‘Hard-Running’ Step Dancer Should Appreciate Extra Distance In Jockey Club Derby

Hayward Pressman, Diamond M Stable and Donna R. Pressman's New York-bred Step Dancer will step into elite company in Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational, a 12-furlong test on the Widener turf at Belmont Park.

The Jockey Club Derby, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar, is the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series for males that commenced with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby [won by Bolshoi Ballet] in July and continued with the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby [won by State of Rest] in August at historic Saratoga Race Course.

The Jockey Club Derby is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's lucrative 11-race card which will also feature the 1 3/8-mile $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, the concluding leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-old fillies, in Race 9; and the 1 5/8-mile $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational in Race 4.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, Step Dancer showed promise as a juvenile posting a 24-1 debut win traveling 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga turf last September before finishing third in the Grade 2 Pilgrim in October at Belmont Park. The War Dancer bay completed a solid campaign with a three-quarter length score against open company in the 1 1/16-mile Awad over yielding Belmont turf on October 31.

Tagg said he appreciates Step Dancer's willingness to compete.

“I've watched a lot of horses over the years. Everything you see about him in the morning gives you confidence. He's an athlete,” said Tagg.

Bred in the Empire State by Sugar Plum Farm and Richard Pressman, Step Dancer launched his sophomore campaign in March with an off-the-board effort in the Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park ahead of a close third in a 1 1/16-mile New York-bred allowance optional claimer on May 13 at Belmont Park.

Step Dancer was a late-closing second in the seven-furlong NYSSS Spectacular Bid on June 19 at Belmont and will enter Saturday's test on a high note after overcoming a troubled start in the one-mile NYSSS Cab Calloway on July 28 at the Spa, rallying four-wide down the lane to defeat his fellow eligible New York-sired rivals.

Tagg said he wasn't surprised by the game effort.

“He's a hard-running horse. He likes to do it,” Tagg said. “I don't know if he's a great horse or not, but I have a lot of confidence in him. He tries every time.”

Tagg said Step Dancer should appreciate the significant stretch out in distance.

“I've never felt like he couldn't run long. I might change my mind this coming Sunday, but not yet,” Tagg said with a laugh. “He's always seemed like he could go a distance. Anything you ask him to do, he does it. He loves his sport. Some horses are just like that.”

Jockey Dylan Davis has never finished off the board in five starts piloting Step Dancer and will retain the mount from post 5 in a field headlined by European raiders Bolshoi Ballet and Yibir.

The veteran conditioner said he will let Davis work out a sensible trip.

“It all depends on the pace of the race as you go along. You can be laying fifth and it might be just like taking him back in another race,” Tagg said. “Dylan's a good rider. He's intelligent and fearless. He's ridden very well for me.”

Tagg has enjoyed great success with New York-breds in his career, capturing two-thirds of the 2003 Triple Crown [Kentucky Derby and Preakness] with Funny Cide, and completing the set last year with Tiz the Law's popular score in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Step Dancer, who will look to add another New York-bred moment to Tagg's impressive ledger, posted an easy five-furlong breeze in 1:01.85 Sunday on the Belmont inner turf in his final preparation for Saturday's test.

“He went fine. I don't think they have to go out there and show off every time they breeze. He's done everything we've asked him to do,” said Tagg.

Regardless of the result on Saturday, Tagg said he appreciates Step Dancer's winning spirit.

“He's a very honest horse. Tried and true,” Tagg said. “They're [good horses] hard to find but he is one and no matter how he runs on Saturday, he's alright by me.”

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Bolshoi Ballet Will Try To Get Back On Track In ‘Win And You’re In’ Jockey Club Derby Invitational

Grade 1-winner Bolshoi Ballet and Group 2-victor Yibir lead a talented field of sophomores in Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational, a 12-furlong test on the Widener turf at Belmont Park.

The $1 million Jockey Club Derby, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar, is the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series for males that commenced with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby [won by Bolshoi Ballet] in July and continued with the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby [won by State of Rest] in August at historic Saratoga Race Course.

The Jockey Club Derby is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's lucrative 11-race card which will also feature the 1 3/8-miles $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, the concluding leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-old fillies, in Race 9; and the 1 5/8-mile $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational in Race 4.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Bolshoi Ballet, by the late Galileo, was a stewards scratch from the Group 2 Prix Niel on September 12 at Longchamp due to an irregularity with the vaccination record in his passport and subsequently redirected to New York.

Bolshoi Ballet, trained by Aidan O'Brien, rallied to victory under jockey Ryan Moore in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 10, capturing the first leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series by 1 1/4-lengths over good turf. Last out, a more prominent Bolshoi Ballet faded to fourth in the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

T.J. Comerford, O'Brien's traveling assistant, said the team is expecting another top performance.

