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Field Pass Gets Class Relief In Saturday’s BWI Turf Cup

Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass, a Grade 3 winner on both grass and synthetics, will make his eighth consecutive start against graded company and first at Pimlico Race Course in Saturday's $200,000 Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup (G3).

The 15th running of the one-mile BWI Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up headlines a nine-race program featuring four grass stakes worth $500,000 in purses. Launched as the Colonial Turf Cup in 2005, it was held at Colonial Downs through 2013 before moving to Laurel Park in 2015 following a one-year hiatus. It returns after not being part of Maryland's pandemic-shortened 2020 stakes schedule.

Also on Saturday's program are the $100,000 Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 ½ miles and a pair of stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up – the 100,000 Big Dreyfus at 1 1/8 miles and $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash sprinting five furlongs.

First race post time is 12:40 p.m.

Field Pass has gone winless in three races this year including fourths in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) April 9 at Keeneland in his 4-year-old debut and last out in the 1 1/16-mile Wise Dan (G2) June 26, beaten a total of five lengths.

In between, the Lemon Drop Kid colt faded to be last of eight after pressing the pace in the 1 3/8-mile Man o' War (G1) May 8 at Belmont Park, where he blew out three furlongs in 36 seconds Wednesday.

“He's doing well,” trainer Mike Maker said. “He had a nice, easy work this morning and he's ready to go.”

Field Pass has raced exclusively in graded company since running third in the American Turf (G2) last September and in nine of his last 12 starts, winning the Jeff Ruby (G3) and 1 1/8-mile Ontario Derby (G3) over all-weather surfaces at Turfway Park and Woodbine respectively last spring and fall, as well as last July's 1 1/16-mile Transylvania (G3) on the Keeneland turf.

In 19 starts with $608,143 in purse earnings, Field Pass has raced four times at one mile with one win and one third, his victory coming in the Dania Beach on the grass at Gulfstream Park to open his 2020 campaign. Bred in Maryland by Mark Brown Grier, he was beaten a length when fourth as the favorite in the 2019 Laurel Futurity in the only previous trip to his home state.

Victor Carrasco is named to ride from the rail in a field of six at topweight of 124 pounds, two more than each of his rivals.

“I think the class relief will be the main thing. He ran good in the Maker's Mark off the layoff so the distance isn't a concern,” Maker said. “It's still going to be a tough race, but he's been hooking some tough guys lately so we're looking forward to it.”

Other graded winners entered in the BWI Turf Cup are Pixelate and English Bee.

Godolphin homebred Pixelate earned his fifth career win and third in a stakes in the 1 1/8-mile Prince George's County June 13 at Pimlico, getting a perfectly timed ride to edge Logical Myth by a length.

The 4-year-old City Zip colt won the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Woodchopper in 2020 and this year was beaten a nose for the win in the Henry S. Clark April 24 at Pimlico and three lengths when fifth in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream.

“He came out of the last race great,” trainer Michael Stidham said. “It was great to get him back in the winner's circle. He deserves it. He runs great every time.”

Feargal Lynch gets the call from Post 4.

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Calumet Farm's English Bee, a 5-year-old homebred by turf champion English Channel, is still trying to recapture his 2019 form when he won four of eight starts including the 1 1/8-mile Virginia Derby (G3) and a pair of one-mile stakes, the James W. Murphy at Pimlico and Parx Fall Derby, all on the grass.

He hasn't won since, finishing second twice in seven 2020 starts – beaten a half-length in the one-mile Canadian Turf (G3) at Gulfstream and a neck in the Wise Dan.

“I think he just needs some luck,” trainer Graham Motion said. “I think he's as good as he was. He's a hard-knocking horse.”

This year English Bee was a troubled seventh, 2 ½ lengths behind Maker-trained pacesetter Somelikeithotbrown in the 1 1/16-mile Dinner Party (G2) May 15 at Pimlico, his first race in more than seven months, and no better in the Prince George's County.

