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"It’s a sense of accomplishment every time she runs’: Ashview Farm’s Lyster sings praises of G2 Beldame favorite Nest

by NYRA Press Office

·    "It’s a sense of accomplishment every time she runs’: Ashview Farm’s Lyster sings praises of G2 Beldame favorite Nest

·    Hot Peppers could target G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; Bella Sofia entered in Fasig-Tipton November Sale

·    Mosienko notches fourth consecutive win for Lalman

·    Determined Jester set for another test against males in G3 Futurity

·    Pixelate hoping for a clear trip in G3 Knickerbocker

·    Redifined should relish more ground in G3 Matron

·    Motion expresses cautious optimism in G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic contender Bye Bye Melvin

·    Breeders’ Cup status still in flux for G1 Frizette runner-up You’re My Girl

·    Belmont at the Big A Week 5 stakes probables

Three-time Grade 1 winner Nest has demonstrated class in each of her nine starts ahead of her first try against elders in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame at Belmont at the Big A. Gray Lyster of breeder Ashview Farm said the talented 3-year-old daughter of Curlin, out of stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood, was destined for greatness. 

“She was just always a really nice filly,” Lyster said. “The mare is a queen of a mare and Nest immediately stood up the morning she was born and we thought, ‘Wow she’s really athletic and beautiful looking’ and it just continued on throughout the year and a half we had her. She was always smooth, always athletic. She was one of the fillies in the paddock you never had trouble with, but it wasn’t like she was some pushover either. She was definitely one of the leaders in the pack.” 

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest enters the nine-furlong Beldame off a sweep of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and Grade 1 Alabama this summer at Saratoga Race Course, winning both races by open lengths while hand ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr.  A runner-up in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes against colts, she captured her first Grade 1 victory in the Ashland in April at Keeneland. 

Lyster, who co-manages the family farm in Versailles, Kentucky with his brother, Bryan, said he was always a strong believer in Nest’s potential. 

“If they were all like Nest, it would be so easy. She never had a problem, an x-ray issue, did anything silly or was difficult to handle,” Lyster said. “Mentally, she was as wonderful as she was physically. I would say that has a lot to do with why she’s become such a good racehorse. She was a pleasure to be around.” 

Nest was consigned by Ashview at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Lyster said she parlayed her professional attitude from the farm to the sales grounds. 

“At the sale, you see all these yearlings jumping around acting crazy, but it’s the first time they’ve been off the farm. She was one of the ones that wasn’t bothered,” Lyster said. “She was just checking out what was going on. She wasn’t some pushover that was going to do whatever you told her, but she was just standing at attention and looking at everything happening around her the entire way. That's one of the little things that breeders can pick up on that anyone else seeing a horse for the first time wouldn’t be able to. It’s like which one comes into the sale and acts like they have presence and you don’t have to be so careful with every two seconds. Nest was just like, ‘This is what I’m supposed to do, let’s do it.’” 

But while she boasted a blue-blooded pedigree and carried herself well, she only brought $350,000. 

“She was a really nice filly, but at the sale, she wasn’t one of these monster huge fillies that brings seven figures and people were all over,” Lyster recalled. “She was a beautiful medium-sized Curlin filly who had no faults whatsoever, but was just a tad bit unassuming. We were disappointed that she only brought what she did, she was so well put together. You just can’t measure that heart and desire sometimes and this is partially the case. She’s just so cool. We get to sit back and enjoy a couple of years of her racing. It’s a pleasure, it’s flattering and it’s a sense of accomplishment every time she runs.” 

Nest wasn’t the only subsequent prominent racehorse in the Ashview consignment that year. Mo Donegal, Nest’s stablemate who defeated her by three lengths in the Belmont Stakes, was stabled right next to her at the consignment barn during the sale. Mo Donegal, a son of Uncle Mo out of the Pulpit mare Callingmissbrown, brought $250,000 at the sale and was bought

by Donegal Racing. 

Both Nest and Mo Donegal captured their final starts last year, respectively winning the Grade 2 Demoiselle and Grade 2 Remsen on December 4 at the Big A. 

