Saturday Preview: Rubber Match in the Alabama

There is plenty to play for in Saturday's 142nd running of the $600,000 GI Alabama S. at Saratoga, where Nest (Curlin) and Secret Oath (Arrogate) face one another for the third time head-to-head–each with one victory to their credit–with divisional supremacy awaiting the winner.

An 8 1/4-length tour-de-force tally in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. accorded Nest the role of favoritism in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, but she was no match for the somewhat forgotten Secret Oath, dropping a two-length decision. A meritorious second to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GI Belmont S., the $350,000 Keeneland September grad reversed the Oaks form with a 12 1/4-length thumping of Secret Oath in the GI CCA Oaks July 23, good for a 104 Beyer Speed Figure that is a half-dozen points stronger than anything her six rivals has earned and nine more than Secret Oath's top. A GI Runhappy Travers S. start was an option next weekend, but she sticks with a path of lesser resistance for the Alabama.

“Whenever you're running four weeks off a huge effort like that, you're always concerned about if you're running back too soon,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who won his third Alabama with 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) last year. “But, in her case, she's done so well since the race there's no reason not to.”

Wayne Lukas, who won the Alabama twice in the 1980s with Life's Magic in 1984 and with Oaks winner Open Mind five years later, looks to equal his former pupil. Secret Oath's second clash of the season with the boys in the GI Preakness S. resulted in a non-threatening fourth and she figures to strip fitter off the CCA Oaks, her first start in 63 days.

“She's really had a good month since that debacle in the [CCA Oaks],” Lukas said. “In fact, I feel like she's better now than any time I've had her. She's really flourished here at Saratoga. [Jockey] Luis [Saez] has worked her three times since that race so he's getting more familiar every day with her, too. So, that should help us as much as anything. We're anxious to run her.”

Gerrymander (Into Mischief) defeated next-out GIII Monmouth Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Shahama (Munnings) in the GII Mother Goose S. June 25, but will probably need to find a few lengths to trouble the heavy hitters.

 

 

 

Spendarella Vulnerable in Del Mar Oaks?

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) took her career record to three wins from as many starts with a convincing 1 3/4-length success in the GII Appalachian S. at Keeneland in April and, with trainer Graham Motion unafraid to tackle the deepest of deep waters, took that undefeated mark into the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17. The $220,000 Keeneland September purchase had the misfortune of running into her fellow flawless rival Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who scored by 4 3/4 lengths first off the layoff and has since defeated the boys in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

But Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks figures something other than a walk in the park for Spendarella, who faces a fresh challenge from Euro import Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The bay, previously trained by Philippe Decouz, was stakes-placed in France earlier this season on the synthetic and on the turf and was last seen posting a mild upset when proving 3/4 of a length too strong in the G2 German 1000 Guineas at Duesseldorf June 12. The bay most recently topped the Arqana Summer Mixed Sale on a bid of €1.2 million from the BBA Ireland on behalf of Yulong Investments. She makes her U.S. debut for the John Sadler barn and can be the fly in the favorite's ointment.

 

 

 

With The Moonlight Backs Up For Lake Placid

Godolphin's With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) makes her third start in the last six weeks as the expected favorite in the GII Lake Placid S. back at the Spa. After failing to see out the 12-furlong distance of the G1 Cazoo Oaks June 3, the homebred completed a Frankel exacta behind McKulick (GB) in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational July 9 but turned the tables on that foe last time in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational. The latter is missing this time around, but the Chad Brown barn is represented by a quartet–each lined up next to the other–including GIII Lake George S. one-two finishers Dolce Zel (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}, gate 5) and Eminent Victor (Mr. Z, post three); Consumer Spending (More Than Ready, post four), winner of the GII Wonder Again S. and third in the Belmont Oaks; and 'TDN Rising Star' Haughty (Empire Maker, gate six).

In non-graded stakes action Saturday, Grade I winner Rattle N Roll (Connect), who lost all chance at the start of the GIII Indiana Derby July 9, looks to return to winning ways in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at FanDuel Racing (results in Monday's TDN), while 2-year-old males and females prep for next month's GI Pattison Summer S. and GI Natalma S., respectively, in the Soaring Free S. and Catch a Glimpse S. at Woodbine.

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Txope! How Antoine Griezmann Became a Classic-Winning Owner 

It has been a fascinating subplot to the Flat season, international sports people having their colours carried to big-race victories and, less than a month after former NBA star Tony Parker landed French 1,000 Guineas glory with Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the Atlético Madrid and French international striker Antoine Griezmann secured victory in the German equivalent with Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Trained by Philippe Decouz, Txope, which is the nickname Griezmann gave his wife, ran out a convincing winner for the World Cup-winning soccer player at Dusseldorf racecourse on Sunday. 

Txope was knocked down to bloodstock agent Laurent Benoit, who revealed that Griezmann got huge enjoyment out of the victory, and shared how the seeds for Sunday's success were sown back in 2012.

Benoit said, “I need to try and make a long story short because I bought the dam of Txope, Power Of The Moon (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) as a foal back in 2012, so that is where the story began. We bought the mare on behalf of Gerry Ryan, the owner of Melbourne Cup winner Americain, and Puissance de Lune (Ire) (Shamardal), who was a very good horse in Australia.

“He asked me to buy him a filly to race back in 2012 and I was looking for something that would be sharp and something that had quality. I ended up buying Power Of The Moon. I was keen to buy a filly with Linamix (Fr) as the broodmare sire and was very happy to buy her off Norelands as well.”

Laurent Benoit | Tattersalls

He added, “Gerry had good fun with Power Of The Moon during her racing career but decided to sell her when it was over. She went to the breeding shed and I actually bought her privately twice afterwards so I have bought this mare three times! I bought her more recently on behalf of Thierry Gillier, who is a well-known fashion magnate, and thought she'd make a perfect fit for Siyouni (FR) being by Acclamation. She went four years in a row to Siyouni and they kept the first two fillies.”

Txope was the first filly out of Power Of The Moon to be offered up at public auction and Benoit, who at the time had just started recruiting stock for Griezmann, thought she'd make the perfect fit for his new client and went to €310,000 to secure the deal at Arqana in 2020.

He said, “It was around this time where I started working for Antoine, through the racehorse trainer Philippe Decouz, and we were looking for something sharp. To be honest, she was very easy to pick at the sales for them because she was a very good-looking filly. 

“She was a bit on the small side but that came from the female line. Being by Siyouni, we thought it was a very safe bet and so far so good. She won he German 1000 Guineas in good style and it was a great result.”

Griezmann was part of the France team that played Croatia on Monday evening and, according to Benoit, has yet been able to find the time to celebrate the success of Txope due to a jam-packed schedule. 

He said, “Antoine has been very busy and is playing tonight [Monday] for France so he hasn't had much time to celebrate the win but he watched the race live of course. He was very happy and it's a passion he shares with his father Alain. 

“It is great for the game to have people like Antoine involved, especially when they have some big successes. I mean, we cannot hope for much more than that.”

On future plans, Benoit added, “Antoine has a couple of mares already and will be happy to keep a couple of nice ones to breed from. He has 12 horses in training and hopefully there are some exciting 2-year-olds coming along for him. 

“Txope has a full-brother going to the sales in August. Power Of The Moon also has a Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly foal at foot and is foal to Palace Pier (GB). And, not only that, just to make the link, Puissance de Lune translates to Power Of The Moon, so it's a nice story to tell.”

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