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Opening Weekend At Colonial Downs To Feature Six Virginia-Restricted Stakes Races

Virginia-bred, -sired and/or -certified horses will be spotlighted in the first three evenings of racing at Colonial Downs – Monday, July 27 through Wednesday, July 29 – with six stakes races. Three of the events are for registered Virginia bred/sired runners and three for Virginia-certified Thoroughbreds.

The opening night's program will be highlighted by the $40,000 Van Clief Handicap for fillies and mares at one mile over Colonial's renowned Secretariat turf course. Most prominent among the 30 nominees for the Van Clief is Dare To Dream Stable's Embolden, winner of the Jamestown Stakes here last September. The Mike Stidham-trained son of The Factor has not raced since a third-place run in the $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park last December. The career earner of $181,000 is cross-nominated to the July 29 Edward P. Evans Stakes.

Other noms of note include the 1-2-3 finishers in the 2019 Bert Allen Stakes – Alex Kazdan's K D's Cat Bird, Sarah Nagle's Black Prong and Lady Olivia at Northcliff's Accountable; Eagle Point Farm's Braxton, runner-up in last August's Meadow Stable Stakes; and Morgan's Ford Farm's River Deep, the winner of last summer's Evans.

Juvenile runners headline the Tuesday, July 28 card with a pair of $40,000 dashes – one open and one for the fillies. The 5 1/2-furlong White Oak Farm Stakes attracted 20 nominations most of whom are making their career debuts. One exception is Kingdom Bloodstock's Merchant of Hope. The daughter of Bayern broke her maiden at Charles Town at first asking for trainer Phil Schoenthal and is cross-nominated to the open race.

The open division honors 1991 Preakness and Belmont Stakes champion Hansel and will also be contested at 5½ furlongs. In addition to aforementioned Merchant of Hope, other winners listed among the 30 nominees are O'Sullivan Farms and Huntertown Farm's Natural Attraction and R. Larry Johnson's and RDM Stable's Sky's Not Falling.

A trio of Virginia-bred/sired stakes – each with a $60,000 purse – will highlight the Wednesday, July 29 card. Fifteen horses have each been nominated to the Nellie Mae Cox and Camptown Stakes while 19 were nominated to the Edward P. Evans.

Tasting The Stars and Bella Aurora headline horses for the Nellie Mae Cox, a one-mile filly and mare turf stakes. The former is a Michael Stidham trainee who won the 2019 Just Jenda Stakes at Monmouth and was sixth in last year's Virginia Oaks. A 4-year-old Bodemeister filly bred by Audley Farm, Tasting The Stars is three for four with $96,600 in earnings. The latter, trained by Michael Trombetta, won the 2019 Gin Talking Stakes and was runner-up in Colonial's Jamestown Stakes. Bred by Morgan's Ford Farm, the 3-year-old Carpe Diem filly has bankrolled $154,140 from eight starts. Also nominated is the Ian Wilkes-trained Urban Fairytale who is fresh off a maiden special weight victory at Gulfstream March 29.

The top two finishers from last year's M. Tyson Gilpin Stakes were nominated to the Camptown. What The Beep, trained and bred by Karen Godsey at her Ashland, Virginia, Eagle Point Farm, prevailed by one length in the Gilpin and was a runner-up in the 2018 Camptown. English Heiress, a Patrick Neusch trainee, finished second behind What the Beep. Also nominated is Tan and Tight, a 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly conditioned by Michael Stidham. She has earned $100,000 from seven starts including a dominating maiden special weight win at Aqueduct in January. Bella Aurora, nominated to the Nellie Mae Cox in addition to the Camptown.

Embolden and K D's Cat Bird – both six figure earners – are among the Edward P. Evans nominees. Both are also nominated to the July 27 Van Clief.

The Colonial Downs season begins Monday, July 27, with racing conducted three days a week – Monday through Wednesday – with a first post of 5:30 p.m. EDT with provisions for a limited number of spectators in attendance for the 18-day schedule.

Under conditions established in Virginia's Phase 3 reopening plan, which allows for outdoor venues to cap attendance at 1,000 spectators, Colonial Downs will plan the following protocols for the nightly meeting:

· Up to 1,000 spectators will be admitted to the outdoor areas of the grandstand and the track apron.

· All guests will receive temperature checks upon arrival at the facility and a 6-foot physical distancing policy will be enforced.

· Guests are required to wear masks indoors and encouraged outdoors.