“How fortunate are we as the breeders to just be a part of that? My family has done this long enough to realize how special and unlikely this is, and we’re all enjoying every moment of it,” Lyster said. “They won the Demoiselle and Remsen back-to-back with the same trainer, same jockey, from the same farm and from the same Book 2 consignment in stalls right next to each other at the sale and then they run one-two in the Belmont. You just can’t make that stuff up.” 

Lyster specifically recalled watching Nest’s Alabama performance on television and said he was very impressed with how she handled herself in the paddock. 

“She took everything in stride and that’s one of the things we loved about her,” Lyster said. “I was watching with some friends and they were like, ‘Look at her, she’s just standing there looking around.’ To me, that’s just a presence you don’t see very often. Fifty percent of her ability is mental, or at least a huge part of it.” 

Lightning could strike twice for Lyster this weekend as Nest’s half-brother Lost Ark, by Violence, is racing in Saturday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Also trained by Pletcher, Lost Ark won on debut in June at Belmont Park before passing his first two-turn test with aplomb in the Sapling on August 27 at Monmouth Park, winning by 7 1/2 lengths. Lost Ark is owned by Harrell Ventures. 

“He’s done nothing wrong so far. We’re really excited about him,” Lyster said. “I love that Todd picked out his program for that colt way back in the middle of the summer by just giving the horse the chance to run two turns in his second start and it’s setting up nicely for a big couple of races. Hopefully, he’s that quality of a horse.” 

Lyster spoke volumes of Pletcher, a frequent visitor at the Ashview consignment. In addition to Nest, Mo Donegal and Lost Ark, Pletcher also currently trains Prank – an Into Mischief half-sister to Mo Donegal, who broke her maiden by 9 3/4 lengths on July 31 at Saratoga. Pletcher also trains Ashview Farm-bred Untreated, who was twice graded stakes placed this year. 

“We had five really darn impressive horses that are now in Todd’s barn so you can imagine who my favorite trainer is right now,” Lyster quipped. “It’s cool to see one outfit have this much success with your offspring. It makes you feel really good, it’s just flattering. [Bloodstock agent] Jacob West bought 80 percent of my Book 2 consignment, four out of five horses. They’ll likely go to Todd and I think they’re trying to repeat.” 

Nest’s dam Marion Ravenwood does not have a yearling or weanling on the ground, but she is in foal to Curlin. Marion Ravenwood is nominated to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where she is listed as Hip No. 187. 

“We have the mare nominated to the November Sale and there’s a good chance someone else will own her next month. To me, she’s potentially a Broodmare of the Year. We’ll see what Lost Ark does and what happens in the next few weeks,” Lyster said.

Hot Peppers could target G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; Bella Sofia entered in Fasig-Tipton November Sale 

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso’s graded stakes winner Hot Peppers could be headed to Keeneland for a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 5 to close out a prosperous sophomore campaign for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. 

A Florida-bred daughter of Khozan, Hot Peppers was last seen finishing an even fourth in the Grade 2 Prioress on September 2 at Saratoga Race Course, defeated 5 1/4 lengths by Wicked Halo in the six-furlong test for sophomore fillies. One start prior, she was a game runner-up to upset winner Chi Town Lady in the Grade 1 Longines Test where she set the pace and ran strongly to the wire, but drifted out near the sixteenth pole and came up just 1 1/2 lengths shy of victory. 

Rodriguez said the main track at Saratoga may not have been in Hot Peppers’ favor this summer. 

“I think the track was against us the whole time,” Rodriguez said. “It favored closers most of the meet, and when you’re the speed horse, it’s tough. We’re not disappointed though. She dug in and it was tough.” 

Earlier this year, Hot Peppers scored her first graded victory with a wire-to-wire effort in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 9 at Belmont Park, which came on the heels of a dominate 6 3/4-length win in the Jersey Girl in June. 

Rodriguez said he and the owners will decide on a Breeders’ Cup start soon after she breezed a sharp half-mile in 47.25 seconds over the Belmont training track on Friday. 

