Junior Alvarado | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dayoutoftheoffice Posts 19-1 Upset In Opening Day Schuylerville

Graded stakes action at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., kicked off on Thursday with a 19-1 upset when Dayoutoftheoffice made the most out of a trip to the Spa in taking the 102nd running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville over the main track.

Trained by Timothy Hamm, who co-owns the dark bay juvenile daughter of Into Mischief with Siena Farm, Dayoutoftheoffice arrived at the six-furlong event for 2-year-old fillies off a 4 3/4-length maiden triumph on debut traveling 4 1/2-furlongs at Gulfstream Park.

Piloted by Junior Alvarado, Dayoutoftheoffice broke sharply from post 7 and tracked in third to the outside of frontrunners Make Mischief and Hara with the former establishing command, leading the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.29 seconds on the main track rated fast.

At the top of the stretch, Hara had dropped out of contention while Dayoutoftheoffice began making her winning move with Make Mischief up front to catch. Approaching the three-sixteenths pole, Dayoutoftheoffice took command with Hopeful Princess making a late bid to the far outside. But there was no catching Dayoutoftheoffice, who drew away to a six-length victory in a final time of 1:10.43 over Make Mischief who was another length to the better of Hopeful Princess.

Completing the full order of finish were Hara, Queen Arella and Quinoa Tifah.

Beautiful Memories, the 1-2 post time favorite, was pulled up around the far turn and walked home under her own power. Sunny Isle Beach was scratched.

“Last time in the first sixteenth of a mile, it took her a little bit to get going, so my goal today was to get a good position,” Alvarado said. “I knew she would handle the distance fine today. She broke good and put me in a good spot and I was for sure a smiling person the whole way around. I knew what I had under me and she responded very well when I asked her turning for home.”

The victory marked a third career graded stakes triumph for Hamm, who had not struck gold at such caliber since winning Keeneland's Grade 3 Appalachian with Afternoon Stroll in 2009.

Hamm said he was hoping for his filly to be sitting just off the pace, and he got exactly what he wanted.

“We knew there would be a lot of speed, but I thought if we could be third or fourth early, we'd have a big chance. When I saw her coming into the turn laying third, I thought we had a shot,” Hamm said. “We got the trip we were hoping to get. In the paddock, he [jockey Junior Alvarado] said to me, 'Into the turn if you could pick a spot for me to be, where would that be?' I said third right outside the speed. When I saw him laying there, I said, 'Wow we're still alive.'”

After banking $55,000 in victory, Dayoutoftheoffice enhanced her lifetime earnings to $79,000 and is unbeaten in two starts. She rewarded her backers in payouts of $41.60 for a $2 win bet.

Bred in Kentucky by co-owner Siena Farm, Dayoutoftheoffice is out of the Indian Charlie broodmare Gottahaveadream.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, aboard beaten favorite Beautiful Memories, said that his filly had a small cut on her right front leg.

“She stumbled out of the gate and was traveling OK, but she was getting a lot of dirt in her face,” Ortiz said. “Going into the turn, she switched leads and I noticed she wasn't traveling well, so I decided to take care of her. It was a tough decision to make. She had a small cut on her right front. I don't think it's serious.”

Live racing returns on Friday afternoon with a 10-race card which features the $85,000 De La Rose for fillies and mares going one mile over the inner turf and the $85,000 Shine Again for fillies and mares going seven furlongs over the main track. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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Spectator-Free Saratoga Meet Kicks Off Thursday With Peter Pan Stakes, Offering Kentucky Derby Points

Pam and Martin Wygod's Grade 2-winner Modernist will headline the 66th renewal of the Grade 3, $100,000 Peter Pan, a nine-furlong test for sophomores slated for Thursday, Opening Day of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 2020 Saratoga summer meet will begin on Thursday, July 16, and run through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Following the four-day opening weekend, live racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays.

Under current New York State guidelines, Saratoga will open without spectators in attendance. The 40-day meet will be highlighted by the 151st renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 8 and the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney on Saturday, August 1.