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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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Speaktomeofsummer Ready For ‘Ambitious Spot’ In Sunday’s Lake Placid

Stakes-winner Speaktomeofsummer will look to stretch out in distance in taking another crack against graded stakes company as part of a six-horse field of sophomore fillies in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid at historic Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Waterford Stable, Speaktomeofsummer broke her maiden at second asking, posting a three-length score in a one-mile contest in her turf debut in September at Monmouth Park. The Christophe Clement trainee capped her juvenile campaign with a two-length triumph in her stakes debut, earning a 77 Beyer Speed Figure for her win in the one-mile Chelsey Flower over good turf in November at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Off a seven-month layoff, the Summer Front filly made her 3-year-old bow on June 20, running fourth in the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont Park. After identical four-furlong works in 49.20 seconds on Belmont's inner turf, Clement said she is again ready to face high-caliber competition in her first attempt over the Spa's grass.

“It's a bit of an ambitious spot, but she's been working very well so we're giving it a go,” Clement said.

A $135,000 purchase at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale, Speaktomeofsummer will retain the services of jockey Joel Rosario, drawing the inside post.

Trainer Graham Motion has twice won the Lake Placid, capturing the 2009 edition with Shared Account, and last year when Varenka dead-heated the Chad Brown-conditioned Regal Glory. In this year's edition, Motion will saddle a pair of contenders in Cat's Pajamas and Blame Debbie.

Cat's Pajamas, owned by Larkin Armstrong and Jack Swain, transferred to Motion's care after two off-the-board finishes over the main track under Hall of Famer Bill Mott to start her career. Motion switched the Street Sense filly to grass, resulting in back-to-back wins, starting with a 1 1/16-mile route on May 17 at Churchill Downs before besting allowance company by a half-length on June 14 at the same distance over Belmont Park's grass.

“I think being able to stretch her out as a 3-year-old and getting her on the grass has helped her,” Motion said. “She's been impressive in the mornings since we had her. The time off has helped her, too. I think she can handle the mile-and-an-eighth. It's always encouraging when they can come back and duplicate their performances against winners.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, a three-time Lake Placid winner who has been aboard for both of her turf wins, will be in the irons again, breaking from the outermost post 8.

Motion will also send out Blame Debbie, who earned graded stakes blacktype to end her juvenile campaign with a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on the main track in December at Aqueduct.

The daughter of Blame made her first four starts on the main track before trying turf or the first time in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks, where she finished 11th on March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. Dropping down in class, she ran third against allowance company at 1 ¼ miles on June 21 at Belmont, setting her up for another stakes appearance on turf.

“I thought her last race was very impressive against older fillies,” Motion said. “The key with her can be the distance. She likes to go longer and I think she's at her best on the grass.”

Jose Ortiz picks up the mount for the first time, exiting post 2.

Ken Geren's Mirabell Mei, eighth in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks last out, broke her maiden in the race prior, posting a 2 ½-length victory in February at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer John Terranova.

The daughter of Palace Malice, purchased for $100,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale, Mirabell Mei made her first start at the Spa last September, running fifth. She returns to famous track and will have Jose Lezcano pilot her from post 7.

Cindy Hutson and Robert Masterson's Lashara has only three starts to her credit but won at second asking in April at Gulfstream Park before running second to Lake Placid-rival Cat's Pajamas by a half length in an allowance race on June 14.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will see the English-bred daughter of Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah step up to stakes company for the first time, drawing post 3 with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano.

Rounding out the field is Stunning Sky, sixth last out in the Grade 3 Regret on June 27 at Churchill, for trainer Mike Maker [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.]; Key Biscayne, making her first stakes start in her nine attempts, for trainer Juan Alvarado [post 5, Manny Franco]; and Queens Embrace, a first-time stakes starter for trainer Kathleen O'Connell [post 4, Tyler Gaffalione].

The 37th running of the Lake Placid is slated as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race card. First post is 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.

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Late-Running Harvey Wallbanger Needs The Right Pace Setup In Sea Of Tranquility Stakes

Trainer Kenny McPeek, who made a year-round commitment to South Florida racing when he purchased Summerfield Training Center in Marion County last year, will be represented by graded-stakes winner Harvey Wallbanger in Saturday's $60,000 Sea of Tranquility Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

McPeek, who put the finishing touches on a productive 2019-2020 Championship Meet by saddling Swiss Skydiver for a 3 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), is maintaining a stable at Gulfstream Park during the Spring/Summer Meet for the first time.