“We’ll talk about it today and take it from there,” Rodriguez said. “I’m not sure just yet. The owners said to get her ready for the Breeders’ Cup, so that’s all I’m trying to do right now. It’s a tough race, but she looks good. We’re just freshening her up and breezed her today since the track was a still a little wet yesterday.” 

Rodriguez also added that last year’s Grade 1 Longines Test winner Bella Sofia has been entered in the Fasig-Tipton November Sale as a racing or broodmare prospect. She is listed as Hip No. 266 and will be consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. The daughter of Awesome Patriot was last seen finishing a distant seventh in the Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap on August 28 at the Spa.

*** 

Mosienko notches fourth consecutive win for Lalman 

Mosienko, owned by Stacy Lalman and trained by her father, Dennis, has become a familiar name on the NYRA circuit after stringing together an impressive quartet of victories dating back to an August 6 optional claimer at Saratoga Race Course. 

The 5-year-old New York-bred daughter of Hat Trick was victorious once again on Thursday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet, scoring a gutsy victory in Race 8, a 6 1/2-furlong open company optional claimer. 

Ridden to victory by Flavien Prat, Mosienko trailed in fifth in the bunched-up field of seven before quickly moving up to second position at the half-mile call. Prat swung the bay mare four-wide at the quarter-pole for her drive to the wire and needed every bit of the stretch to collar pacesetter Patty H, but got there just in time to secure the victory by a head in a final time of 1:16.88.

“She came out of the race really good,” Lalman said. “She ate all her food and looks good.” 

Mosienko, Lalman’s only trainee, has blossomed during the second half of this campaign after struggling to find the winner’s circle in her first eight starts of the year. She put it all together with her aforementioned August 6 score and followed with another Spa victory on September 2 when dominating a second-level state-bred optional claimer by 4 1/2 lengths. She stepped up to face open company on September 22 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet and passed the test with aplomb, turning in another four-length romp sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs. 

Lalman said an adjustment in Mosienko’s training regime has allowed her to find her best stride. 

“She had been training really good coming into these races, and I always thought she was going to win some races,” said Lalman. “I exercise her myself in the morning, and I saw talent in her early. She’s the kind of mare that’s a little nervous and she used to be hard on herself, doing a lot in the mornings. She was training well, but she wasn’t running to my expectations. So, I started adjusting her training and going slower and lighter. She liked that, and I’ve seen a lot of improvement in her. Everything keeps getting better and she finally put everything together.” 

Lalman first noticed Mosienko last winter when she was with conditioner Rudy Rodriguez, impressed that the mare had hit the board in seven of her first 12 career outings. Lalman decided to claim her for $10,000 out of a second-place effort last March. She then made three starts for trainer Luis Miranda, including a runner-up and third-place effort in a pair of claiming contests at Aqueduct and Belmont Park, respectively. 

“I got sick a few times with Covid and was in the same barn as Luis Miranda at the time, so I had him take care of her for a little while for me,” Lalman explained. “Her form was really attractive because she was always there hitting the board consistently. I figured if she’s OK and she’s strong, I know she’ll win some races.” 

Once under Lalman’s care last August, Mosienko hit the board twice before scoring a 6 3/4-length state-bred allowance victory this February at the Big A and, in addition to her winning streak, has hit the board on two other occasions since. 

With earnings of $341,303 since joining Lalman, Mosienko, bred by Anthony Grey, has become the highest-earning trainee for her conditioner since he started his first runner in 1994. Lalman, a native of Guyana, grew up around racehorses and moved to the United States in the 1980s. He started out exercising horses for trainer Gary Sciacca before a short jockey career in which he rode in 119 starts. 

Lalman said that Mosienko is very special to him and his daughter. 

“She’s become part of the family,” said Lalman. “Being around her, she acts like family. Yesterday, when I was in the paddock and gave a leg up to Flavien, I walked away and she turned her head and looked at me like, ‘Where are you going?’ I won my first race as a jockey at Aqueduct, so it’s a full circle moment to win here with her.” 

Lalman prefers to keep his operation small to give his horses the most attention in all aspects of care and training, and said Mosienko has brought enough attention for him to potentially expand in the near future.

