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Miles D to Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–Miles D (Curlin) proved himself to be graded stakes-worthy in the Curlin S. and trainer Chad Brown is aiming for Saratoga's biggest prize, the GI Runhappy Travers on Aug. 28.

“We're headed to that race,” Brown said. “We'll see how he works leading up to it, but I'm planning on taking a shot in that race.”

Brown said that Miles D, co-owned by Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta, will return to the worktab at Saratoga this weekend, probably on Saturday morning.

Miles D was a solid second to Dynamic One (Union Rags) in the 1 1/8 miles Curlin, the third start of his career and first try in stakes company. Under Joel Rosario, he was reserved early, cruised into contention and to the lead in the stretch, but could not handle Dynamic One's last-to-first move. Dynamic One, making his first start for Todd Pletcher since running 18th in the GI Kentucky Derby, prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths. Miles D was seven lengths in front of the 6-5 favorite First Captain.

“That is a race that when he went in, I expected him to win. The horse was training that good,” Brown said. “I looked at the field, and said, 'there are some more experienced horses in here,' but I thought he could handle that group. He ran super. He just got beat by a horse that has some back class. A nice horse. Todd has brought a lot of them over. The winner has been through the Triple Crown. There is no disgrace getting beat by a horse like that. You can see (Miles D) ran to the wire. Keep going to the Travers.”

Brant and LaPenta acquired Miles D as a yearling for $470,000 at Keeneland September 2019. He is the first foal out of the unraced Sound the Trumpets (Bernardini) from one of the Phipps Stable's exceptional female families. Sound of Trumpets's third dam is 1988 Broodmare of the Year Grecian Banner (Hoist the Flag), who produced the unbeaten Hall of Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account) and her full brother GI winner Personal Flag. As the daughter of Personal Ensign's daughter, My Flag (Easy Goer), a four-time Grade I winner, she is a half-sister to champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat).

Hill 'n Dale purchased Sound of Trumpets for $280,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and sold her in foal to Curlin a year later to River Bend Farm for $675,000.

Brown prepped Miles D for his 2-year-old debut last year. He did not make it to the races until Oct. 11 at Belmont Park and ended up fourth in a seven-furlong test and was not seen again for eight months.

“I always thought he was our best prospect for 3-year-old dirt horse for the next year,” Brown said. “He got hurt in his maiden race last year and it took a long time to get him back. He's doing really good. He's got some catch-up to do.”

Miles D broke his maiden in a one-turn mile at Belmont Park on June 12. Brown sent him directly to the Curlin, run on July 30, the day before the GII Jim Dandy, the traditional local prep for the Travers. Essential Quality (Tapit), the GI Belmont Stakes winner, who was the 2-year-old male champion in 2020, won the Jim Dandy and is heading to the Travers.

“Obviously, there is one horse that stands out in there,” Brown said, without naming Essential Quality, “that if he runs anywhere near close to one of his best races everyone is running for second. It's Saratoga, so anything can happen. I'm going to head toward the race and see how he develops. Hopefully this horse can give a good account of himself.”

Though Miles D did not give him the victory he expected, Brown said the Curlin was an important step.

“He definitely got some valuable experience for a lightly-raced horse,” Brown said. “Remember, it was his first time going two turns. It's an education. He got a little bit more fitness doing that. So I think we're set up here to run his best race, the next one, but if it's good enough or not remains to be seen. He's going to have to really jump forward in his numbers to win a race like that. But I want to give him a chance again, if he's training good.”

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Maracuja Ready to Roll in Alabama

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja (Honor Code) remains on target for next weekend's GI Alabama S. Aug. 21 at Saratoga. The GI Coaching Club American Oaks S. winner covered a half-mile breeze in :47.67 last Sunday while in company on the main track in her first work back since upsetting favored Malathaat (Curlin) in the nine-furlong CCA Oaks July 24.

“She went a little quicker than I thought, visually,” trainer Rob Atras. “She broke off a little quick and was rolling along and galloped out real nice. I never get too concerned about the time, but she did it well within herself. That's all that matters to me.”

A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale graduate, Maracuja won at third asking in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden sprint in February at Aqueduct and followed with a closing second in the GIII Gazelle S. in April, finishing 2 3/4-lengths back of Search Results. Maracuja finished seventh in the GI Kentucky Oaks in April at Churchill Downs.

“She broke so sharp in the last race and we were hoping for that,” Atras said. “We were hoping she could be a little more tactical. That would definitely be an advantage to her going forward.

“I knew you could throw the Oaks out and she was capable of better,” Atras added. “I thought if she took a step forward from the Gazelle she could be a contender, if not for the win, then for second. She definitely took a big step forward last time. Right out of the gate, she showed that she was live that day.”

