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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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Turf-Bred Altaf Going After Kentucky Oaks Points In CCA Oaks

When reading the pedigree of Shadwell Farm's Grade 1, $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks aspirant Altaf, one would be led to believe that she would likely find a home on grass. But such has not been the case thus far.

Following a seventh-place effort on debut over the lawn at Gulfstream Park, the bay daughter of Medaglia d'Oro raced at Churchill Downs over the main track, which appeared to make a huge difference as she powered home a 5 ¼ length-victor under jockey Joel Rosario.

Trained by Chad Brown, Altaf is out of the Smart Strike broodmare Fawaarek, who was a winner on grass. Her grand dam was three-time turf Grade 1-winner and 2002 Champion Turf Mare Golden Apples, who produced graded stakes winner on turf Habaya, as well as turf graded stakes-placed Hatheer.

“Golden Apples was a very good turf mare. I guess the Medaglia d'Oro is coming out in her a bit,” said Shadwell Farms' general manager Rick Nichols. “She had worked well on the grass. Chad thought that's where she should start out at. But she didn't seem to like it all that much. The jockey [Joel Rosario] liked her the day he rode her, but he too didn't think she cared for it that much. We brought her back on the dirt and it was impressive.”

How impressive? Enough to really catch Nichols' attention.

“Once you've seen as many horses as I have over the years, it's hard for me to be too impressed, and I was impressed,” Nichols said.

The Coaching Club American Oaks, offering 100-40-20-10 points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, will be quite the step up in class from Altaf's maiden victory. But Nichols said that his filly is up for the task. Brown won last year's CCA Oaks with Guarana, who in her prior start won the Grade 1 Acorn off of an impressive maiden victory.

“It's a big step, but I like the fact that we have a nice small field and Chad is very, very pleased with her,” said Nichols. “He loves her. He's always thought a lot of her. After that race, we all like her a little bit more.”

A big run on Saturday could result in Altaf targeting the lilies on the First Friday in September for the Kentucky Oaks.

“If she wins on Saturday and comes out of it well, we'll speak to Sheikh Hamdan and I'm sure he would love to give her a try in the Oaks,” Nichols said.

Altaf will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 3.

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Multiple Stakes-Winning Filly Hello Beautiful May ‘Take A Shot’ In Saratoga’s Test

All but one of eight career starts have come over her home track of Laurel Park, including a pair of juvenile stakes victories, but standout 3-year-old filly Hello Beautiful may hit the road for her next, and biggest, race yet.

Trainer Brittany Russell said Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stable and Magic City Stables' Hello Beautiful is under consideration for the seven-furlong Test (G1) Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

It would be the first time in graded company for Hello Beautiful, the highest-earning offspring of second-crop sire and multiple graded-stakes winner Golden Lad bred in Maryland by Ellen Charles' Hillwood Stable.

“It looks like we're going to take a look at the Test. It's going to depend on who comes. There's been some good fillies running the last few weeks and it's just going to kind of depend on where they go,” Russell said. “She's going to have the big test up there if we go. We'll nominate and take a look and if she's doing well we might take a shot up there.”

Hello Beautiful owns four wins, two seconds and a third for purse earnings of $199,360, having raced exclusively in Maryland since her unveiling last May at Pimlico Race Course. She captured the Maryland Million Lassie and Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship last fall at Laurel by a combined 15 ½ lengths.

The combination of a planned break and a 2 ½-month pause in live racing from mid-March to late May amid the coronavirus pandemic pushed Hello Beautiful's sophomore debut to a June 1 sprint over Laurel's world-class turf course, where she faded to seventh, her only time off the board. She rebounded with a front-running 8 ¼-length allowance romp 19 days later on a sloppy and sealed main track.

“She's certainly answered each question on the dirt for us, and that's what we have to stick with. She's a good dirt filly, and if she's going to be that kind she's going to have to run against good horses,” Russell said. “So there's no time like the present, as long as she's doing well.”

Hello Beautiful has had one timed work since her most recent race, a half-mile breeze in 49.40 seconds July 8. Russell plans to give Hello Beautiful another work this weekend over Laurel's main track, which was closed for training July 12-14 to undergo routine maintenance.

“We're moving forward, just kind of doing the same thing I did with her going into the Maryland Juvenile [Filly] Championship. She works about every 10 days,” Russell said. “We'll just try and keep it simple, but she's doing really well and that's all we can really ask.”

“[The Test is] not for a couple weeks, and a lot can happen in a couple weeks,” she added. “We just have to focus on keeping her happy so at least we can take a fresh, happy filly up there and see what we can do.”

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