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Racing Insights for July 17

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5th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 3:23 p.m. ET

Annette Allen and Helen Alexander's Montauk Point (Violence) makes his first start for the Shug McGaughey barn here. The $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Showcase grad–the priciest yearling by his Hill 'n' Dale sire to sell last season–is half to none other than 2019 GI Test S. and GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint heroine Covfefe (Into Mischief), who garnered both champion 3-year-old filly and champion female sprinter honors for that campaign. The chestnut hails from the uber deep family that traces back to Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee.

Uninvited Guest (Distorted Humor), a $400,000 KEESEP yearling, was second at 8-5 in his Monmouth unveiling June 20. He's out of MSW/GSP turf router and 'TDN Rising Star' Interrupted (Broken Vow). Interrupted is a daughter of of MSW/MGSP Alternate (Seattle Slew), making her a half to GISW Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro) and millionaire MGSW Alternation (Distorted Humor).

Chattalot (Midnight Lute) is a somewhat surprisingly short 8-5 on the morning line for Steve Amussen, who unveiled freaky 'Rising Star'-earning filly Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) on opening day. Chattalot was a $4,500 FTKOCT RNA turned $110,000 OBS April purchase off a :10 flat breeze. The bay, who is co-owned by Bloom Racing Stable of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) fame, along with David Bernsen, is half to SW/GSP A Red Tie Day (Indygo Shiner) and GSP Alydarla (Henny Hughes). TJCIS PPs

8th-SAR, $103k, Alw, 3y/up, 7f, 5:03 p.m. ET

Book-ended by 'TDN Rising Stars', this is one of those vintage allowances you'll only find at Saratoga that could easily have a grade next to it. Shadwell Stable's wide-drawn Mahaamel (Into Mischief) gets a tepid nod on David Aragona's morning line at 5-2. He was a close second on debut at Belmont Apr. 24 to fellow 'Rising Star' and recent GIII Dwyer S. hero First Captain (Curlin), and broke through himself by 3 1/4 lengths going this trip in the Belmont mud June 4. The $700,000 KEESEP yearling, out GSW Hot Stones (Bustin Stones), earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his maiden breaker.

Stonestreet homebred Beau Liam (Liam's Map) will have to work out a trip from the rail in just his second attempt. The son of GSW Belle of Perintown (Dehere) is half to GSW Strike It Rich (Unbridled's Song) and MSW/MGSP Tomlin (Distorted Humor). He aired by 7 1/2 lengths and received a 94 Beyer for his unveiling under the Twin Spires May 29.

Chad Brown has two signed on. Crowded Trade (More Than Ready) was beaten a nose in the GIII Gotham S. in March, third in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 3 and fifth last out in the GI Preakness S. May 15. Witsel (Nyquist), meanwhile, was purchased privately by Peter Brant and Bob LaPenta after a 13 1/4-length romp as a late season 2-year-old at Tampa Dec. 9 for trainer Carlos Munoz. He earned a solid 84 Beyer for that outing, but the subsequent efforts by the field he beat that day have been hit or miss. The fourth finisher did take a state-bred stakes, however, after breaking his maiden for $25,000. Witsel was a $72,000 KEESEP RNA and is a grandson of Grade II-winning sprinter Golden Gale (Summer Squall).

Courtlandt Farms's $410,000 KEESEP buy Ten for Ten (Frosted) was last seen finishing a neck second in the nine-panel GII Remsen S. Dec. 5. The grey is out of a half-sister to GISWs Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway) and Vexatious (Giant's Causeway) as well as GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner and GI Belmont S. runner-up Destin (Giant's Causeway).

TJCIS PPs

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Trainer Velazquez ‘Derby Dreaming’ After Brooklyn Strong’s Remsen Victory

Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong showed up with a big effort in the final furlong to win the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y., over the 6-5 favorite, Ten for Ten.

Ten for Ten took an early lead, setting the pace through fractions of :23.67, :47.86, 1:12.69, and 1:37.96 on a sloppy track. Sent off at odds of 7-1, Brooklyn Strong challenged the leader in the stretch and pulled ahead to win the 1 1/8 mile race by a neck with Ten for Ten taking second and 8 3/4 lengths separating the two from the third place finisher, Known Agenda, followed by Pickin' Time and Erawan. Brooklyn Strong returned $16.20 on a $2 win bet.

Final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.80.

“I was very confident going in,” winning trainer Daniel Velazquez said in a post-race interview. “I knew the distance was key and I was confident about the off track. I was happy with his performance. He really dug in. Today was a big showcase for him against tougher competition and I couldn't be happier.”

This is the first graded stakes win for the NewYork-bred gelding and the first for his sire, Wicked Strong, who has two crops to race. Brooklyn Strong is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare, Riviera Chic. Prior to today's win, Brooklyn Strong had crossed the finish line first in two of three starts including the Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont. Brooklyn Strong was purchased for $5,000 by Schwartz at the OBS 2-year-old in training sale in April of 2020. He was ridden today by Joel Rosario. This was the first graded stakes win for trainer Daniel Velazquez.

“I broke well and it looked like they were running away from me a little bit,” Rosario. “So I had to ride him to get position. I didn't want to let him fall back, so I rode him to stay within a couple of lengths. I was happy with how he was progressing and I was confident he was going to have something left for the end.”