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Weekend Lineup Presented By NYRA Bets: Femme Fatale? Tough Trio Takes On Males In Fourstardave

The Grade 1 Fourstardave highlights this weekend's racing action at Saratoga, with a trio of mares scheduled to line up against five male rivals in the one-mile turf contest. The heavy favorite is Chad Brown trainee Raging Bull, but he faces no easy task in Saturday's feature race. To the winner goes the spoils: an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

Also at Saratoga, the G2 Saratoga Special has drawn a full field of 12 juveniles in what shapes up as an intriguing contest over 6 1/2 furlongs. Doctor Jeff is the morning-line choice at 2-1, but both Hall of Famers Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher have entered a pair of rapidly-improving colts that ought to have a say in the outcome. In addition, top 2-year-old trainer Wesley Ward enters a first-out winner off a tough trip at Royal Ascot, who has been training well for his return.

In the Midwest, Arlington Park will play host to a trio of Grade 1 turf stakes topped by the Mr. D., formerly the Arlington Million. Trainer Chad Brown will be seeking his fourth straight win (excluding 2020, when it was cancelled) in the race with divisional leader Domestic Spending.

The New York Racing Association has planned an all graded stakes cross country pick 5 for Saturday, encompassing four Grade 1 contests and a Grade 2 event from Saratoga and Arlington Park. Past performances are free here for this 50-cent base wager.

Here's a quick snapshot of this weekend's graded stakes schedule, starting with Saratoga's big races (all times Eastern):

Saturday

5:39 p.m. – $200,000 Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes at Saratoga

Morning line favorite Doctor Jeff won first out in an off-the-turf sprint at Belmont Park on July 10, recording a field-high 78 Beyer for the effort, and has been working well at Saratoga since then. However, others in the full 12-horse field have more race experience, including the Steve Asmussen-trained Gunite, a son of Gun Runner who has three starts under his belt and seems to be putting all the pieces together at the right time.

Another potential upsetter is the Todd Pletcher-trained Double Thunder, already a winner of the G3 Bashford Manor. He may not have earned a particularly high speed figure for that effort, but he didn't need to; the son of Super Savor won by 4 3/4 lengths.

A pair of longshots are especially intriguing in the wide-open juvenile field. First, Nakatomi, the Wesley Ward-trained first-out winner who had a tough trip in his second outing at Royal Ascot. The colt has been working well since his stateside return, and it's hard to count out Ward with 2-year-olds. Secondly, Dance Code, the last-out third-place finisher behind the highly-talented Wit in the G3 Sanford. The colt stumbled badly at the start and was as far back as ninth early on, but was still able to rally for third.

Saratoga Special Entries

6:13 p.m. – $500,000 Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga

Already a Grade 1 winner over the mile trip in 2021, Raging Bull is a deserving favorite for trainer Chad Brown in the Fourstardave. His two starts this year have both seen him record triple-digit Beyers, and it's hard to knock his current form.

Bill Mott trainee Casa Creed will stretch back out to the mile after a big performance last out over six furlongs to win the G1 Jaipur, and the Brad Cox-trained Set Piece should be feeling confident as he enters this race off three back-to-back victories on the turf.

Of course, Got Stormy made headlines when she won this race in 2019 and subsequently went on to finish a close second in that year's Breeders' Cup Mile on the West Coast and to win the G1 Matriarch. She didn't have quite as spectacular a season in 2020, though she did finish second in this contest and recorded a pair of G3 wins when backed up to sprint distances. If the turf is firm on Saturday, Got Stormy's fondness for this course at this distance can't be denied.

The other two mares taking on the boys are: Blowout, trained by Chad Brown and never worse than third in her 12-race career, and Daddy Is A Legend, the best of the U.S. contingent when third last out behind Althiqa and Summer Romance in the G1 Just A Game.

Fourstardave Entries

5:49 p.m. – $400,000 Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park

A field of seven fillies and mares has been entered for this 1 3/16-mile contest, headed by Graham Motion trainee Mean Mary, who is two-for-two this season and 7 for 11 overall. The biggest challenge comes from the yard of Aidan O'Brien in Santa Barbara, last-out winner of the G1 Belmont Oaks and the half-sister to Breeders' Cup winners Iridessa and Order of Australia.

The top local challenger is Naval Laughter, trained by Chris Davis, a lightly-raced 4-year-old making just her fifth career start. Since Davis has overseen her training, the filly is two-for-three this year and won her first graded stakes race in her most recent outing over the Arlington lawn.

Chad Brown has sent out the winner of the Beverly D. each of the past five times it has been run, and six times overall. He'll saddle Lemista for this edition, a filly who finished second behind Harvey's Lil Goil in the G3 Beaugay in her stateside debut, but faded to eighth last out in the G1 Diana.

Beverly D. Entries

6:28 p.m. – $300,000 Grade 1 Bruce D. Stakes at Arlington Park

Formerly run as the Secretariat Stakes, this one-mile contest for 3-year-olds features nine entrants for the 2021 edition. Leading the charge is Jack Sisterson trainee Tango Tango Tango, who owns a win over the Arlington turf in his most recent outing. The lightly-raced Point Me By appears to have some talent for trainer Eddie Kenneally, though a firm turf would suit him best.

