Recently transferred to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old Bernardini colt utilized a front-running approach to secure his first win since capturing a pair of nine-furlong stakes last summer for his former conditioner, Tom Drury, in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Ellis Park Derby.

“If you look at his nine-furlong races, you saw he had done very well for the previous trainer,” said Mott. “Both Tom Drury and I had trained for Bruce and Bruce wanted the horse in Saratoga, so Tommy sent the horse up to us and he was in good shape when he came. We've had him six weeks and he's done well since he's been here.”

Art Collector, exiting post 4, cleared the field of eight into the first turn as a forwardly-placed Core Beliefs protected his inside run with Bourbon War, Math Wizard and Night Ops also jostling for position through an opening quarter-mile in 24.51 seconds on the fast main track.

Jesus' Team, runner-up in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup in January, was slow away from the gate but rushed up into sixth down the backstretch by Junior Alvarado as the half-mile ticked by in 48.80.

Art Collector, moving confidently under Saez, dictated terms into the final turn as Night Ops continued to press with the duo gaining three lengths of separation on Core Beliefs in third.

As the field straightened away for the stretch run, Art Collector opened up by three-lengths under a hand ride as Night Ops continued his dogged pursuit and started to close the gap. But an alert Saez shook the reins and his charge responded in kind to secure the 1 1/2-length win in a final time of 1:48.20.

Saez, who guided Art Collector to a runner-up effort on debut in August 2019 at the Spa, said he wanted to be forwardly placed.

“I rode the horse when he was a baby and he liked to be a free runner,” Saez said. “The plan was to break well from our post and see if we can get the lead, and everything went the way we planned it. Breaking from there, we got ahead and he kept going. I saw Manny coming, but I knew I had a lot of horse, so I was patient with him.”

Night Ops completed the exacta by 8 1/2-lengths over Math Wizard. Rounding out the order of finish were Core Beliefs, Limonite, Prioritize, Bourbon War and Jesus' Team.

“When I was in my position stuck in second, I didn't think the pace was too quick, so I had to do my work because no one else went with [Art Collector],” Franco said. “My horse is a horse that never gives up. He always tries. I have to give credit to the winner, but my horse was second-best today.”

Art Collector, who completed his sophomore campaign with off-the-board efforts in the Grade 1 Preakness in October at Pimlico and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland, was transferred to Mott following a sixth-place finish in the Kelly's Landing in June at Churchill Downs.

Mott said Art Collector will now potentially target the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward on October 2 at Belmont Park.

Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Art Collector banked $66,000 in victory while improving his record to 13-6-1-0. He paid $3.80 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Saturday with a loaded 12-race card headlined by the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at nine furlongs for older horses, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

Whitney Day also features two other Grade 1 events with the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles over the Mellon turf and the $500,000 Longines Test for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs over the main track.

Also featured on the card are the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls for older fillies and mares travelling 1 1/2 miles over the inner turf and the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure for 4-year-olds and upward over the Mellon turf. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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The ninth edition of the Alydar, named for the 1989 Hall of Fame inductee who finished second to Affirmed in all three legs of the 1978 Triple Crown, will see Jesus' Team return to the Spa for the first time since running third in last year's Grade 2 Jim Dandy.

The Tapiture colt used that contest for sophomores as a prep for the 2020 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, which was held in October last year, with Jesus' Team finishing third in the final leg of the Triple Crown behind Authentic and winner Swiss Skydiver. Trainer Jose D'Angelo saw him build on that effort in a Triple Crown classic to run second behind Knicks Go in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cut Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

Jesus' Team closed out his year with his first stakes win, capturing the Claiming Crown Jewel in December at Gulfstream going 1 1/8 miles. Returning to the same track and distance, Jesus' Team again linked up with Knicks Go in his 2021 bow, again running second to his rival in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January that netted a 105 Beyer.

