Coinage, first progeny out of G1 winner Bar of Gold, debuts in Friday opener; Casse targets G1 Jackpocket Jaipur with Got Stormy

by NYRA Press Office

• Coinage, first progeny out of G1 winner Bar of Gold, debuts in Friday opener; Casse targets G1 Jackpocket Jaipur with Got Stormy
• Belmont Stakes and Texas Derby under consideration for Get Her Number; Sombeyay points to G1 Jackpocket Jaipur
• Weyburn unlikely for G1 Belmont Stakes
• Brooklyn Strong looking to regroup in G1 Belmont; Laobanonaprayer on point for $125K Bouwerie
• Stall applications for 2021 Saratoga meet now available online
• Belmont Park Week 6 stakes probables
• Early look at the G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse expressed excitement for the debut of the well-bred Coinage in Friday’s opening race at Belmont Park; a five-furlong sprint for state-bred juveniles on Big Sandy.

By Tapit, Coinage is out of Bar of Gold, an upset winner of the 2017 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Owned by Leonard Green’s DJ Stable in partnership with breeders Chester and Mary Broman, Coinage was a $450,000 purchase from Sequel New York’s consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“After the Greens bought him, Mr. Broman said that he would like to partner in the horse,” Casse explained. “I’ve known Mr. Broman for 25 years. He’s a class act, as are the Greens. Both are great people.”

Coinage has prepped for his career debut at Casse Training Center in Ocala, Florida, where he had five recorded works before shipping to Belmont Park in early April. His most recent work was a half-mile move in 48.45 seconds over the main track on May 15.

“We definitely think he has some talent, and I would hope and think that this horse would be better the further he goes,” Casse said. “His mother, oddly enough, was a sprinter, but she was by Medaglia d’Oro. I don’t know how far he’ll go, but he’ll like some more ground, like most Tapits do.”

Coinage, listed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite, will exit post 4 under Junior Alvarado.

Casse said he will be represented by several runners at the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing festival from June 3-5, including Got Stormy, who will see a cutback in distance for the Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur at six furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

The 6-year-old daughter of Get Stormy made her seasonal bow a winning one in the one-mile Grade 3 Honey Fox on February 27 at Gulfstream Park before a last out fifth in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on May 1.

Got Stormy asserted herself a force to be reckoned with after defeating males in course record time in the one-mile Grade 1 Fourstardave in 2019 at Saratoga and followed with Grade 1-placings, in the Woodbine Mile and Breeders’ Cup Mile. After a few disappointing results in the first half of 2020, Casse regrouped and shortened the talented mare in distance to win the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint in September and the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County in October at Keeneland.

“We’re going to try it and see,” Casse said. “She came out of her last race well. It was a bit of a head scratcher, but she’s done that before and rebounded, so we’ll see.”

Following a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Got Stormy was offered at the Keeneland November Sale, where she was hammered down to $2.75 million. She was acquired by Spendthrift Farm, who opted to keep her in training for a 2021 campaign and is now co-owned with MyRacehorse.com.

Casse said Gary Barber’s Make Mischief is targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn, a one-turn mile on Big Sandy for sophomore fillies on June 5.

The New York-bred daughter of Into Mischief was a gallant third in the Grade 2 Eight Belles on April 30 at Churchill Downs, which was her first start for Casse since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Chandelier in September 2020 at Santa Anita.

Make Mischief spent the winter months in New York under the care of Chris Englehart, for whom she won 3-of-4 starts including the Maddie May on February 20.

“Chris and I have been friends for about 40 years, and he did a tremendous job with her over the winter,” Casse said. “Last race, we ran her at Churchill, and it was a good run. The Acorn is a big step up, but she should love the mile.”

Bred by Avanti Stable, Make Mischief is out of the Speightstown mare Speightful Lady, who has produced four other runners of racing age, all of which are winners.

Belmont Stakes and Texas Derby under consideration for Get Her Number; Sombeyay points to G1 Jackpocket Jaipur

Trainer Peter Miller said Gary Barber's Get Her Number will target either the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 5 or the $300,000 Texas Derby on May 31 at Lone Star Park.

The Dialed In sophomore bested eventual Grade 1 Preakness Stakes-winner Rombauer in the Grade 1 American Pharoah in September at Santa Anita to close out his juvenile campaign. The talented bay has made two starts this season, both at Oaklawn Park, finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Rebel and fourth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

While the 1 1/16-mile Texas Derby could serve as a springboard to the nine-furlong Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby on June 26 at Thistledown, Miller said the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes is still under consideration.