Last out, with jockey Junior Alvarado up, Modernist was brushed at the start and failed to fire when off-the-board in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

“A mile and an eighth is a good distance for him, but I think last time only going one turn he was a little confused and he was switching his leads back and forth in the race,” said Alvarado. “I think that threw him off his game. Going back to two turns and a little bit of an easier group this time, he should be very competitive.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Modernist graduated in January at the Big A and followed up with a prominent score from the inside post in a division of the Grade 2 Risen Star in February at Fair Grounds. The dark bay Uncle Mo colt, a Kentucky homebred, exited the outside post in the 14-horse Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March at Fair Grounds en route to a solid third.

Modernist breezed a half-mile in 49.34 seconds on July 5 on Belmont's dirt training track in preparation for the Peter Pan, which is traditionally run at Belmont as a key prep race for the Belmont Stakes.

Alvarado said a return to a more prominent running style that was effective at Fair Grounds is likely in the cards on Thursday for Modernist.

“I think he likes when you're aggressive with him and he gets to sit one-two and be more of a game horse,” said Alvarado. “He gives you more of a fight when he's near the lead. I'm hoping we can get him back in the form he showed at Fair Grounds.”

This year's renewal of the Peter Pan will offer 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. Modernist is currently sixth on the leaderboard with 70 points.

Alvarado will guide Modernist from post 3.

Godolphin homebred Mystic Guide, a Ghostzapper chestnut out of multiple Group 1-winner Music Note, will make his stakes debut for trainer Mike Stidham.

Mystic Guide made his first two starts at Fair Grounds, including a debut third in a six-furlong sprint in February ahead of a five-length maiden score when travelling 1 1/16-miles on March 21.

He finished a closing second last out in a June 4 Belmont allowance contest at 1 1/16-miles won by Tap It to Win, who exited that effort to run fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

Stidham said the lightly raced colt, who earned a career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure at Belmont, will appreciate the stretch out in distance in his first start at Saratoga.

“We knew going in we were at a little disadvantage. Our horse is more of a two-turn, mile and an eighth type horse than a one-turn horse,” said Stidham. “The horse that won stole away on the lead and we kicked in late. We were making up ground at the end and he galloped out real big.

“We were pleased with his effort given that a one-turn mile and a sixteenth isn't really his cup of tea,” added Stidham. “I think the extra distance gives him a better chance. He doesn't come from too far back, but he has a good run when he kicks into gear and I think the Saratoga course will suit him well finishing how he does.”

The improving colt breezed a half-mile solo in 48.80 on the Fair Hill dirt Saturday in preparation for his second start off the layoff.

“The track was wet but he got over it well and handled it well,” said Stidham. “He went real comfortable with a good gallop out. I was very pleased with the work.”

Jose Ortiz will ride Mystic Guide for the first time from post 6.

“Jose rides Saratoga well and we we're looking to have a top rider that knows the course,” said Stidham.

Todd Pletcher will saddle Mathis Stable's Candy Tycoon as the bay son of Twirling Candy makes a return to graded-stakes action. Last out, Candy Tycoon finished second in a May 2 optional-claiming tilt at Oaklawn Park won by Rushie, who came back to finish third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby with a 97 Beyer.

A maiden winner in January at Gulfstream Park, Candy Tycoon was second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in February and a troubled sixth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, both at the Hallandale oval.

Candy Tycoon will exit post 5 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, a two-time Peter Pan winner.

Imperial Racing's Celtic Striker, a bay son of Congrats purchased for $100,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, will aim for a first graded-stakes win.

Trained by Ray Handal and bred in Kentucky by Stoneview Farm and Craig D. Upham, Celtic Striker was a frontrunning 19 3/4-length winner last out on June 25 at Belmont in the 1 1/16-mile Easy Goer, which was reduced via scratches to a match race with Sonneman.

Manny Franco will retain the mount on the three-time winner from post 4.

Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing's Caracaro earned a lofty 92 Beyer when graduating at second asking on January 11 in a Gulfstream Park maiden. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the Uncle Mo bay was a $95,000 purchase at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

He has trained at Gulfstream Park West for his return to action and will be piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano from post 7.

Paul Pompa, Jr.'s Country Grammer, a Tonalist bay trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, graduated at second asking in a nine-furlong maiden tilt at the Big A. Country Grammer lost his footing at the start of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth where he made a wide bid for fifth. Last out, off a more than three-month layoff, he finished third behind Tapit It to Win and Peter Pan-rival Mystic Guide in the June 4 allowance tilt at Belmont.