“We've got a significant number of young horses that are based at Summerfield now. We're able to rest and rehab older horses and younger horses, there, and then rotate them. If some need to come north [to Kentucky] or if they need to go back to Gulfstream, we have those options,” said McPeek, who has saddled Swiss Skydiver for subsequent victories in the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and a second-place finish against the boys in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland. “I think, logistically, it's a pretty good setup. I think we're going to be even more successful than we were this year.”

It makes perfect sense that Harvey Wallbanger was one of the older horses McPeek opted to keep at Gulfstream for the Spring/Summer Meet. The 4-year-old son of Congrats has been his most productive while running at Gulfstream during his career. After breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs in November 2018, Harvey Wallbanger pulled off a 29-1 upset victory in the 2019 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream with a stunning last-to-first performance.

The Kentucky-bred colt subsequently hit somewhat of a rough patch during an eight-race losing streak that included an off-the-board finish in the Korea Cup at Seoul Racecourse. He returned to winning form during the past Championship Meet in dramatic fashion, again closing from last to score by more than five lengths in a Feb. 29 optional claiming allowance.

“He's a set-up horse. When things go his way and unfold in front of him, he can make his run and be right there,” said McPeek, who co-owns the stretch-running veteran with Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables, Scott Akman, Paul Braverman and David Bernsen LLC.

Harvey Wallbanger will be looking to rebound from an off-the-board finish in the March 28 Hal's Hope (G3).

“He's doing fine. I think it's a good first start back for him. He likes the track at Gulfstream. He's had some successes there,” McPeek said. “Our expectations are pretty high. I don't think it's an easy race by any means, but he fits.”

Hall of Famer Edgar Prado has the call on Harvey Wallbanger, who is scheduled to meet six rivals in the 1 1/16-mile overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

St. George Stable LLC's Kukulkan, also a horse that has shown a fondness for the Gulfstream track, is scheduled to make a return off a six-month layoff since an off-the-board finish in the Louisiana (G3) at Fair Grounds. The Fausto Gutierrez-trained 5-year-old son of Point Determined first ventured to Gulfstream for the Clasico del Caribe in December 2018. The 2018 Mexican Triple Crown champion with an undefeated record captured the prestigious race for 3-year-olds by 10 ½ lengths.

After incurring his first loss in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) seven weeks later, Kukulkan captured an allowance race at Churchill Downs off a four-month layoff. He became graded stakes-placed two starts later while finishing second, beaten a half-length by Silver Dust, in the West Virginia Governor's Cup (G3). He went to the sidelines after finishing off the board in the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill last September.

The Mexican-bred Kukulkan again came off a layoff impressively, scoring by a dominating six lengths in the Copa Confraternidad del Caribe on the Dec. 8 Clasico International del Caribe program at Gulfstream.

“He is training very good. This is a good race for him,” said Gutierrez, who has enjoyed considerable success at Gulfstream this year since transferring his stable from Mexico to Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training center in Palm Beach County. “He likes the track at Gulfstream.”

Miguel Vasquez, who ranks second in the Spring/Summer Meet standings, is scheduled to ride Kukulkan for the first time Saturday.

Gelfenstein Farm LLC's Identifier will be looking to rebound off a 12th-place finish in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) Saturday. The Oscar Gonzalez-trained 4-year-old son of Creative Cause previously pulled off a 60-1 upset victory in the Hal's Hope, in which Harvey Wallbanger finished well back.

Marcos Meneses, who was aboard for the Hal's Hope, has the call.

Trainer Steve Budhoo's Eye of a Jedi, who won the Sea of Tranquility last year, captured the June 13 Coaltown Handicap over multiple graded-stakes winner Diamond Oops at 17-1. He rallied under Meneses to win by 1 ¼ lengths while being in receipt of seven pounds from Diamond Oops.

Hector Berrios is scheduled to ride Eye of a Jedi for the first time Saturday.

Harold Queen's Noble Drama, a multiple-stakes winner trained by David Fawkes, will seek to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Coaltown Handicap. The 5-year-old son of Gone Astray will be reunited with Emisael Jaramillo, who scored back-to-back wins aboard the homebred gelding in an optional claiming allowance and the Sunshine Millions Sprint during the Championship Meet.

IAB Stables and Walter Fralick's Quenane and Equine Authority Inc.'s Red Crescent, a pair of rugged veteran stakes performers, round out the field. Cristian Torres is named to ride Quenane, whom he guided to an optional claiming win last time out. Samy Camacho, who rode Red Crescent to a third-place finish in the Coaltown Handicap, has the return call Saturday.

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