“She opens some opportunity for me and I’m having some calls about training other horses because of her,” Lalman said. “I do like to keep it small though so I can be there with them and do almost everything with them – see that everything is going right, what they like and dislike, and what I can do to make them better. I believe in taking care of them and that they’ll reward you for that.”

 For now, Lalman can look forward to a serious chance at his first career stakes win with the $150,000 Iroquois for state-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on October 30 a strong possibility for Mosienko’s next outing. 

“That’s probably next,” said Lalman. “We’ll see how she’s doing. I’m so proud of her. She’s really come along and she’s making us all happy.” 

*** 

Determined Jester set for another test against males in G3 Futurity 

Matt Dorman’s D Hatman Thoroughbreds’ Determined Jester, who first entered Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Matron on Saturday on Belmont at the Big A fall meet, will instead take on males in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for juveniles. 

The winner of the Futurity will receive a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 4 at Keeneland as part of the “Win And You’re In” series, but trainer Phil Schoenthal said he chose the Futurity for other reasons. 

“That wasn’t really in the considerations,” Schoenthal said of the Futurity’s “Win And You’re In” status. “If she were to win either spot, she would still go in that direction [towards the Breeders’ Cup]. With a well-bred filly, our goal is to win or get a graded placing. We felt like the race on Sunday in an eight-horse field might be a better opportunity to accomplish that goal than the 12-horse field on Saturday.”

Determined Jester has already given her connections confidence in her abilities against males, arriving at the Futurity from a strong maiden-breaking victory in the 5 1/2-furlong Rosie’s on September 6 at Colonial Downs. There, she stalked in second position behind a swift pace set by Call Me Ice Man before unleashing an impressive run in the turn to take charge and sprint home to a 4 1/2-length victory under returning rider Forest Boyce. 

“We thought highly of her and we were actually planning on being conservative and entering her in a maiden race on the same card,” Schoenthal said. “I called the owner and said that I believe she’s a stakes quality horse and that this was a chance to get some black type for this filly. She exploded for us and ran like we hoped and expected she would.” 

Schoenthal said he was confident in his filly after a promising maiden effort at second asking when fourth in a maiden three weeks prior over the same course and distance. 

“I’m not going to tell you that I led over a maiden filly against the boys in a stakes and thought that I was going to win, but I felt like she had every opportunity to run well,” said Schoenthal. “It was a great feeling to be validated.” 

Prior to the Rosie’s, Determined Jester’s best performance was a debut third, beaten 4 1/4 lengths, in an off-the-turf 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga Race Course where she was given a prominent trip by jockey Trevor McCarthy and led at the stretch call before being collared at the sixteenth pole. 

“We took her to Saratoga the first time and felt like we were unlucky to come off the grass late in the day. I didn’t think she was 100 percent cranked up to win on the dirt,” said Schoenthal. “I thought on the grass that maybe it would carry her a little ways and she’d be OK. We decided to run anyways because we were there and she was ready to run. I thought she ran a really good race. She just got tired at the end.” 

Determined Jester drew the outermost post 8 in the Futurity, something Schoenthal said he was pleased with. 

“I’m not somebody that gives a lot of instructions to jockeys,” Schoenthal said. “I have full confidence in Forest to make the right decision and place the filly where she’s comfortable. I like drawing the outside – I think she’s got natural speed, but she’s happy to rate. I think Forest will break and take a look over and see what the pace is and place her accordingly.” 

A $575,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Determined Jester is out of the unraced Dixie Union mare Call Mariah, a half-sister to graded stakes winners and sires Daredevil and Albertus Maximus. She is one of several recent high-end purchases for Dorman, who owns and operates Determined Stud in Boyds, Maryland. 

“[Dorman] and I have been with each other for probably 15 years or more,” said Schoenthal. “He always had a horse or two in the barn and in the past two or three years, he has spent a lot of money at the sales trying to build an elite broodmare band and fillies to race and become part of that someday. He’s put a lot of money into the game, and I think everybody can root for him.”

*** 

Pixelate hoping for a clear trip in G3 Knickerbocker 

Godolphin’s multiple graded-stakes winning Kentucky homebred Pixelate will make his third start of the campaign in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker, a nine-furlong inner turf test for 3-year-olds and upward, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. 

