Week 7 of the 2020 Saratoga Race Course meeting wraps up with a loaded Saturday card and another Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour update previewing graduates.
Graduates of the daily feature from The Saratoga Special are entered to run in this weekend’s major stakes and undercard races, including Saturday’s featured Grade 1 Forego and Grade 1 Sword Dancer.
The Fasig-Tipton Stable tour highlights the people and horses that make Saratoga special.
Here’s a recap of the winners from the Stable Tour along with entries for Saturday and Sunday.
Week 7 winners
Prairie Wings: Shadwell Stables’ Tapit filly graduated in Thursday’s second after four previous runner-up efforts this year. Originally scheduled for 1 3/16 miles on the turf, the maiden special weight was moved to 1 1/8 miles on the dirt after a soggy start to the day. Racing just off the pace set by Forty Zip, the Todd Pletcher trainee took command at the three-quarters pole and opened up on the field of three behind her, coming home 2 ¾ lengths clear of Fashion Mo with Luis Saez up.
Captain Bombastic: The 3-year-old Forty Tales colt gave trainer Jeremiah Englehart the first of two wins on the card Friday when he took the New York Stallion Series Times Square Division in his first start since a fourth-place effort in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes. Owned by Team Hanley, Captain Bombastic and jockey Luis Saez made their way to the lead at the half-mile pole and never looked back, coasting to the finish 5 ¼ lengths in front as the 3-5 favorite.
Beyond Brown: A homebred for Patricia Generazio, the daughter of Big Brown broke her maiden in her 10th attempt Friday in an off-the-turf maiden claimer. Trained by David Donk, the 3-year-old filly had previously been on the board in four of her starts, including a second last time out at Saratoga August 5. After a short duel with Little Red Button coming into the stretch, Beyond Brown drew away with Jose Ortiz and finished strongly by 2 ¾ lengths at the wire.
Saturday
En Wye Cee: Race 2, 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer on the turf. Third in his first start of 2020 last time out, the 4-year-old Declaration Of War colt was fourth in the Grade 3 Discovery Stakes last year, the only off the board finish of his five starts.
Todd Pletcher in August 2020: “He’s a horse who is capable of running anywhere from a mile to a mile and a quarter so it gives us a lot of options. I don’t know if we’ll be aggressive and look at a stake or come back in the two other than and go from there.”
Ima Pharoah: Race 3, Saranac Stakes. The homebred American Pharoah colt for Charles Fipke finally graduated in a maiden special weight at Saratoga August 1 after finishing second in his four other career starts. Entered main track only.
Todd Pletcher in August 2020: “It was nice to see him get the job done. I was trying to think of how many horses we’ve had over the years who finished second in their first four starts. It was a good setup, I do think the blinkers helped a little bit which Irad (Ortiz) suggested, it was a good solid effort.”
Irish Mias: Race 3, Saranac Stakes. Winner of the Laurel Futurity last year, the New Jersey-bred son of Sky Mesa was third in the Jersey Derby last time out and fourth in the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy Stakes in January.
Graham Motion in August 2019: “He looks like he could be really nice.”
Three Technique: Race 3, Saranac Stakes. Coming off a 10th in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes, the 3-year-old Mr Speaker colt was second in the Smarty Jones Stakes this year and has won two of his seven starts for August Dawn Farm.
Jeremiah Englehart in July 2020: “I figured seven-eighths, this track, that’s how he broke his maiden and we’re getting him back to that (in the Allen Jerkens). You worry about him running a big race off a layoff.”
Charleston Strong: Race 6, 6-furlong maiden special weight. A $600,000 yearling purchase for Bill Rucker, the 2-year-old Flatter colt is making his debut after breezing a half from the gate in :49.35 Aug. 22.
Jeremiah Englehart in July 2020: “We bought him for a partnership group that we bought four horses for with the intent of trying to get really nice horses. So far they all seem to be coming along well. He’s one that seems like he has the class as far as being precocious and early.”
Win Win Win: Race 8, Forego Stakes Presented by America’s Best Racing. Second in an optional claimer in his last start, the homebred for Live Oak Plantation won the Manila Stakes last year and was second in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes. He has won four of his 11 starts and placed in four others.
