Saranac | Horse Racing Free Tips

Returning Constitution Colt Meets Brown Pair in Saranac

Impressive through his first two races before disappointing in his third try, Repole Stable's Never Surprised (Constitution) will return off a seven-plus month layoff to face a formidable pair of Chad Brown rivals and three other challengers in Saturday's GIII Saranac S. at Saratoga.

Debuting over six furlongs on the Aqueduct grass last November, Never Surprise stalked the pace, pounced at the quarter pole and drew clear in the lane for a 3 1/2-length success, earning a strong 89 Beyer. He bettered that number by one point when going wire to wire making his two-turn bow in the Central Park S. there 20 days later, besting future stakes winners Scarlett Sky (Sky Mesa) and Hard Love (Kitten's Joy). Wrangled back off the pace as a 3-10 favorite in the GIII Kitten's Joy S. Jan. 30 at Gulfstream, he settled for second, recording just a 69 Beyer.

Leading the Brown duo is Klaravich Stables' Public Sector (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Breaking his maiden impressively on debut over this course last summer, he was second when attempting to close into a dawdling pace set by next-out GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf upsetter Fire At Will (Declaration of War) as an odds-on favorite in the GII Pilgrim S. Just missing by a head when again hindered by a slow tempo in the Manila S. two back July 4 at Belmont, the bay picked up his first stakes success when annexing the GII Hall of Fame S. going a mile here Aug. 6. He's flanked by barnmate Founder (Upstart). Bought for $600,000 at OBS March, the ridgling scored at first asking sprinting on the local dirt last August, but failed to connect in his next five outings before rallying from last to first to capture the Tale of the Cat S. last out on the Monmouth turf July 31.

The post Returning Constitution Colt Meets Brown Pair in Saranac appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Like The King Stays On Turf, Takes On Brown Pair In Saranac

Kentucky Derby-participant Like the King has continued to acclimate to a surface change in his last two starts and will now look to become a duel-surface graded stakes-winner as he headlines a six-horse field of 3-year-olds in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac at 1 1/16 miles on Saratoga Race Course's inner turf.

The 114th running of the Saranac, slated as Race 8 on the 12-race card, will be part of a packed day that includes the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold up for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles in a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar; the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl for older fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles on the turf [“Win and You're In” for Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and the Grade 3, $250,000 Prioress for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs. First post will be 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

M Racing Group's Like the King earned a spot in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby by capturing the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in March over Turfway Park's all-weather track. Trainer Wesley Ward took a shot with the Palace Malice colt in the “Run for the Roses,” as Like the King finished 12th in the 19-horse field on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

Ward then switched Like the King to turf, where he ran fifth in the Audubon going 1 1/8 miles on May 29 at Churchill Downs in his first attempt. He improved next out going the same distance, finishing second, one length behind Yes This Time, in the Grade 3 Kent on July 3 at Delaware Park.

“He earned his way in there,” Ward said about the Kentucky Derby. “I kind of thought at least going into the race, he comes from behind and you never know what happens when you have horses that make one big run. We knew we were overmatched looking at his odds and all that. Unfortunately, we were beaten on the square by better horses, but I thought his future was going to be on the grass.”

Like the King continued to train at Keeneland before shipping to Saratoga for his first start at the historic track, posting a bullet five-furlong breeze in 59.80 seconds on August 30 over the main track.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride, departing from post 2.

Chad Brown, who is looking to secure his fourth Saratoga training title for a meet that concludes on Monday, will send out two contenders who will look to boost his win total.

Klaravich Stables' Public Sector will look for his second graded stakes win of the meet after tallying a one-length score in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame on August 6. The British-bred son of Kingman has only failed to come in first or second once in seven career starts, when capping his 2-year-old campaign with a 12th-place effort in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in November at Keeneland.

Public Sector has started his sophomore year with two wins and two seconds, including a runner-up in the Manila on July 4 at Belmont before his Saratoga triumph last month under jockey Flavien Prat, who helped Public Sector adapt to a moderate pace before coaxing a strong turn-of-foot in powering home a winner over Annex.

On Saturday, Irad Ortiz, Jr., the winner of the last three Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Rider, will pick up the mount and break from the inside post.

“It really was a great ride last out by Flavien,” Brown said. “He continues to improve and develop into a real top horse, so hopefully it's another step forward again.”