“I didn't quite know what to make of his last race, but he didn't have a great trip. He certainly had an unlucky trip the first time I ran him,” Motion said. “I think he's done well. I wasn't in a hurry to run him back. I'd like to think he's coming into this pretty fresh.”

Jorge Vargas Jr. has the assignment from Post 5.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Ramsey Solution will be making the step up to graded competition for the first time. The winner of the one-mile, 70-yard Tapit last fall at Kentucky Downs – over a field that included English Bee, fellow graded winners Hembree and Hawkish and Dixie show finisher Midnight Tea Time – is trained by Wesley Ward.

“He's always been maybe a cut below the top ones but he's a very talented horse, especially when you get him in the right company,” Ward said. “He's tough.”

Ramsey Solution went four-for-seven in 2020, ending the year with a front-running 1 ½-length optional claiming allowance triumph in November at Keeneland. In his lone start this year he ran second, beaten four lengths by subsequent Wise Dan winner Set Piece, in the 1 1/16-mile Douglas Park overnight stakes May 29 at Churchill Downs.

“He ran big last time. We got kind of compromised by the ride but I think there's a lot more to him and he's going to run a big race this time,” Ward said. “I think after this we'll have a good opinion of where we need to go from here. This will be the race that kind of determines where we're at with him, class-level wise.”

Mychel Sanchez will be up for the first time on Ramsey Solution, breaking from outside Post 6.

“I think he's pretty versatile. He can do anything, that guy,” Ward said of the Real Solution gelding. “He can come from a little off of it or he can bounce right out there. If there's a little give in the ground or it's on the slop or if it's a soft turf, he doesn't mind that either. He's a pretty cool horse.”

Lael Stables' Talk Or Listen exits the same last two races as English Bee, having run second by a length in the Dinner Party and sixth by less than four lengths in the Prince George's County, contested over a turf course rated good.

“He doesn't like the soft turf. His previous race on firm was really good, probably a lifetime best in my opinion,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said. “The soft turf was a question mark, but he just didn't handle it at all. The jock told me when he came off the bridle, that was it.

“I hope for a firm turf. The forecast is pretty good, and I think that he'll like the mile. There should be plenty of pace and he should be able to sit there and do his thing and hopefully run well,” he added. “I've been happy with him. He had a good work the other day and came back well, so everything's good.”

Daniel Centeno, aboard in the Prince George's County, gets a return call from Post 3.

Completing the field is Posterity, owned and trained by Hassan Elamri. The 7-year-old Posse gelding rallied to edge Lucky Ramsey by a neck in a 1 1/16-mile claiming event June 18 at Pimlico, his fifth career win and first since an August 2019 allowance at Laurel.

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Run Curtis Run Leads All The Way To Win Rick Violette Stakes

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso's Run Curtis Run edged the competition by a neck in his debut win earlier this month at Belmont Park. Stepping up to stakes company for his second start, the Summer Front colt had an easier go of it, breaking sharp from the inside post and leading gate-to-wire in a 3 3/4-length score in Wednesday's $100,000 Rick Violette for New York-bred 2-year-olds sprinting six furlongs on the Saratoga Race Course main track.

After defeating Rick Violette contender Surprise Boss in a five-furlong off-the-turf contest over a sloppy and sealed Belmont track on July 2, Run Curtis Run paced the four-horse field under jockey Jose Ortiz, leading Ready A.P. through an opening quarter-mile in 22.77 seconds and the half in 46.12 on a track labeled fast.

Ready A.P., a Christophe Clement-trained filly competing against males, challenged Run Curtis Run from the outside out of the turn, but Ortiz kept the pacesetter to task and opened up the lead when straightened for home, powering to the wire ahead of Ready A.P. in a final time of 1:12.48 to improve to 2-for-2.

Trained by Mike Maker and bred by Larry Goichman, Run Curtis Run, off at 3-1, paid $8 on a $2 win wager.