"We haven't made a decision yet. I think we'll work him on Tuesday and know a little more after that. He's doing well," said Miller. "We're thinking about the Texas Derby, but we have to figure out what route we want to go. We might go Texas Derby and then onto the Ohio Derby, but we're considering the Belmont Stakes as well. I'd like to see how these races shape up."

Miller currently has 12 horses stabled at Belmont Park with Strolling, who finished fourth on May 15, his lone starter at the current 48-day meet.

"So far, so good. We've only run one but we have a dozen there and hope to send some more and claim some more. We're looking forward to the summer there," said Miller.

The veteran conditioner said he will send out multiple graded stakes winner Sombeyay in the Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up offering a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

The versatile 5-year-old Into Mischief horse, previously trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, captured the six-furlong 2018 Grade 3 Sanford on the Saratoga main track and added a win in the one-mile Grade 3 Canadian Turf in February 2020 at Gulfstream. 

Sombeyay has made five starts for Miller since November, including an optional-claiming score on the Santa Anita turf in January. He has finished second in his most recent two starts in turf sprints, missing by a neck in the six-furlong Grade 3 San Simeon in March at Santa Anita and by a half-length to Fast Boat last out in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Turf Sprint on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Sombeyay worked a half-mile in 49.10 on the Belmont dirt training track on May 15.

"He's looking at the Jaipur. He can run well anywhere from three-quarters up to a mile," said Miller.

Weyburn unlikely for G1 Belmont Stakes

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Grade 3 Gotham-winner Weyburn is unlikely to point to the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

A Chiefswood Stables homebred son of Pioneerof the Nile, Weyburn had to skip the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on May 8 after spiking a temperature. The dark bay colt returned to the work tab on May 14, covering a half-mile in 49.10 on the Belmont dirt training track.

“It’s a long possibility,” Jerkens said of the Belmont Stakes. “We’re kind of in a tough spot with him right now. I don’t really want to cut him back in distance.”

Weyburn broke his maiden at third asking travelling a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on December 5, before winning the Gotham over the same track and distance on March 6.

He has not raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 3. While a Belmont Stakes appearance appears unlikely, Jerkens mentioned the $150,000 Pegasus on June 13 at Monmouth Park as a possible target.

“There’s the Pegasus at Monmouth,” Jerkens said. “That’s one of the only things that would make the most sense with him to accomplish what we want with him this year. I’m going to speak to Robert Landry [general manager of Chiefswood Stables] and figure it out.”

In 2010, Jerkens used the Pegasus as a springboard for Afleet Express, who went on to win the Grade 1 Travers later that summer.

Weyburn, a homebred, is out of the black-type producing A.P. Indy mare Sunday Affair, whose other offspring include multiple graded stakes-winner Yorkton and multiple stakes-placed Nipigon.

Jerkens said Centennial Farms’ multiple stakes winner Rocketry will target the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational presented by Northwell Health.

The 7-year-old Hard Spun bay horse was third in his seasonal debut in the Flat Out on April 30 at Belmont Park. The two-time winner of the Grade 2 Marathon was second to Marconi in the 2019 Brooklyn.

“We’re going to the Brooklyn with him,” Jerkens said. “A mile and a half is a mile and a half and not every horse wants that distance.”

Brooklyn Strong looking to regroup in G1 Belmont; Laobanonaprayer on point for $125K Bouwerie

New York-bred Brooklyn Strong, trained by Danny Velazquez for owner Mark Schwartz, will look to make amends after a difficult 15th-place effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby when he returns in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 5.

The Wicked Strong gelding captured the Grade 2 Remsen at the Big A in December ahead of an even fifth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in April at Aqueduct.

Last out, Brooklyn Strong endured a troubled trip from post 3 under Umberto Rispoli in the Kentucky Derby.

"We got smashed coming out of the gate. It was a bad post and he had 18 horses in front of him," said Velazquez. "It was messy but he made up some ground at the top of the stretch. The gallop out was real strong. The jockey said he had horse but there was a lot of kickback. The first five horses that broke on top, that's how the race ended. It was tough to make up ground."

Last year, Tiz the Law became the first New York-bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes since Forester in 1882. Velazquez said Brooklyn Strong, also bred in the Empire State, will breeze Saturday at Parx in preparation for the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion."

"He came out of the Derby good and is doing real well. We have him pointed towards the Belmont. I think he'll like the added distance," said Velazquez. "We have two big works scheduled for him here. He'll work this Saturday and next Saturday."

Out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Riviera Chic, Brooklyn Strong was bred in the Empire State by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan.

No jockey assignment has been confirmed for Brooklyn Strong, who has partnered with a different jockey in each of his six career starts.

