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Summer In Saratoga Shines In Dowager At Keeneland

After finishing seventh in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes over the Franklin, Ky., track's undulating course, Summer in Saratoga found much friendlier ground at Keeneland Race Course, taking the Grade 3 Dowager Stakes by a half-length.

Over a good turf course at the Lexington, Ky., track, the 5-year-old mare did not let a delayed start deter her in the 1 1/2-miles stakes. Under jockey Corey Lanerie, Summer in Saratoga broke cleanly and settled in toward the back of the field of 10. Eesha My Flower led the way, setting fractions of :23.80 for the first quarter, :48.93 for the half-mile, and 1:14.77 for six furlongs, an easy pace that allowed her to run on the lead around the far turn and into the stretch.

Lanerie angled Summer in Saratoga off the rail on the far turn and then angled her out again in early stretch, finding a clear running lane two paths off the rail as Eesha My Flower flattened out and gave way. Summer in Saratoga overtook her midstretch, getting out to a two-length length as Luck Money accelerated to her outside. Summer in Saratoga held on to win the G3 Dowager, with Luck Money and Micheline rounding out the top three.

The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:30.02. Find this race's chart here.

Summer in Saratoga paid $12.80, $5.20, and $4.20. Luck Money paid $3.40 and $2.80. Micheline paid $5.20.

Bred in Kentucky by My Meadowview LLC, Summer in Saratoga is by Hard Spun out of the Arch mare Love Theway Youare, a Grade 1 stakes winner. Owned by Highlander Training Center, the 5-year-old mare is trained by Joe Sharp. Consigned by Denali Stud, she was purchased by Larry Hirsch for $165,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. With her win in the G3 Dowager, Summer in Saratoga has three wins in six starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 16 starts and career earnings of $479,572.

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D’Amato Looking For Another Good Effort From Cathkin Peak In Twilight Derby

Phil D'Amato expects another solid performance from Cathkin Peak in next Sunday's closing-day feature, the Grade 2 Twilight Derby for three-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Another in the trainer's imported “Irish Army,” Cathkin Peak is a gelded son of Alhebayeb that was an eventful fourth last out in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, closing resolutely despite lacking room in deep stretch, beaten just a length and a quarter by California-bred None Above the Law, who will be a favorite in the Twilight Derby trained by Peter Miller.

“He had traffic problems, nowhere to go (in the Del Mar Derby),” D'Amato said. “Hopefully, we'll regroup. He's ready for the test even though this will be an even tougher race.”

Jose Valdivia Jr., who was aboard in the Del Mar Derby, retains the mount.

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Philly Eagles, Make Mischief Work Ahead Of Next Starts

Tracy Farmer's Philly Eagles, with exercise rider Janelle Castonguay up for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, breezed a half-mile in :50.26 Sunday over the inner turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in preparation for the $100,000 Chelsey Flower, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for juveniles fillies on October 31.

“I was happy with the way she went,” said Casse assistant Shane Tripp. “The turf was a little bit soft from the rain we had last night, but she did it well within herself.”

A maiden winner at Doncaster in June for her former trainer Alice Haynes, the Havana Gold bay made her North American debut with a solid fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Miss Grillo over firm Belmont turf October 2 where she was bumped at the break and checked.

“I really loved the effort she gave. It was a pretty stout group,” Tripp said. “She's doing well and has acclimated well. I like where she's at now compared to Saratoga. I'm looking forward to leading her over.”

Gary Barber's multiple graded-stakes placed New York-bred Make Mischief worked five-eighths in 1:00.91 Friday over Big Sandy in preparation for the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Empire Distaff on Saturday's Empire Showcase Day card.

“She worked really well. She loves it here. I like the way she gets across the main track,” Tripp said.

The Into Mischief bay graduated at first asking in June 2020 over Big Sandy and followed with runner-up efforts in the Grade 3 Schuylerville and Grade 2 Adirondack, both at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Through nine sophomore starts, Make Mischief has posted a record of 3-1-2, including a win in the Maddie May in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., and a close third in the Grade 1 Acorn in June at Belmont. She finished second by a neck last out in the nine-furlong Fleet Indian on August 27 at the Spa.

“She's a warrior that will give you everything she has every time. I'm pleased with how she's coming into it,” Tripp said. “She's an open-company type horse. Her last effort upstate against state-breds was impressive. I expect her to run well.”

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Safe Conduct Targets Gio Ponti At Aqueduct For Next Start

Safe Conduct wrote his name into the history books in August with a game head score in the $1 million Queen's Plate, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at 10 furlongs over Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Trained by Phil Serpe, the Bodemeister sophomore followed with a fading eighth in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown contested over a yielding E. P. Taylor Turf Course.

“He just doesn't want any part of soft ground,” Serpe said. “It had rained a lot up there and he just wasn't getting a hold of the track.”

Safe Conduct has kept good company through his sophomore season, winning a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer over firm Belmont turf in May by 2 1/2-lengths over Public Sector, who has won his last three starts in graded company including Saturday's Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Safe Conduct exited that effort to finish fourth in the off-the-turf Grade 3 Pennine Ridge in May and faded to eighth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational in July over good going.

Serpe said he is hopeful Safe Conduct will find firm footing in the $150,000 Gio Ponti, a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomores on November 26 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

“If you look back at his last race on a firm turf, it was an impressive race. He flew home. That's the type of race we're looking forward to seeing him running on the grass,” Serpe said. “We were very happy to win Canada's biggest race. There's a lot of prestige behind it. I'd love to see him come back now and get his turf races sorted out.”

Safe Conduct worked a half-mile in :51.69 Sunday over the Belmont inner turf.

“He went a nice easy half, but he did it well,” Serpe said.

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