D'Angelo then shipped Jesus' Team to the United Arab Emirates, where he ran sixth in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March. After a four-month freshening, he returned to run fifth on July 11 at Gulfstream, prompting D'Angelo to skip the $1 million Grade 1 Whitney on August 7 at Saratoga in favor of the Alydar.

“The last race, for sure, he needed,” D'Angelo said. “After quarantine coming back from Dubai, he lost a little weight. It was a little hard to [improve] his conditioning again. He needed that race to be the horse he is now. He's bigger than his last race, and in that race, he was a little too close to the front. I think it helped him get him fit, though, and we're looking forward to this race.”

Junior Alvarado will pick up the mount from post 7.

Two-time graded stakes-winner Core Beliefs returned from a nine-month layoff to run third in an optional claiming contest going 1 1/16 miles in June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Trainer Brian Lynch said the Quality Road bay needed that race after being given a freshening following a fifth-place finish in the Champions Day Marathon in September at Churchill Downs for then-trainer Scott Hansen.

“I think he ran well enough last out to give us the confidence to try him in a spot like this, because it was a credible effort off a long layoff,” Lynch said. “He's trained on well enough to get a shot. This will be the second time off the bench and it's at a distance that he really likes.”

Core Beliefs, owned by Gary Broad, won the 2018 Grade 3 Ohio Derby in a sophomore year that saw him run fourth in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., and fifth in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa. He then made his 2019 debut with a win in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La., that March, which marked his last victory.

Running at Saratoga for the first time, Core Beliefs will be seeking his first victory in his last eight starts and enters after posting four workouts over the Saratoga main track in July.

“He's doing well and has great energy, and for an older horse, he's been very willing and trying hard in his works,” Lynch said. “I take that as a positive. He just acts like he's in good form. He's done so well since he's been here and the weather has been a little bit cooler, and he seems to enjoy that. His appetite has been fantastic, too. We're just hoping for good things.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will have the call from post 3.

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, who like Jesus' Team also competed in last year's Preakness and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, will get his first opportunity to run at Saratoga and his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Art Collector commenced his 4-year-old year with a sixth-place finish in the Kelly's Landing on June 25 at Churchill Downs, marking his first race since running eighth in that Breeders' Cup appearance seven months prior.

Art Collector, who ran fourth in the Preakness, finished just a head back to Jesus' Team to fall just short of black type in the 1 3/16-mile classic. The winner of the 2020 Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland will have the services of Luis Saez. on Friday, breaking from post 4.

Steve Landers Racing's Night Ops, off three consecutive runner-up efforts in the Grade 3 Ben Ali, Blame, and Grade 3 Monmouth Cup for reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, will make his Saratoga start in a well-traveled career.

Night Ops, who Manny Franco will ride out of post 8, has finished in the money in his last six starts, all against stakes competition, starting with a win in the 2020 Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.

Bourbon Lane Stable's Bourbon War will be running in a stakes for the first time since 2019, when as a 3-year-old he found success on the Triple Crown trail by running second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth before finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, eighth in the Preakness, and 10th in the Belmont Stakes. Trainer Ian Wilkes took over the conditioning duties for Bourbon War's 5-year-old campaign, which started with a strong second, by a neck, to Home Base in an optional claimer in May at Churchill Downs before running third under similar conditions at the same track on June 26.

“He came off a long layoff and ran two good races; I thought he ran really respectable in putting two good ones together back-to-back,” Wilkes said. “I'm getting to know him and he's getting to know me, so it's all good there. The horse has been happy, so that's the key. We're hoping to make that next progression. He needs to step up and pick up his game a little more. I feel good for him.”

Bourbon War, a son of Tapit, will have Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the irons from post 6.

Prioritize, sixth in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 3 at Belmont, will return to a familiar track that's near trainer H. James Bond's base, as the Tizway gelding ran twice here last year, winning an optional claimer before running third in the Grade 1 Woodward. The now 6-year-old will have jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard for the first time, departing post 1.