Today's win earned the son of Wicked Strong 10 qualifying points for the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

“We'll come back healthy and then start picking our spots,” Velazquez said on earning the Derby points. “This is a big prep for the Derby moving forward. Now, we're definitely Derby dreaming.”

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Jersey-Bred Returns to the Big Apple for Remsen

Pickin’ Time (Stay Thirsty) upset the GIII Nashua S. on his last visit to Aqueduct Nov. 8 and he looks to double up Saturday when he returns to Ozone Park for the GII Remsen S. A debut winner at Monmouth July 4, the Jersey-bred was a non-factor eighth in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 7, but was second next out in the Sapling S. back in the Garden State Sept. 6. The dark bay scored a narrow winner in the Smoke Glacken S. at the Jersey Shore Sept. 26 prior to his Nashua victory last time.

Nashua runner-up Ten for Ten (Frosted) romped by eight lengths when extended to two turns in his second start in the slop at Belmont Oct. 16. Favored in the Nashua, he led most of the way, but was run down late by Pickin’ Time.

“He worked in :48 and change and went fine,” conditioner Shug McGaughey told the NYRA notes team. “We’re on the right track. He acts like he’s a pretty nice horse. It will be interesting seeing him go a mile and an eighth. He’s quick so we’ll see how he does on Saturday. He should be able to place himself well.”

Todd Pletcher saddles a live runner in St. Elias Stable homebred Known Agenda (Curlin). Second to next-out Nyquist S. winner Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) in his 6 1/2-panel career bow at Belmont Sept. 27, the chestnut broke through net out when extended to nine furlongs at the Big A Nov. 8.

“I was actually surprised he ran as well as he did sprinting, but it helped him a lot for his maiden win,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He’s designed to run longer. He’s had two good efforts so far.”

Native New Yorker Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong) looks to take the next step up Saturday. A first-out winner in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Delaware Sept. 12, the gelding was third in the state-bred Bertram F. Bongard S. Oct. 2 and captured the NY-bred Sleepy Hollow S. next out Oct. 24 at Belmont.

Rounding out the field of five is Erawan (Rock Hampton), a debut winner at Laurel Nov. 8. He crossed the line fourth, but was promoted to third next out there in a Nov. 22 optional claimer.

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Pickin’ Time Runs Down Ten For Ten To Win Nashua

Pickin' Time overtook the favorite and pacesetter Ten for Ten in the final furlong and powered home a 2 1/4-length winner to notch his first graded stakes victory in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua for juveniles at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Owned by John Bowers, Jr., Pickin' Time entered with ample stakes experience for trainer Kelly Breen, following his debut win at 4 ½ furlongs in July at Monmouth Park. After running eighth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 7, Breen returned the Stay Thirsty colt to Monmouth for consecutive stakes appearance, where he ran second in the one-mile Sapling on September 6 before winning the six-furlong Smoke Glacken on September 27.

Stretched back out to a mile for the first time since the Sapling, Pickin' Time broke sharp from post 4 under jockey Trevor McCarthy, who tracked initially in fifth position before moving up to fourth as 6-5 favorite Ten for Ten [pressured by Isolate] led the seven-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.86 seconds with the half in 46.10 and three-quarters in 1:11.98 over the fast main track.

Out of the turn, jockey Eric Cancel kept Ten for Ten near the rail, while McCarthy made a strong bid from the outside at the top of the stretch. Pickin' Time picked off his rival and finished strong, completing the course in a final time of 1:39.89 to improve to 3-1-0 in five starts.

“We got a great break and that's what I wanted; get him out and make sure he had a comfortable spot, which he did,” said McCarthy, who also won the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm on Saturday at Aqueduct. “Looking down the backside, I was very comfortable where I was. I wasn't getting too much kickback and that seems to be a pretty big key this weekend. I was able to get outside coming to the turn and let him get in his mojo. After that, he really accelerated strong for me and gave me a great effort through the lane. I was delighted.

“Kelly had him ready today,” he added. “He was the most experienced horse in the race, so I was really happy looking into that. Everything worked out perfect.”

Breen said the Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen on Cigar Mile Day on December 5 is the next target for the New Jersey homebred. The 1 1/8-mile test offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the 2021 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“He's just growing into himself,” Breen said. “He was kind of a big and gawky 2-year old. When he ran in Saratoga, he ran against that real nice horse of Steve Asmussen's [Jackie's Warrior]. We didn't get off great that day. Today was the right timing and everything worked out well for him. He's staying right where he's at. We'll look forward to the Remsen.”

Off at 9-1, Pickin' Time returned $21.00 on a $2 win bet. He improved his career earnings to $184,025.

Courtlandt Farms' Ten for Ten a $410,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, was 10 ¼ lengths the best of Isolate for second in his stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

“I had a really nice trip,” Cancel said. “The pace was a little bit quick at the beginning, but I went on with it. My horse was pretty comfortable, nice and focused and he seemed to be doing it easy until we got to the quarter pole and the other horse got to him quick. He just went by. My horse never gave up. He kept on trying but the other one flew by him.”

Nova Rags, Civil War, Irish Honor and Spectatorless completed the order of finish.

The Nashua, named for the Hall of Famer who won ran second in the 1955 Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes and Preakness, was the final leg of a Cross Country Pick 5 with Churchill Downs, with a payout of $6,424.75 for selecting all five winners. The total pool was $52,913.

There will be a Cross Country Pick 5 offered every day in November that both Aqueduct and Churchill Downs offer live racing.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card that features a first post of 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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