Jeff Drown and Don Rachel's Founder is also a last-out stakes winner, posting a 1 1/4-length victory in the Tale of the Cat going 1 1/16 miles on July 31 at Monmouth Park. The stakes win marked Founder's second career turf start, with his first foray on the grass a sixth-place effort against optional claimers on June 4 at Belmont.

The Upstart ridgling's next attempt on turf was thwarted when rained forced his July 3 start to a sloppy and sealed main track, where Founder still ran second before his breakthrough in the Tale of the Cat over firm going.

“He's really improving. I think he's found a nice new path on the turf,” Brown said. “Hopefully, he's another one that continues to improve.”

Jose Ortiz will be in the irons from post 5 for Founder, a $600,000 purchase at the 2020 OBS Sale.

“Observing his training and with his turf breeding on the bottom, we thought we'd give it a shot and so far, it's worked out,” Brown said.
Founder is out of the Bernstein mare Blue Beryl, who graduated on debut on the Belmont turf in 2015.

Brown also has Risk Taking, eighth in the Grade 1 Preakness in May at Pimlico, entered for the main track only.

Repole Stable's lightly raced Never Surprised went 2-for-2 as a juvenile, winning his debut on November 8 at the Big A before capturing the Central Park later that month at the same track. After running second in his 2021 bow in the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy in January at Gulfstream Park, Never Surprised will be making his first start off a seven-month layoff for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

A son of Constitution, Never Surprised was purchased for $200,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Meet-leading rider Luis Saez will pick up the mount for the first time, drawing post 4.

Roseland Farm Stable's He'spuregold will put his two-race winning streak on the line, making his first Saratoga start off victories at Monmouth, including a last-out one-length score in the Irish War Cry Handicap on July 24 going one mile.

Trainer Kelly Breen saw He'spuregold earn a personal-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure for his last-out win. Overall, the gelded son of Vancouver is 2-2-3 in eight career starts. Ricardo Santana, Jr. will have the call from post 3.

Rounding out the field is Mohs, who will graduate to stakes company for the first time after notching two wins in six career starts for trainer Patrick McBurney. Tyler Gaffalione will pick up the mount, breaking from post 6.

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.

The post Like The King Stays On Turf, Takes On Brown Pair In Saranac appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Weekend Lineup: Charles Town Classic, ‘Win And You’re In’ Sword Dancer

Saratoga Race Course will play host to four graded stakes on its 11-race card Saturday, highlighted by the Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Stakes, a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Keeneland. Also featured will be the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at seven furlongs on the main track for older sprinters; the Grade 2 Amsterdam at six furlongs for sophomore sprinters; and the Grade 3 Saranac at one mile on the inner turf for 3-year-olds.

The Sword Dancer is one of two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races on tap for August 29 as the Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar is an automatic qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The Sword Dancer will be shown on NYRA's “Saratoga Live” telecast on FS2. Saturday's Pat O'Brien Stakes will be televised live on TVG as part of their comprehensive coverage of racing at Del Mar.

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.

Friday August 28

5:46 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Robert and Lawana Low's Sweet Melania will attempt to keep her consistent record intact when she headlines Friday's 25th running of the Lake George for 3-year-old fillies going one mile over the inner turf. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Sweet Melania arrives at the Lake George off an easy wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont Park, which she won off a nearly eight-month. The American Pharoah chestnut began her career on the main track but made her third career start a winning one when debuting on grass over the Spa's inner turf last July. Sweet Melania followed up with a runner-up effort in the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga before a victory in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland. She completed her juvenile campaign by running third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082820USA9-EQB.html

9:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks at Charles Town on TVG

Multiple graded stakes-winner Tonalist's Shape heads up a field of 10 in the Charles Town Oaks, one of seven stakes on the card. Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Tonalist's Shape won her first five career starts, including the Grade 3 Forward Gal and Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes earlier this year. The daughter of Tonalist most recently finished fourth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 18.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CT082820USA10-EQB.html

10:18 p.m.—$600,000 Grade 2 Charles Town Classic at Charles Town on TVG

Grade 1 winner Math Wizard aims to secure his first victory since taking the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby when he faces nine challengers in the 1 1/8-miles Charles Town Classic. Math Wizard ran second last time out in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes, his best finish since his breakout triumph in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CT082820USA11-EQB.html