“He has some natural speed and with him drawing the inside post, it wasn't that hard to figure out in a small field,” said Maker, who said Run Curtis Run will likely target the $200,000 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on August 27.

Ortiz, who was riding Run Curtis Run for the first time, said he was pleased with the trip.

“I broke quite well and he was fast out of there, so I didn't have to ask him for a lot,” Ortiz said. “He put me on the lead and I was very happy with that. I had the rail and I wanted the lead.

“He was going nice and relaxed in the first part of the race and when I asked him to go, he was there for me,” he added. “All credit goes to Mike, who had him ready and the guys at the barn.”

Ready A.P., owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig, was also a first-out winner, posting an 8 1/4-length victory on July 1 at Belmont. Making her stakes bow, the More Than Ready filly bested Coinage by a neck for second. Surprise Boss ran fourth and Barese scratched.

“My filly was pretty tired in the end,” said Ready A.P. jockey Luis Saez. “The horse on the lead was pretty comfortable up there. I thought we were going to get him, but when I asked, she was tired.”

The seventh edition of the Rick Violette, previously run as the Rockville Centre, was renamed for the longtime NYRA-based trainer and former president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association who passed away in October 2018. Violette served more than 25 years on the NYTHA board, including nine as president from 2008-17, and trained 2018 Grade 1 Whitney-winner and New York-bred Diversify.

“He was tough on me, but he just wanted me to get better,” Ortiz said on riding for Violette. “He wanted to ride me so he wanted to teach me the right way and how he liked it. I learned a lot of good things with him and I'm very happy to win this race. I'm sad he's not here.

“He was cranky sometimes, but it was always about looking out for the best for his guys and I respect that,” he added. “He was a great guy. He helped me a lot and he believed in me at a very young age.”

Violette gave Ortiz his first two Kentucky Derby mounts, with Samraat [fifth in 2014] and Upstart [18th in 2015].

“I walked in today with him on my mind and I wanted to win it,” Ortiz said. “I knew I had a shot. My horse ran very good first time out. It was great for me to win the race named after him, especially with his family here. I have a lot of good memories with him. I rode my first Kentucky Derby for him with Samraat and I rode my second Kentucky Derby for him on Upstart. He gave me great opportunities at a very young age. He believed in me. He knew I was up and coming and that meant a lot to me that he believed in me at that point in my career.”

Live racing at Saratoga resumes Thursday with a 10-race card and a 1:05 p.m. Eastern first post. The day's feature will be the Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick in the opener, with the 2 1/16-mile steeplechase contest featuring a six-horse field.

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Robin Sparkles Will Try Open Company In Saturday’s Caress Stakes

Michael Schrader's stakes winning New York-bred Robin Sparkles will look to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Caress, a 5 ½-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Bruce Brown, the 4-year-old Elusive Quality bay has won races at all three NYRA tracks, including a state-bred maiden score at the Spa last summer under returning pilot Jose Ortiz.

Bred in the Empire State by Hibiscus Stables, Robin Sparkles won 4-of-6 starts in a productive sophomore campaign, including open allowance wins in turf sprints at Belmont Park in September and Aqueduct Racetrack in November.

Robin Sparkles finished second in the open License Fee in April over good Belmont turf to launch her 4-year-old campaign ahead of a front-running score in the off-the-turf Mount Vernon against fellow state-breds on May 31 at the Elmont oval.

Last out, Robin Sparkles bested an open six-furlong optional-claiming turf sprint on firm footing at Belmont by 2 1/4 lengths, garnering a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

“That last race was like a stake and it was open company. I think she proved she can run with those,” Brown said. “Ideally, I'd like to see it on the firmer side, but I think she can handle pretty much anything.”

Ortiz, who has guided Robin Sparkles to five of her six career wins, was aboard for a half-mile breeze in 48.31 seconds July 16 on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“He really likes her and was getting on her before she even ran,” Brown said. “He has a really good rapport with her and can tell us how she's doing compared to before. It's always good when you can keep a consistent rider on them.”

