Trainer Tom Albertrani is hoping for improved weather this summer to allow Sadler's Joy to run on his preferred firm track after rain has twice delayed his plans this spring. The Woodslane Farm homebred is now slated to run in the $150,000 Grand Couturier Stakes on Monday, July 5 as part of the Stars and Stripes Racing Festival at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
The 1 1/2-mile turf contest for 4-year-olds and up could mark the return to racing for Sadler's Joy after Albertrani passed on potential starts in the $700,000 Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes in May and the $400,000 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup on June 4 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival because of earlier rainfall and the potential for softer turf, which the conditioner said does not suit the 8-year-old veteran.
“We've been unlucky with the weather and having a lot of rain leading up to these races,” Albertrani said. “We know he doesn't perform as well on soft turf, so we just decided to pass on it. We'll wait until July and that will be our next move going forward.”
Sadler's Joy, 7-4-11 in 36 career starts, ended 2020 with a fourth-place effort in the Grade 3 Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, N.Y., and started the current year with similar finishes in consecutive 1 1/2-mile contests, starting with the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Stakes in January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. and following last out at the same distance and track in the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes on March 27.
In August, Sadler's Joy crossed the wire first in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. before being disqualified and placed fourth for interference. Consequently, the accomplished Kentucky bred, who has amassed more than $2.6 million in career earnings, has not won in 10 starts but has finished third on four occasions and fourth in his last five, dating to his last victory in the 2019 finale in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct.
On Saturday, Sadler's Joy breezed five furlongs in 1:02.40 over the Belmont Park main track. His conditioner said his works, the last six of which have come at Belmont dating to May 8, have continued to be impressive.
“He looks as good as ever and has been training really well,” Albertrani said. “He's had a couple of months off now since his last race, so now hopefully we'll get the weather to cooperate and we'll get him back on track.”
Robert Masiello's Fiya also worked Saturday on the Belmont main track, registering a half-mile breeze in 49.96 seconds.
After going 5-for-5 as a sophomore in 2020, Fiya made his 4-year-old debut on April 30 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, K.Y. but was vanned off after running last-of-11 in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint. Albertrani said the Friesan Fire gelding is back to full health now and could have his next spot picked out when the condition book is released for the conclusion of the Belmont spring/summer meet that runs until Sunday, July 11.
“Everything is going really well. Yesterday's work was really good,” Albertrani said. “We're just waiting for the new book to come out and hopefully we'll be able to find a spot for him in there in a couple of weeks. Yesterday, he worked as good as ever. I was really pleased with it. He's starting to come back around. He's feeling good and we're looking forward to getting him back.”
Fiya, who is 5-1-1 in eight career starts, ended his 2020 with back-to-back stakes wins, capturing the Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap in October at Laurel Park near Laurel, M.D. before winning the Claiming Crown Canterbury in December at Gulfstream Park. His lone previous start at Belmont came with a 3 1/4-length win against allowance company in September in his first start for Albertrani since he took over the training duties from Michael Merryman.
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