Country Grammer will emerge from post 2 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Rounding out the field are Mo Hawk, a $925,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase trained by Rodolphe Brissett and to be piloted by Joel Rosario from the inside post ; New York-bred Chestertown, a $2 million purchase at the March 2019 OBS 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, will exit post 8 under Ricardo Santana, Jr.; and Katazarelli, a two-time winner, will leave post 9 under Dylan Davis for trainer Tom Amoss.

The Peter Pan is slated as Race 9 on Thursday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. 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.

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, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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‘Owner Conversation’ To Determine Status Of Modernist After ‘Nice And Smooth’ Breeze

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott sent out Pam and Martin Wygod's graded stakes-winner Modernist to the Belmont Park main track in Elmont, N.Y., for a five-furlong breeze on Sunday morning.

Under mostly sunny skies, the graded stakes-winning son of Uncle Mo, piloted by regular rider Junior Alvarado, worked in tandem with two-time graded stakes winner Tacitus, who was piloted by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, recording a 24.40 opening quarter before finishing off their breeze in 59.20 seconds and galloped out in 1:11.40 over a main track rated “fast.” The moves were the fastest of 16 recorded works at the distance.

“He broke off in a nice rhythm and turning for home I was one length behind Tacitus,” Alvarado said. “As soon as we turned in, we got together and galloped out. I thought the work was extremely good.”

Following a third out maiden victory going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct, Modernist won his graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds en route to a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at the New Orleans oval.

Alvarado praised his horse's versatility.

“He's a late [developing] horse. He's learning and learning. Last time we tried to sit a little bit off the pace to see what he was capable of…when we won at Fair Grounds we went wire to wire, so he's a versatile horse,” Alvarado said. “We can do anything we want in the race depending on how he breaks out of there. He always will be there to put me in the spot that I want.”

Mott did not confirm Modernist for the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 20, but said that a start in the American classic remains a possibility. The Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby, slated for June 27, also is in play for Modernist.

“We're going to have an owner conversation before too long,” Mott said. “The work looked good, nice and smooth. Modernist and Tacitus both worked together and looked great. They finished up well, galloped out nice and strong.”

Modernist is currently sixth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a total of 70 qualifying points toward the 'Run for the Roses'. In the Louisiana Derby, Modernist fell victim to a wide trip during the 1 3/16-mile journey, but still managed to come up a strong third finishing 4 ¼ lengths in arrears of Wells Bayou.

“He had kind of a wide trip in the Louisiana Derby but he's been off a while,” said Mott. “We don't know whether we'll go. We'll see how he comes out of it and we're going to talk with the owners.”

Should Modernist enter the Belmont Stakes, he will attempt to give Mott his second win in the American Classic. He saddled Drosselmeyer to victory in the 2010 edition.

Juddmonte Farms' Tacitus, last year's Belmont Stakes runner-up, is a likely contestant for the 1 ¼-mile Grade 2, $200,000 Suburban on July 4 at Belmont Park. A last out fourth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on May 2, the gray son of Tapit won the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 2 Wood Memorial last year en route to a third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“We're looking at the Suburban,” said Mott, who won the Suburban with Wekiva Springs (1996) and Flat Out (2013).

A Kentucky homebred, Tacitus is out of 2014 Champion Older Filly Close Hatches and boasts career earnings of over $2 million.

Juddmonte Farms homebred Hidden Scroll, who unseated Hall of Famer John Velazquez in his turf debut on June 3 at Belmont Park, worked a bullet half-mile in 47.88 Sunday on the Belmont green.

Hidden Scroll flashed his potential with a 14-length win on debut in January 2019 in a one-mile maiden contested on a sloppy track. The eye-catching effort earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. He followed up with a fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and was sixth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

The talented bay was again spectacular in his seasonal debut with a 12 1/2-length score in a six-furlong optional-claiming sprint at Gulfstream that garnered a 102 Beyer, but was off-the-board in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in April at Oaklawn.

Alvarado was aboard the two-time winner for Sunday morning's return to the turf.

“He's a horse that's been very unlucky but he works like a freight [train],” said Alvarado. “He worked very fast today even though the way he was going it seemed like he was just enjoying the ride around there.”

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