded an 86 Beyer Speed Figure for the his Saratoga Special coup and will now be pointed to the Spa's seven-furlong $300,000 Hopeful (G1) on September 4, which will likely be used a springboard to Keeneland's Breeders' Futurity (G1) going a two-turn 1 1/16-miles on October 7.
“Unless he suggests otherwise, I think that's the most rational thing to do,” said Casse. “I know he's still a fresh horse and I can't imagine why he can't come back in three weeks and run just as well. Ideally, the Hopeful will be next and then the Breeders' Futurity after that. The way he trains and his overall demeanor suggests he's a two-turn horse. The horses have the answers, so we'll figure it out as we do it.”
Rhyme Schemes finished an even sixth on debut in May at Churchill Downs when attempting to close from midpack, but relished a front-running trip and the addition of blinkers to claim victory at second asking on June 15 at Ellis Park. He proved his versatility in the Saratoga Special when stalking and pouncing from third, one length off the pace, to draw clear down the stretch under regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr.
“He's a true professional,” said Casse. “We don't have to do too much with him because he's so talented; we just let him go through the motions between races, and that's good enough for him. That's what's most exciting about him is the fact that we haven't really had to grind on him to get him to this place where he is now.”
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