“He was in France on Sunday, but we didn't run him so we decided to bring him here. I think the wider turns suit him well,” Comerford said. “He's won here two starts back and seemed to go around here over a shorter distance. His last start was a good experience for him. He's won here and has form here, so that's always a big help.”

The talented colt launched his sophomore season with decisive wins in the Ballysax on April 11 and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on May 9, both Group 3 events at 1 1/4 miles at Leopardstown.

Bolshoi Ballet entered the Belmont Derby from a disappointing seventh as the beaten favorite in the Group 1 Epsom Derby on June 5, emerging with a cut to his right hind leg.

Comerford said the stretch out in distance should be beneficial.

“He won at a mile and a quarter here, so that suited him but he's definitely a better horse going farther,” Comerford said. “He ran a mile and a half in the English Derby but got a bad cut on his leg, so he really didn't have a race. All of his wins this year were at a mile and a quarter, but he always steps up like a mile and a half horse.”

Bolshoi Ballet will jump from the outermost post 8 with Moore in the irons.

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, who have already teamed up to win a pair of New York Grade 1s this year with Althiqa, will invade once more with the talented homebred Yibir.

Appleby successfully raided the NYRA circuit this summer with one-two finishes by Althiqa and Summer Romance in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game in June at Belmont and the Grade 1 Diana in July at Saratoga. On Saturday, the Newmarket-based conditioner will look to add to his good run with the regally-bred Yibir, who enters from a 1 1/4-length score in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur on August 18 at York Racecourse.

By Dubawi and out of the Monsun mare Rumh, Yibir is a full-brother to multiple Group 1 winner and 2018 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf runner-up Wild Illusion.

Yibir upset the 12-furlong, left-handed Voltigeur under James Doyle, defeating the well-regarded trio of High Definition, Sir Lucan and Royal Ascot-winning stablemate Kemari.

The Voltigeur marked the second group score for Yibir since being gelded ahead of a 2 1/2-length victory in the 1 5/8-mile Group 3 Bahrain Trophy on July 8 at Newmarket. The chestnut finished a headstrong sixth between victories in the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon on July 29 at Goodwood.

Yibir arrived in New York on Sunday in the care of traveling assistant Chris Connett, who said the Voltigeur effort was expected.

“We've always thought he had that type of talent in him,” Connett said. “He's just a bit of a character hence why he's been gelded. He has phenomenal talent and when things fall right for him, he can be any kind of horse.

“In the run at Goodwood, things just didn't go right. He got quite headstrong and he took off a little bit and did things completely the wrong way around,” added Connett. “In the Voltigeur, James just was able to get him switched off and he brought himself into the race and produced a lovely effort.”

Connett, who also worked closely with Wild Illusion, said the family holds a number of similar traits.

“She was a lovely big mare and I had a very soft spot for her. I was able to take her to the races many times and he's a big horse just like she was,” Connett said. “She was a big mama and temperament wise, they're very similar. She had a couple of quirks and so does he. Talent and mindset run in the family.”

Jamie Spencer will be tasked with engineering a winning trip from post 2.

“I think the plan will be to get cover early and carry himself into the race and make one run,” Connett said. “It's the kind of track that should suit him. It's one of the biggest galloping tracks in North America and it will suit the big horse that he is.”

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Teruya Yoshida's Tokyo Gold, a French homebred son of Kendargent trained by Satoshi Kobayashi, captured the 11-furlong Group 2 Derby Italiano on May 23 at Campanelle Race Course in Italy.

Last out, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, Tokyo Gold rallied from last-of-9 to finish second, 1 1/4-lengths back of Bolshoi Ballet in the Belmont Derby.

Velazquez will pilot Tokyo Gold from post 3.

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso's Soldier Rising launched his career in France for trainer Andre Fabre, posting a record of 4-2-2-0, including a score in the 12-furlong Prix de Champlatreux in April at Chantilly.

Transferred to the care of Christophe Clement, the Frankel gelding made his North American debut with a closing second, defeated a length to the Joseph O'Brien-trained State of Rest in the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

“I think O'Brien's horse got first run at us. We got through at the rail, but I'm not sure it would have made a difference. We were probably second best that day,” said Clement assistant Christophe Lorieul.

Lorieul said Soldier Rising, who breezed a half-mile in 50 flat Sunday on the Belmont inner turf, will be able to handle the added distance.

“He had an easy work here on Sunday over the turf and he went well. I've been told he had been working well at Saratoga as well,” Lorieul said. “The distance is not an issue. Obviously, the competition will be tough. We're happy with the horse and he looks great.”

Soldier Rising will exit post 4 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Calumet Farm's Tango Tango Tango enters from a pair of strong starts at Arlington Park, including a win in the 1 1/16-mile American Derby on July 17 ahead of a prominent effort last out when second to Point Me By in the one-mile Grade 1 Bruce D. on August 14.

Trained by Jack Sisterson, the lightly raced Tourist colt will emerge from the inside post under Flavien Prat.