Saturday August 29

2:18 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Daniel M. Ryan's Vanzzy has proven capable of winning over any surface thrown his way and will try to build off a recent turf stakes victory in the Saranac, a one-mile test for sophomores over the inner turf. Trained by Michael Pino, the bay son of Verrazano was a last-out winner of the Jersey Derby on July 26 at Monmouth Park, which he won by 3 ½ lengths over the firm turf. Vanzzy began his career over the main track, graduating at second asking going one mile on October 14 at Parx, before winning the Display over the all-weather surface two months later at Woodbine.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA3-EQB.html

2:29 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG

In a turf race that features three from Chad Brown's powerhouse stable and one trained by Todd Pletcher, Kelly Breen will take his best shot with his classy Jersey-bred Valedictorian. With Breen's hope that she may be the lone speed, Valedictorian will look to get back on track in Eatontown Stakes, the feature on Monmouth Park's 14-race card. She won the race a year ago, one of 12 career victories that have helped her to $737,115 in lifetime earnings.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH082920USA5-EQB.html

4:17 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Saratoga Vision, a 3-year-old daughter of Court Vision, will look to record a couple of firsts in Saturday's Ontario Colleen, part of Woodbine's 10-race card. Owned and trained by Alexander Patykewich, the Kentucky-bred would notch her first stakes crown with a victory in the one-mile turf Ontario Colleen while also breaking her maiden in what will be her 13th start. Bred by Charles Fipke, Saratoga Vision has a pair of seconds and a trio of thirds from 12 starts, including a strong runner-up showing in her latest effort, the Grade 3 Selene Stakes on July 25 at Woodbine.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO082920CAN7-EQB.html

4:32 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Jackpot Farm's Basin is entered in a sprint for the first time since his juvenile campaign, making his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher in headlining a six-horse field in the Amsterdam Stakes. Under Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, Basin started the year on the Triple Crown trail, running third in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes to start his 3-year-old campaign in March at Oaklawn Park. He again ran on a sloppy and sealed track next out, running fourth in the Oaklawn Stakes in April. Keeping at the two-turn 1 1/8-mile distance, Basin won his second career Grade 1 in a division of the Arkansas Derby on May 2, crossing the wire second, six lengths back of Charlatan, who was later disqualified from purse money.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA7-EQB.html

5:07 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Veteran war horse Whitmore will face off against three other Grade 1 winners in Saturday's 41st running of the Forego Stakes. Boasting a record of 35-14-11-3 and lifetime earnings of over $3.1 million, Whitmore will attempt to join Groovy (1986-87) and Quick Call (1988-89) as the only horses to win multiple editions of the Forego. A winner of the 2018 Forego over subsequent Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light, Whitmore boasts six graded stakes victories. Whitmore arrives at the race off a runner-up finish to Volatile in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 25 at the Spa.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA8-EQB.html

5:43 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Trainer Mike Maker will saddle a trio of top contenders, led by New York-bred Cross Border, who will look to win his third race of the 2020 Saratoga Race Course summer meet in Saturday's Sword Dancer. Bred in the Empire State by Berkshire Stud and B. D. Gibbs, Cross Border is a perfect 5-for-5 at Saratoga. His Saratoga domination continued on July 22 when 6 ¼-lengths the best in the 1 1/16-mile Lubash for state-breds, and despite being wheeled back on just 10 days rest, Cross Border crossed the wire second in the Grade 2 Bowling Green and was elevated to first following the disqualification of Sadler's Joy for lugging in.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA9-EQB.html

9:38 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

Flagstaff is a lovely, little town in the mountains of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff is also a very fast racehorse who could be tough to beat at Del Mar Saturday afternoon in the 35th running of the Pat O'Brien Stakes. Flagstaff, a 6-year-old gelding by Speighstown, didn't make it to the races until his 4-year-old season and only shows 13 starts in total. Five of them have been wins, though – the last two coming in stakes at the O'Brien's seven-furlong distance – and he sports earnings that read $485,785.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082920USA10-EQB.html

Sunday August 30

5:46 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

The top-three finishers of the Summer Colony earlier this month will each take a step up in class on Sunday, with Nonna Madeline looking for a second straight win as part of a nine-horse field of older fillies and mares in the Shuvee Stakes. One of three entrants for trainer Todd Pletcher, Nonna Madeline won her first career stakes in the 1 1/8-mile Summer Colony on August 5, posting a 1 ¼-length score over a fast track. Running at the same distance in the 44th running of the Shuvee, the 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) enters having run first or second in her last three starts.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR083020USA9-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: Charles Town Classic, ‘Win And You’re In’ Sword Dancer appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post