Trained by Michael Stidham, the 5-year-old City Zip dark bay has endured troubled trips in a pair of title defenses this year, closing to finish third in the Prince George’s County in July at Laurel Park ahead of a sixth-place finish last out in the Grade 3 Mint Million on September 10 at Kentucky Downs. 

In the Prince George's County, he saved ground behind rivals but was blocked from the top of the lane to the three-sixteenths pole, angling out late to finish third while trying to split nose winner English Tavern and Eons, who was a neck better than Pixelate. Eons, who is also entered in the Knickerbocker, was elevated to victory after an inquiry determined English Tavern drifted out in the stretch run. 

Last out, Pixelate was shuffled back to sixth position under Joel Rosario in the Mint Million as Somelikeithotbrown led the charge in a gate-to-wire score. Pixelate attempted to split rivals at the top of the lane for an outside run, but eventually dove to the rail for racing room and wrapped up while defeated just 3 3/4-lengths. 

"He had another rough trip the whole way there," Stidham said of the Mint Million effort. "Everywhere Joel went with him seemed to be the wrong spot and he never really had any clear sailing. Another rough trip is what I would call it." 

A wide-open field of 10 includes a trio of Chad Brown-trainees, led by 7-2 morning line favorite Public Sector, a multiple graded stakes-winner in search of his first win this year. 

Stidham said Pixelate, listed at 8-1 from post 6 under Jose Ortiz, will likely be more prominent in what, on paper, appears to be a paceless race. 

"I'm sure he will be [closer] unless the pace is real fast for some reason," Stidham said. "Usually, when the pace slows down he's in more of a stalking spot. Especially going a mile and an eighth, he should be laying a little closer. He's doing well. He came out of his last race in good shape and is doing good coming into this race." 

A six-time winner from 25 starts, Pixelate captured the 2019 Central Park over yielding going in his lone start over the Big A turf. He has since taken the 2020 Grade 2 Del Mar Derby along with the 2020 Woodchopper at Fair Grounds. 

Stidham said Pixelate was given some time off after a nine-race campaign last year that concluded on Boxing Day with a runner-up effort in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial at Fair Grounds. 

"He'd never had a break since his 2-year-old year, so when things quieted down on the turf front we decided to give him a freshening," Stidham said. "He was sound. There was nothing wrong with him. By the time we got him back, he'd been off about six months." 

Stidham will also face a formidable, Brown-trained trio in Saturday's Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland when he sends out Susan and John Moore's Kentucky homebred Princess Grace to face Technical Analysis, In Italian and Regal Glory. 

Princess Grace, a 5-year-old Karakontie mare, boasts a record of 13-7-3-2 for purse earnings in excess of $1.3 million and boasts a perfect in-the-money record through six starts at the one-mile First Lady distance. 

Stidham said it would be very special to see the multiple graded-stakes winner break through at Grade 1 level. 

"It would mean everything. That's the only thing she hasn't done," Stidham said. "She's a Grade 2-winner on dirt and turf and Grade 1-placed. She's over a million in earnings, so a Grade 1 would be the cherry on top of the cake." 

Princess Grace made the grade in an off-the-turf edition of the 2020 Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs and has since added graded scores in the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial [2021-22] at Parx, the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap [2021] at Del Mar, and the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf [2021]. 

Stidham said only one thing stands between Princess Grace and a first Grade 1 score.

"We need to beat Chad," said Stidham, with a laugh. "With his three in there and all being very solid contenders, it's a tough task. But we're going to give it a try." 

Princess Grace, who is listed at 6-1 on the morning line, will exit post 2 under Florent Geroux.

*** 

Redifined should relish more ground in G3 Matron 

Team D’s Redifined will look to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Matron, a six-furlong outer turf test for juvenile fillies, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. 

Trained by Tony Dutrow, the More Than Ready bay graduated at first asking in June sprinting six furlongs over the Belmont Park turf. The $150,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase was bumped twice out of the gate last out in the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing won by Love Reigns on August 21 at Saratoga Race Course, but rallied well from seventh to finish third with a strong gallop out. 