Mike Trombetta in July 2020: “He ran lights out on the turf, on the hard turf course. When he ran at Belmont and it was a little softer, off the layoff, I don’t think he liked it as much. Then I ran him back on the dirt and he had a much-troubled trip. I like where he is at the moment, the only time I ran him seven-eighths, he ran in 1:20 and broke the track record.”
Channel Maker: Race 9, Sword Dancer Stakes. Multiple Grade 1 winning son of English Channel was put up to third after a disqualification in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes last time out, his best result of 2020. Fourth in this race last year, the 6-year-old gelding has won five of his 34 starts and has earned $2,219,051.
Bill Mott in August 2019: “Overachiever. You just can’t overachieve every time.”
Highland Sky: Race 9, Sword Dancer Stakes. The veteran Sky Mesa gelding crossed the wire third last time out in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes but was elevated to second after the disqualification of Sadler’s Joy from first. Now a 7-year-old, he has won or been on the board in 14 of his 29 starts.
Barclay Tagg in August 2019: “He’s made $700,000 the hard way.”
Capstone Girl: Race 10, 6-furlong maiden special weight. Robin Lane Thoroughbreds’ homebred daughter of Hard Spun finished 10th in her debut July 19 at Saratoga and has a series of works since then, most recently breezing a half from the gate in :49.35 Aug. 22.
Jeremiah Englehart in July 2020: “She’s been a really nice Hard Spun filly. I do think she’s going to want more distance. She’s got a nice, long, fluid stride, seems like she’s going to be a filly that goes further. I really haven’t geared her up to be quick and early. I just want to see her develop into more of a distance horse.”
Midnight Surprise: Race 11, 6 ½-furlong New York-bred allowance. Chevaux Racing’s homebred Giant Surprise filly won on debut in a maiden special weight at Saratoga July 25. She breezed 4 furlongs in :49.44 over the main track Aug. 21.
Todd Pletcher in August 2020: “I was really proud of her. The owners were very patient with her. My expectations coming into the meet were this was a filly that’s going to need maiden New York-bred claiming level but she consistently improved. Her works kept getting better and better. I would say coming into this, she is the most improved at the meet.”
Sunday
Our Man Mike: Race 1, 5 ½-furlong New York-bred maiden special weight on the turf. Making his debut for owner and breeder Barry Schwartz, the 2-year-old Street Boss colt breezed 4 furlongs in :48.44 over the main track Aug. 23.
Horacio DePaz in August 2020: “He’s doing well. He’s been working with Citizen K. Fitness wise he’s just a little bit behind the other one but he’s doing everything fine. It will be exciting to get those two started. He’ll have a start here at the meet.”
No Mo’ Spending: Race 3, 6 ½-furlong New York-bred maiden special weight. The daughter of Uncle Mo finished third in her second career start at Saratoga Aug. 5. She breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.63 over the main track Aug. 22.
Ian Wilkes in August 2020: “Just too short for her, she wants more distance. I’ve run her 5, 5 ½, which is a shame because she’s a big filly who wants to sit and travel, and run a little further. But improving.”
Ian Glass: Race 4, 1 1/16-mile $25,000 claimer. Winner last time out in a $35,000 claimer at Saratoga August 1, he was claimed for $50,000 last fall by Adelphi Racing Club, Cutair Racing and Dark Horse Racing Stable. He finished third in his other start of 2020.
Ray Handal in August 2020: “Joel laid down a really sweet ride on him, got to the front on the inner, slowed it down and had enough in the tank to hold them off late. He bounced out of the race in good shape and we’re going to run him next Sunday in a 25. Natural progression.”
Mun Luv: Race 5, 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight on the turf. Daughter of Munnings makes her career debut for Adelphi Racing, Dark Horse Racing Stables and Cutair Stables, who purchased her at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale for $110,000. She breezed 4 furlongs in :51.66 over the turf training course Aug. 23.
Ray Handal in August 2020: “Really nice. A little green out there still but seems ultra-talented. We’ll see how she does, going to run her in a 5 1/2 on the grass and go from there. She might need one just being a little green. But if she breaks well and is up there it wouldn’t surprise me if she was right there at the finish. There’s a lot of speed there, she’s really fast.”
Blue Atlas: Race 7, 1-mile New York-bred allowance optional claimer on the turf. Barry Schwartz’s homebred English Channel mare finished second last time out in an optional claimer July 30 and won a claimer at Belmont July 3. A four-time winner, she is making her third start of 2020.