Ginsburned is also lightly raced, though definitely moving in the right director for veteran Rusty Arnold. Therideofalifetime will be making his first start on the turf for trainer Ignacio Correas, but if the son of Candy Ride takes to the surface, his numbers definitely put him in the mix.

Bruce D. Entries

7:13 p.m. – $600,000 Grade 1 Mr. D. Stakes at Arlington Park

Divisional leader Domestic Spending will try to give Chad Brown his fourth straight in the race formerly known as the Arlington Million, in what may be the last edition ever held at the Chicagoland racetrack. With a dead-heat win in the G1 Turf Classic and a splashier win last out in the G1 Manhattan, the 4-year-old Kingman gelding is a deserving favorite in this 1 1/4-mile contest.

Aidan O'Brien sends over Armory, a multiple Group 1-placed son of Galileo, to form the international challenge. The 4-year-old has proven his ability to travel well with a second-place finish in Australia's Group 1 Cox Plate, and has improved his numbers this season, finishing a good third behind Love and Audarya in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bizzee Channel has won two in a row over the Arlington lawn for trainer Larry Rivelli, but will have to step up here. The 8-year-old Zulu Alpha ran an even fifth in his first start off a 10-month layoff, but trainer Mike Maker's ability with older horses over turf routes can't be ignored.

Mr. D. Entries

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‘Stormy’ Forecast Ahead in Fourstardave

The contingent behind MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy) has been carefully monitoring the weather this week as the 6-year-old turf specialist prepares for her third appearance in Saratoga's GI Fourstardave H. Possible scattered overnight thunderstorms leading up to Saturday's card could soften the turf more than the fan-favorite mare would prefer.

“For a horse named Got Stormy, she doesn't like much rain,” her recently inducted Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said. “If the turf gets soft on Saturday, a mile is stretching her distance ability. We'll see what happens, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.”

Got Stormy became the first female in history to win the mile-long Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge in 2019, besting MGISW Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), one of the expected favorites in this year's edition of the race, as well as eventual Eclipse champion Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) on the firm turf. Her win in 1:32 flat was a course-record time.

During last year's renewal of the event over a softer course, Got Stormy finished second just over a length behind wire-to-wire victor Halladay (War Front).

“Last year we weren't supposed to get rain and the morning of the race, it stormed,” Casse recalled. “There was a little give in the ground and it probably cost her the race.”

Later last year, a day after finishing fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Got Stormy sold for $2.75 million at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale to Spendthrift Farm. Now co-owned by My Racehorse Stable, the chestnut returned this year with a score in the GIII Honey Fox S. followed by a pair of disappointing fifth-place finishes in the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. and GI Jackpot Jaipur S.

Her recent absence from the winner's circle is not a big concern for Casse, who believes the mare has blossomed since her return to the Spa last month.

“I see a lot of similarities from last year to this year,” he said. “She struggled a little bit before she got to Saratoga last year and then she ran a great race in the Fourstardave. She gets better in the summer and fall. I think a lot of it has to do with how she loves training here and she tends to blossom at Saratoga.”

He continued, “Tyler Gaffalione worked her [on Aug. 1] and he came back with a big smile and said, 'She's back.' So if Tyler is happy, I'm happy. Looking at the race, one of the things she likes is to have a target. There seems to be a fair amount of speed and it's something she hasn't gotten recently, so it should play out well.”

Raging Bull (inside) worked in company with three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Aug. 8. | Sarah Andrew

Got Stormy will face a field of seven other rivals on Saturday.

Raging Bull, the 2019 second-place finisher, made his six-year-old debut at Keeneland this spring with a two-length victory in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. The three-time Grade I winner and Chad Brown pupil enters Saturday's race following a nail-biting close second to Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom) in the GIII Poker S.

“He's still going strong at age six and he's really doing as well as he's ever done,” said Brown, who has yet to win the prestigious Grade I turf contest. “His race at Keeneland was dynamite-one of his best ever. Last time out, he just got in some trouble and was kind of stuck inside. Hopefully he has a better trip this time.”

Fellow Chad Brown-trained, Peter Brant-owned entry Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}) looks to get the lead early, but will have to do so from the eight hole. The 5-year-old mare made it to the winner's circle in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. in her only start this year.

Brown explained that the speedy Blowout is not in the race to set up Raging Bull.

“She has a little bit of a layoff to overcome, but she's very dangerous if she gets to the front and has things her way,” Brown said. “She should be setting the pace but make no mistake, she's in the race to win. If she can get around there on an easy pace, I'm fine with that. I don't want to get beat by a horse that is loose on the lead either. If someone wins loose on the lead, it's going to be her.”

Other top considerations in the field include Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who has gone undefeated in his last three starts at Churchill Downs this year for Brad Cox and was last seen besting a 10-horse field in the GII Wise Dan S. on June 26., as well as Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who also enters coming off a win in the GI Jackpot Jaipur S. for trainer Bill Mott.

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