Velazquez said New York-bred Laobanonaprayer will work Saturday at Parx towards a start in the $125,000 Bouwerie, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, part of New York Breeders' Showcase Day on Memorial Day featuring six stakes for horses bred in the Empire State.

"That's the target. She'll work Saturday," said Velazquez. "If she works the way I want her too, then we'll come to New York on the 31st."

Owned and conditioned by Velazquez, Laobanonaprayer graduated at third asking in the Maid of the Mist in October at Belmont providing Velazquez his first stakes win.

She followed with an eight-length score in the seven-furlong NYSSS Fifth Avenue in December at Aqueduct ahead of a good second in the Franklin Square in January on a muddy Big A main track.

After two off-the-board efforts, including a head-scratching sixth in the NYSSS Park Avenue last out on April 18 at Aqueduct, Velazquez said he expects a return to form from the Laoban bay.

"I'm just drawing a line through it," said Velazquez. "She worked great last week and I'd like to see her do that again on Saturday and hopefully come back fresh."

Out of the Raffie's Majesty mare Raffie's Chance, Laobanonaprayer was bred in New York by Christina Deronda.

Stall applications for 2021 Saratoga meet now available online

Stall applications for the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course are now available online and in the Belmont Park racing office.

The historic Saratoga summer meet will open on Thursday, July 15, and conclude on Monday, September 6, featuring 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses.

Saratoga stall applications can be found online at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/horsemen/stall-application.pdf.

The application process closes on Thursday, June 3.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week at Saratoga, Wednesdays through Sundays, with the exception of the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

To view the complete stakes schedule for the 2021 summer meet, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.

Belmont Park Week 6 stakes probables

Saturday, May 29

Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge

Probable: Chess’s Dream (Mike Maker), Hard Love (Jonathan Thomas), Minuteman (Tom Albertrani), Public Sector (Chad Brown), Safe Conduct (Phil Serpe), Sainthood (Todd Pletcher), Shaftesbury (Todd Pletcher), Shawdyshawdyshawdy (Jorge Abreu), Step Dancer (Barclay Tagg)

Possible: Breadman (John Terranova)

Sunday, May 30

$100,000 Paradise Creek

Probable: Fauci (Wesley Ward), Gretzky the Great (Mark Casse), Outadore (Wesley Ward), Second of July (Phil Gleaves), Three Two Zone (Marya Montoya)

Monday, May 31

$125,000 Bouwerie

Probable: Brattle House (Christophe Clement), Laobanonaprayer (Daniel Velazquez), Pay Grade (Christophe Clement), Rossa Veloce (Ray Handal), Secret Love (John Kimmel), Teetotaler (Chad Brown)

Possible: Make Mischief (Mark Casse)

$125,000 Kingston

Probable: Dot Matrix (Brad Cox), Graded On a Curve (Chad Brown), Microsecond (Todd Pletcher), Mo Faith (Kelly Breen), Rinaldi (James Bond), Sanctuary City (James Ferraro), Therapist (Christophe Clement)

$125,000 Mike Lee

Probable: Dr. Blute (John Kimmel), Excellent Timing (Chad Brown), River Dog (Jeremiah Englehart), Thin White Duke (Phil Gleaves)

$125,000 Mount Vernon

Probable: Classic Lady (Christophe Clement), Giacosa (James Bond), Myhartblongstodady (Jorge Abreu), Pecatonica (Tom Bush), Purrageous Dyna (Edward Allard), Robin Sparkles (Bruce Brown), Two Cent Tootsie (Tom Albertrani)

$200,000 Commentator

Probable: Bankit (Steve Asmussen), My Boy Tate (Michelle Nevin), Sea Foam (Christophe Clement)

Possible: Captain Bombastic (Chad Brown)

$200,000 Critical Eye

Probable: Bank Sting (John Terranova), Espresso Shot (Jorge Abreu), Good Credence (Anthony Margotta, Jr.), Love and Love (Michael Miceli), Mrs. Orb (Michael Miceli), Timeless Journey (Christophe Clement)

Possible: Eloquent Speaker (Anthony Dutrow), Maiden Beauty (Anthony Dutrow)

Early look at the G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets

June 5, 2021

Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes

Probable: Bourbonic (Todd Pletcher), Brooklyn Strong (Danny Velazquez), France Go de Ina (Hideyuki Mori), Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O'Neill), Known Agenda (Pletcher), Overtook (Pletcher), Rebel's Romance (Charlie Appleby), Rock Your World (John Sadler), Rombauer (Michael McCarthy)

Possible: Essential Quality (Brad Cox), Get Her Number (Peter Miller), Keepmeinmind (Robertino Diodoro), Midnight Bourbon (Steve Asmussen)