Ortiz retains the mount from post 2.

Caravel, bred in Pennsylvania by her trainer Elizabeth Merryman, will make her Saratoga debut.

Bobby Flay purchased a majority interest in the 4-year-old Mizzen Mast grey following her last-out 4 1/4-length score in the Goldwood, a five-furlong turf sprint at Monmouth Park on June 25.

A stylish last-to-first maiden winner after a slow start on debut in June 2020 in a state-bred five-furlong turf sprint at Penn National, Caravel blitzed to a front-running state-bred allowance score at second asking at the same course and distance in a rapid final time of 54.66.

“I was pretty impressed with her second start,” Merryman said. “I told the jock not to rush her, but he did. She ran so fast that day, she could barely corner and was just off an 18-year-old track record. I knew then she was the real deal.”

After a score in six-furlong Lady Erie in October on the Presque Isle Downs synthetic, Caravel stretched out in distance for the one-mile Hilltop contested over yielding turf at Pimlico Race Course.

Hollywood Hoopla, trained by Merryman's sister, Ann, set the pace in the Hilltop before fading, while Caravel dug in to finish third, defeated just three lengths in a race won by multiple stakes winner Evil Lyn over eventual graded-stakes winner Vigilantes Way.

“The one time I sent her long, the turf was so soft and she didn't settle very well. My sister's horse was adamant about going to the lead and she still held on for third,” Merryman said. “That turf was so bottomless and it was first time long and she was really rank going down the backside. Usually, when a horse gets a trip like that they completely pack it in down the lane and she didn't at all. She's always acted like she could go farther, but I've kept her sprinting because she's very good at it.”

Caravel enters the Caress on a two-race win streak in open five-furlong turf sprints, including a nose score in The Very One on May 14 at Pimlico and a sharp score in the Goldwood that garnered a career-best 99 Beyer.

Merryman said the lofty speed figure last out may be a result of stiffer competition, stepping into open stakes company.

“She's a lot more mature. She's stouter and stronger, but I don't know if she's improved that much or if she's just been tested more so her numbers have gone up,” Merryman said.

A winner of 6-of-8 career starts, Caravel is out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, who graduated in August 2015 in a one-mile turf test on the Saratoga turf.

Caravel will exit the inside post under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

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Three Diamonds Farm's graded-stakes placed Jakarta, a 6-year-old daughter of Bustin Stones, boasts a record of 23-8-3-3 with purse earnings of $359,279.

Trained by Mike Maker, the consistent mare, who finished fourth in the optional-claiming event won by Robin Sparkles last out, finished second to Cariba in last year's ungraded Caress in her lone start at the Spa.

Jakarta exited the Caress to win a starter allowance in September at Kentucky Downs ahead of a close third in the Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County in October at Keeneland. The Pennsylvania-bred bay continued that good run of form by capturing the Claiming Crown Distaff Dash in December at Gulfstream to close out her campaign.

Winless in five starts this season, Maker said he is hoping a return to the Saratoga turf will give the talented bay a boost.

“She's run well here before and ran a great race here last year, so we're giving it another shot. I would think she would be up close early,” Maker said.

Luis Saez, aboard for the Gulfstream win, returns to the saddle from the outermost post 6.

Rounding out the field are Tass [post 3, Eric Cancel], In Good Spirits [post 4, John Velazquez], and Flower Point [post 5, Joel Rosario].

The Caress is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's 11-race card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Road to 2021 Breeders’ Cup: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down for July 21

The path to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6 is a road with plenty of ups and downs as talented racehorses vie for a spot in one of 14 championship races and $31 million in purses and awards. This blog provides a capsule look at three horses who are heating up on the Road to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and three horses whose Breeders’ Cup chances are not quite as strong as they were two weeks ago. Let’s get right to it and take a look at some of the big movers.