Dutrow said the Bolton Landing break wasn't ideal, but he has high hopes for Saturday. 

"It wasn't perfect, but that's horse racing," Dutrow said. "She's doing fantastic. I really couldn't want her any better. I'm looking forward to going from five-and-a-half to six [furlongs]. I wish it was a little further. She's such an honest filly. I'm very confident she'll run very well." 

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano is named to ride from post 7.

Dutrow is hoping to unveil juvenile filly Galileo's Jewel in Race 1 on Saturday, a six-furlong outer turf sprint. 

Galileo's Jewel, by Kingman, is out of the Galileo mare Galileo Gal, who is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning millionaire Alpha Centauri and Group 1-winners Alpine Star and Discoveries. 

She breezed consistently in August over the Oklahoma training turf at Saratoga, and has had three works at Belmont Park, including a three-eighths blowout in 37.02 from the gate over the dirt training track on September 15. 

Galileo's Jewel is listed in Post 13 on the also-eligible list with Eric Cancel named to ride. 

"She has a big pedigree. She's a very nice filly," Dutrow said. "I got her ready to get out there for a start, but no more. I'll even run her from the 12-hole if she gets in just to get her out there and let her see everything and get started from there." 

Dutrow enters Saturday's card with 1,995 career wins and purse earnings in excess of $75 million.

***  

Motion expresses cautious optimism in G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic contender Bye Bye Melvin 

Springing upsets in Grade 1 turf races in New York is nothing new for trainer Graham Motion, who captured back-to-back editions of the Grade 1 Manhattan with Ascend [27-1] and Spring Quality [18-1] in 2017-18, as well as taking this year's Grade 1 Man o' War with 19-1 longshot Highland Chief. On Saturday, the affable Englishman has his sights set on lighting up the tote board in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic with Alex M. Campbell’s homebred Bye Bye Melvin. 

A dark bay or brown 5-year-old gelding by Uncle Mo, Bye Bye Melvin arrives at the prestigious 12-furlong turf test off a gate-to-wire performance on September 1 at Saratoga, capturing a nine-furlong allowance optional claimer in his second start off a 14-month layoff. He was a close fourth beaten a neck in his previous start for the same condition, setting a moderate tempo but was collared in the final furlong and finished behind next-out graded stakes winner Emaraaty.

Although yet to have gone the 1 1/2-mile distance, Motion expressed faith as Bye Bye Melvin is a half-brother to five-time graded stakes-winning turf stayer Mean Mary, who captured back-to-back editions of Belmont Park’s Grade 2 New York [now Grade 1] for Motion. Both horses are out of the Grade 1-winning Dynaformer mare Karlovy Vary. 

“I thought both his races at Saratoga were really solid,” said Motion, who captured the 2014 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic with eventual Champion Older Horse and Turf Male Main Sequence. “The mile and a half is a little bit of an unknown, but Mean Mary certainly didn’t mind the distance. I guess being by Uncle Mo it makes you question it a little bit perhaps but to me, he’s kind of a galloping horse. He’s a really cool and super talented horse.” 

Motion said Bye Bye Melvin and Mean Mary have comparable personalities. 

“She was certainly tough, but she mellowed as she got older. He mellowed as a gelding. Certainly, they have similar traits,” Motion said. 

Feargal Lynch will pilot Bye Bye Melvin, listed at 8-1 on the morning line, from the rail in the seven-horse Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. 

Motion said he was planning on entering Highland Chief for the same race, but had to regroup when the son of Gleneagles came up with a cough. 

“He had a cough and his bloodwork wasn’t right. That’s why I didn’t enter him this week,” Motion said. "He’s trained but hasn’t had proper training the past couple of days just because we wanted to go easier on him. It’s that time of the year where it rains and the weather changes. Hopefully, he gets over it quickly.” 

Motion said the Mrs. Fitriani Hay homebred, who hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Bowling Green in July at Saratoga, could now target the Grade 3 Sycamore on October 14 at Keeneland. 

*** 

Breeders’ Cup status still in flux for G1 Frizette runner-up You’re My Girl 

Trainer John Terranova said New York-bred juvenile filly You’re My Girl is still under consideration for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 4 at Keeneland following a game second-place effort behind Chocolate Gelato in Sunday’s Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont at the Big A. 