Math Wizard will enter off a six-month layoff in his first start since finishing sixth in the Pegasus World Cup. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee will be racing for just the second time as a 5-year-old as he seeks his first victory since the 2019 Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby [Irad Ortiz, Jr., post 5].

Limonite ran third in the Grade 3 Excelsior going the Alydar distance on April 3 at Aqueduct and after two fifth-place efforts will return to the Spa for trainer Gustavo Rodriguez [Joel Rosario, post 2].

The Alydar, slated as Race 8 on the 10-race card, is one of three stakes on a stacked Friday card that will feature a 1:05 p.m. Eastern first post.

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After working a sharp four furlongs in :47.40 from the gate Friday morning at Gulfstream Park's Palm Meadows Training Center in Palm Beach County, trainer Jose D'Angelo said the 4-year-old son of Tapiture will ship north for the $120,000 Alydar at 1 1/8 miles Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

“Everything went very well this morning,” D'Angelo said. “He went in 47 and change and it was perfect, just what we were looking for. The plan is to leave [Saturday] for Saratoga.”

D'Angelo said Jesus' Team would work next weekend at Saratoga, where he finished third last year in the Jim Dandy (G2). Junior Alvarado will be aboard in the Alydar.

After following up his runner-up finish in the Pegasus with a sixth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March, D'Angelo gave Jesus' Team four months off before returning July 11 in an overnight handicap at Gulfstream. Jesus' Team finished fifth while lacking his usual late kick.

“I really think he just needed the race,” D'Angelo said. “He had run eight tough races in a row, and two weeks before his last race it had rained a lot and we didn't do what we wanted to do with him before the race.”

Jesus' Team captured a $25,000 claiming race at Gulfstream in his first start for D'Angelo in May 2020 before taking a tour of the East Coast and Midwest to compete against the best horses in training and amass more than $1.3 million in purses. The Kentucky-bred colt finished third in the Jim Dandy and Preakness (G1) at Pimlico, before finishing second behind Knicks Go in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He returned to Gulfstream to win the Claiming Crown Jewel in December before finishing second again behind Knicks Go in the $3 million Pegasus in January during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet.

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It was the third career win in the Alydar for Saratoga's leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. as well as Todd Pletcher, who moved into first place in the meet's trainer standings with his 16th victory at the summer stand.

Sent off at 3-1, Spinoff returned $8.40 for a $2 win bet. The 4-year-old Hard Spun colt covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.60 over a fast main track.

Spinoff won for the first time in four tries this year, having been beaten a neck when second in the Sunday Silence on May 17 over a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park. After coming up empty in a one-mile optional claiming allowance last out on July 2 at Belmont Park, he bounced back with a huge effort in the Alydar.

“He ran really well here last year in a mile and an eighth two-other-than and had a pretty rough trip last time and I think he ran better than it looked on paper,” Pletcher said. “We had good spacing to this and we had been pointing to it for a while. He's trained well and I thought we were going to get a good setup. The race kind of unfolded exactly how Irad and I talked about before the race and it's nice when it falls into place.”

Ortiz, Jr. settled Spinoff in the clear three wide as Its All Relevant, a winner of two straight and three of his last four races, was in front through a quarter-mile in 24.97 seconds and a half in 49.57, under moderate pressure from Bodexpress. Its All Relevant's lead shrunk as the field hit the turn and Spinoff and Bodexpress ranged up to challenge.

Spinoff came off the turn in front and was set down for a drive to the wire by Ortiz, Jr. as Endorsed, the 3-5 favorite who ran fourth in last year's Grade 1 Runhappy Travers, tried to mount his bid on the far outside but was unable to gain any ground. Spinoff crossed the wire 2 ¾ lengths in front, while there were 4 ½ lengths between Endorsed and Bodexpress in third followed by Backsideofthemoon and Its All Relevant. Tenfold was scratched.