Horacio DePaz in August 2020: “She’s got that English Channel, wants to go to the front. She’s very tough to train in the morning, too. When Todd had her and he sprinted her, she’d get cover and make a run. When she would route, she wouldn’t get cover and she didn’t have that turn of foot. It’s hard to get her covered up because she wants to go.”
Goodbye Brockley: Race 7, 1-mile New York-bred allowance optional claimer on the turf. 5-year-old Cosmonaut mare finished fifth in an optional claimer July 30 at Saratoga. Her lone win of 2020 came in an off-the-turf allowance at Gulfstream April 18.
Phil Serpe in August 2019: “She looks great, but kind of has us a little puzzled. She’s just not getting it done right now. What we do with horses like that is give them some time, regroup and go back at it this fall with her and get things moving in the right direction.”
Maiden Beauty: Race 7, 1-mile New York-bred optional claimer on the turf. The stakes winning Revolutionary filly finished fourth in her last start, an optional claimer at Saratoga July 30. Winner of three of her 22 starts, she is looking for her first win since November.
Bruce Brown in August 2020: “She ran a good fourth and was running on at the end. That race comes back for her at the end of the month.”
Short Pour: Race 7, 1-mile New York-bred allowance optional claimer on the turf. Last seen finishing eighth in an optional claimer at Saratoga July 30, the 4-year-old The Factor filly has won two of her 11 starts and is looking for her first win since August of 2019.
Mark Hennig in August 2019: “She’s had a couple tough trips in a row on the turf…”
Harris Bay: Race 8, 6-furlong New York-bred allowance. Winner on debut at Belmont last year, the 3-year-old Carpe Diem colt finished second in the Rego Park Stakes at Aqueduct in January and is coming off a third-place effort in an allowance Aug. 2.
John Kimmel in August 2019: “He’s got a chance to make it here and the Carpe Diems are doing OK. He’s a pretty handsome horse. I notice that they have really typey bodies. They all have that really nice balance between their shoulder and their hip.”
Riken: Race 8, 6-furlong New York-bred allowance. Eighth in an allowance at Saratoga in his last start, the 4-year-old Central Banker gelding won his two other starts this year and has earned $132,091.
David Donk in August 2020: “He’s one style, will probably be on the lead. He needs a track that favors him a little bit. Not to get hooked up too fast, too quick, too early, although you’ve got to be pretty quick to go with him. We’ll give him another chance in the condition, otherwise he’s going to need to find easier company.”
Lucky Stride: Race 9, Shuvee Stakes. A Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner in Puerto Rico, the daughter of Declaration Of War is making her first start outside of Camarero, where she won her most recent start June 19. She has never been worse than second in her 11 starts.
Mike Trombetta in July 2020: “We needed a little time with her, she lost a few pounds along the trip. We brought her to Fair Hill, trying to let her round out a little before we start working her regularly and take her up to Saratoga for the second half of August. I’ve worked her twice easy, just trying to let her get some down time to overcome that trip. She knows how to win.”
Modern Science: Race 10, 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the turf. Runner-up in the second start of his career August 1, the son of Galileo was a $400,000 purchase for Lothenbach Stables at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale.
Ian Wilkes in August 2020: “Nice colt. He’s a big baby. He’s all 2-year-old boy. He’s figuring the game out. He ran a good race the other day, just second best. When the other horse came to us he made us run along with him. He’s still learning. Now I know why Aidan O’Brien does so well. Those Galileos, they’re tough. They’re good and tough.”
Venerable: Race 10, 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the turf. Sixth in his debut August 1 at Saratoga for Jump Sucker Stable, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, the 2-year-old Tiznow colt cost $410,000 as a yearling and has a series of works at Saratoga.
Christophe Clement in August 2020: “He runs for a partnership. Trained very forwardly and I’m excited to see him run.”
Winfromwithin: Race 10, 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the turf. Second on debut at Belmont in July, the Into Mischief colt finished fourth in his most recent start, a maiden special weight at Saratoga Aug. 1.
Todd Pletcher in August 2020: “His first start was good, his second start was OK. Johnny came back and said he was spinning his wheels a little bit, that he gave him a turf feel. If you look at the bottom side of his pedigree, he’s got some turf there.”