Owned by Gatsas Stable, R.A. Hill Stable and Hidden Brook Farm, You’re My Girl set the tempo in the one-turn mile Frizette and battled willingly on the inside when confronted by Chocolate Gelato in the stretch drive, finishing one length behind the post-time favorite. She was an emphatic 14 1/2-length winner of her debut on September 2 at Saratoga Race Course when facing fellow Empire State-breds. 

You’re My Girl, bred by James G. Doyle, is not Breeders’ Cup nominated, but Terranova said the stellar effort in the Frizette makes supplementing to the Juvenile Fillies a viable option. 

“We’re discussing it. We’re not 100 percent certain at the moment, but we might know something in the next several days,” Terranova said. “There’s three partners on the filly so everyone has to come together. We just wanted her to come back good and healthy and she’ll lead us in the right direction. She’s come out of the race really well. Everyone is so proud of her.” 

Terranova said he was very encouraged by You’re My Girl’s performance despite a challenging sloppy and sealed main track. 

“She did very well and the gallop out was strong,” Terranova said. “She came back really well so we’re going to see what happens in the next few days and the boys will all figure it out together.” 

Terranova is hoping to make amends when sending out Sweet Harmony for Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Matron. The daughter of Bayern was a pacesetting fifth in the Bolton Landing on August 21 at Saratoga in her most recent start, finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind impressive winner Love Reigns. Prior to the Bolton Landing, Sweet Harmony broke her maiden over the Monmouth Park turf in June before capturing the five-furlong Colleen on July 24 at the Jersey Shore oval. 

“She’s done fantastic. She looks great and has been breezing really well,” Terranova said. “She won those first couple of races so easily and when she ran at Saratoga, I might have went a little too easy on her even with those two races under her belt. She got a little tired on us and let out a little bit too quick. We certainly had a nice filly chasing us in Wesley Ward’s filly Love Reigns. She seems to be atop the division at the moment, but we’re not going to see her in here. We drew a great post and we’re looking forward to it.”

Kendrick Carmouche will pick up the mount aboard Sweet Harmony, who will leave the gate from post 10 at 10-1 morning line odds in the 12-horse field. She is owned by Gatsas Stable, R.A. Hill Stable. Steven Schoenfeld and Smart Choice Stable. 

Terranova added that recent first-out maiden winning 2-year-old colt Freedom Trail will likely eye stakes action in the $120,000 Awad on October 29 going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont at the Big A. The son of freshman stallion Collected was nearly 10 lengths back at the first point of call and closed gamely down the lane to win by a head at 13-1 odds. 

“He’s a very nice colt. I’m looking forward to his next start which will more than likely come in the Awad,” Terranova said. “It looks like there’s limited options right now. We thought about entering the [Grade 2] Bourbon on Sunday at Keeneland, but it might have been too big of an ask at this stage. I think he’s very talented, and at the same time a bit immature.” 

Bought for $150,000 at the Wavertree Stables consignment at the OBS April Sale, Freedom Trail is out of the War Front mare Freedom, whose third dam is Hall of Famer Davona Dale.

*** 

Belmont at the Big A Week 5 stakes probables 

Friday, October 14 

$120,000 Glen Cove

Probable: Arrobatic (Chad Brown), French Kissing (Michelle Hemingway), Gal in a Rush (Christophe Clement), Glitter Up (Timothy Hills), Half Is Enough (Michael Trombetta), Poppy Flower (Bill Mott), Royal Dancer (Michelle Nevin), Zelda (Clement)

Saturday, October 15

G2 Sands Point

Probable: Canisy (Clement), Eminent Victor (C. Brown), Pizza Bianca (Clement), Spirit And Glory (Robert Falcone, Jr.), Vergara (Graham Motion)

Sunday, October 16 

$150K Floral Park

Probable: Itsakeyper (Tom Albertrani), Lady Edith (Clement), Star Devine (Jorge Abreu), Too Sexy (Clement)

Possible: Kept Waiting (Falcone, Jr.)