Hayward Pressman, Diamond M Stable and Donna R. Pressman's Step Dancer was squeezed at the start last out in the one-mile NYSSS Cab Calloway on July 28 at the Spa, but rallied four-wide down the lane to defeat his fellow eligible New York-sired rivals.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, the New York-bred son of War Dancer finished third in the Grade 2 Pilgrim in October at Belmont ahead of a win in the open Awad at 1 1/16-miles over yielding Belmont turf to close out his juvenile campaign.

Following a difficult trip when eighth in the Cutler Bay in March at Gulfstream to launch his sophomore season, Step Dancer hit the board in a pair of Belmont turf starts, including a third in a 1 1/16-mile state-bred optional-claimer in May and a closing second in the seven-furlong NYSSS Spectacular Bid in June.

Dylan Davis retains the mount from post 5.

Rounding out the field are graded-stakes placed Slicked Back [post 7, Luis Saez] and the stakes-placed Experienced [post 6, Jose Ortiz].

First post on Saturday's 11-race card is 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Grade 1 Woodward Returns To Belmont Park’s Fall Stakes Schedule

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for the 28-day fall meet at Belmont Park, which will include 20 graded stakes among 47 total stakes worth $11.15 million in purses.

The fall meet, which will run from Thursday, September 16 through Sunday, October 31 will offer four Grade 1 races and five “Win and You're In” qualifiers to the Breeders' Cup in November at Del Mar.

The highlight of the meet will be the return of the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Oct. 2. The Woodward has been run at Saratoga since 2006, but had previously been held at Belmont Park and makes it's return to the Elmont track this year.

The first two stakes will come during the meet's second day, with a pair of $100,000 six-furlong turf sprints on Friday, September 17, with the Allied Forces for sophomores and the Christiecat for 3-year-old fillies. The following day will feature the first Breeders' Cup qualifier on the docket with the $1 million Jockey Club Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 1/2 miles on the turf in the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series that will commence with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby in July and continue with the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby in August at historic Saratoga Race Course.

September 18 will also see the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, the concluding leg of the Turf Triple for 3-year-old fillies, held at 1 3/8 miles, with the card bolstered by the 1 5/8-mile $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational.

The weekend of September 25-26 will encompass the meet's first graded stakes races, with that Saturday offering the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap for 3-year-olds and up going one mile on the main track and the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia for fillies and mares 3-years-old competing at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The following day will see fillies and mares 3-and-up sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom, with the undercard rounded out by the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard for New York-bred juveniles going seven furlongs.

Seven graded stakes will comprise the weekend of October 2-3, with a pair of Grade 1s highlighting the Saturday card with the $500,000 Woodward for 3-year-olds and up going a one-turn 1 1/8 miles on Big Sandy and the $500,000 Champagne for 2-year-olds running one mile in a prestigious race affording a spot in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile to the winner. The Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo will see juvenile fillies running 1 1/16 miles on turf that day, along with the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the grass.

Sunday, October 3 will continue the high-level action, with the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies at one mile with a spot in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies up for grabs. The day will also include the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles on the turf and the Grade 3, $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya at 1 3/8 miles in a turf route for fillies and mares 3-and-up.

The following weekend will again provide a chance to see top-caliber racing, with Saturday, October 9 showcasing the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic for 3-year-olds and up in a marathon 1 1/2-mile turf competition, with the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh, a six-furlong “Win and You're In” event for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, bolstering the undercard along with the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron for juvenile fillies.

October 10 will offer the fall meet's final Breeders' Cup qualifier with the Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the turf providing a spot in the Grade 1, $2 million Juvenile Turf Sprint. Also on tap that day will be the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame at nine furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Closing weekend on October 30-31 will see a packed Saturday that will offer eight stakes for New York-breds on Empire Showcase Day, led by the $300,000 Empire Classic for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles. A trio of $250,000 stakes includes the Empire Distaff, Sleepy Hollow and Maid of the Mist. Also on tap will be two $200,000 contests in the Mohawk and Ticonderoga, along with a pair of $150,000 stakes in the Iroquois and Hudson.

Closing Day on Sunday, October 31 will conclude the meet with five stakes: the $150,000 Zagora for fillies and mares 3-and-up; the Pumpkin Pie for the same division going seven furlongs; the $100,000 Awad for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on the turf and the $100,000 Chelsey Flower for 2-year-old fillies going the same distance.

Three stakes have been added to the fall schedule, starting with the $100,000 Glen Cove for sophomores fillies sprinting seven furlongs on the turf on October 15. The $100,000 Carle Place, for 3-year-olds also going seven furlongs on the turf, will be held October 22, while the $100,000 Oyster Bay for 3-year-olds and up going seven furlongs on the turf will be run on October 29.

For the complete Belmont Park fall meet stakes schedule, please visit NYRA.com/stakes

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