Third in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special as a 2-year-old in 2018, Spinoff ran second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby to punch his ticket to the 2019 Kentucky Derby where he ran 18th. After skipping the Preakness, the chestnut showed up in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and ran sixth, beaten only three lengths, before a failed bid on turf in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby. His sophomore season ended when he rolled home 5 ¾ lengths the best in a nine-furlong optional claiming allowance last August at Saratoga.

“It's rewarding,” Pletcher said of the Alydar win. “He's a horse we always had high hopes for. We placed him pretty ambitiously. He's always been right on the verge of breaking through so hopefully, as a 4-year-old, maybe he can take it to the next level.”

Pletcher also won the first running of the Alydar in 2013 with Vitoria Olimpica, and followed up with Rally Cry in 2017. Ortiz, Jr. was first with Farhaan in 2014 and Royal Posse in 2016.

“My horse ran a great race today,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “Last time, he got in a little trouble. He relaxed so well today, and the race set up for him. In the turn, he relaxed in the clear and when I asked him to go, I got plenty from him.”

Live racing returns Wednesday to Saratoga to open the fourth full week of racing with a 10-race program that includes the 104 th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack at 6 ½ furlongs for 2-year-old fillies in Race 9 at 5:17 p.m. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

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Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the multiple graded-stakes placed Bodexpress was a late scratch before the start of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 18 at Monmouth Park. He then re-routed to the Alydar at his home base at the Spa under the care of the conditioner's son and assistant trainer, Gustavo Delgado, Jr.

Bodexpress was also under consideration for last Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney, won by Improbable, and Delgado, Jr. expressed regret at not entering the colt in the compact, but talented, field of five.

The 4-year-old Bodemeister bay has breezed twice on the Saratoga main track since scratching at Monmouth, including a five-eighths breeze in 1:02.66 Sunday under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano who has the call from post 5.

Bodexpress became an internet sensation after unseating Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in last year's Grade 1 Preakness before completing the course on his own accord. Delgado, Jr. said providing Castellano an opportunity to hop aboard the quirky colt in advance of Sunday was important.

“Last Sunday he breezed with Castellano on him, and he really liked him,” said Delgado, Jr. “He's got more confidence in him now. It's always good to get to know him first.”

A runner-up as a maiden in the 2019 Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, Bodexpress was placed 13th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, ultimately graduating in October in a mile and seventy yard maiden tilt at Gulfstream Park West. He completed his eventful sophomore season with a third in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream.

Bodexpress has made three starts this season at Gulfstream, including a fifth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and a last-out third in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope at nine furlongs.

Delgado, Jr. said the well-traveled Bodexpress is enjoying his time at the Spa.

“He's doing really good. He's feeling good. He likes it here. The ambience, the weather, everything,” said Delgado, Jr.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold, a multiple graded-stakes winning son of Curlin, captured the 2018 Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga before running seventh in the Grade 1 Travers.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Kentucky homebred will make his return to the Spa off a third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 6 at Santa Anita, a 10-furlong event won by Improbable.

Ricardo Santana, Jr., who guided Tenfold to his most recent victory in the 2019 Grade 3 Pimlico Special, has the call from post six.

Godolphin homebred Endorsed, a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro colt, earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure two starts back when second to Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Westchester traveling a one-turn 1 1/16-miles on June 6 at Belmont.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Endorsed has shown good form at Saratoga where he graduated in a maiden sprint in August 2018 and last year added a second in the nine-furlong Curlin and rallying fourth in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Endorsed will be looking for his third win of the campaign following optional-claiming scores in January at Gulfstream for former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and a half-length win at Oaklawn Park in May at first asking for Mott.

Joel Rosario, aboard for a last-out seventh in the Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile on July 4 at Belmont, retains the mount from the inside post.

Rounding out the field are Backsideofthemoon [post 2, Manny Franco], Spinoff [post 3, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], and Its All Relevant [post 4, Dylan Davis].

The Alydar is slated as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Sunday's card will also feature a mandatory payout of the Empire 6. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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