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G2 Suburban contender Mystic Guide leads impressive Independence Day weekend stakes contingent for Stidham

by NYRA Press Office

• G2 Suburban contender Mystic Guide leads impressive Independence Day weekend stakes contingent for Stidham
• Wind of Change on point for G2 John A. Nerud
• American Power to target G2 Nerud; Chateau possible for out-of-town sprint stakes
• Single Soul could try Turf Triple series; Mean Mary to pass on G1 Diana
• Belmont Park week 11 stakes probables

Trainer Mike Stidham will have a number of stakes contenders for the Independence Day weekend cards at Belmont Park, led by Mystic Guide in the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban at 10 furlongs for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday, July 3.

The Independence Day slates run July 3 through Monday, July 5 offering six stakes races including a pair of Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifiers led by the Grade 2, Suburban [Classic] and the Grade 2, $250,000 John A. Nerud [Sprint], which will see 4-year-olds and up contest at seven furlongs on July 4.

The holiday weekend kicks off July 3 with the $100,000 Perfect Sting and continues on July 4 with the $100,000 Manila, while the Grade 3, $250,000 Dwyer anchors a Monday, July 5 card that also offers the $150,000 Grand Couturier.

In addition to Mystic Guide, Stidham will also be represented by Princess Grace in the Perfect Sting with Gershwin possible for the Grade 3 Dwyer.

Godolphin homebred Mystic Guide, the No. 1 ranked horse in the NTRA Thoroughbred Poll, will be making his first appearance since capturing the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 27 at Meydan.

Mystic Guide, a 4-year-old Ghostzapper colt, has worked six times at Fair Hill since returning to North America, including a six-furlong effort in 1:13.20 on June 19.

“He's doing fantastic. He's had multiple works here at Fair Hill and his final work for the race will be tomorrow,” said Stidham. “We'll ship to New York for Friday morning so we can school him in the paddock before the race.”

Mystic Guide made the grade in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy in September at Saratoga Race Course and followed with a runner-up effort to Suburban rival Happy Saver in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 10 at Belmont.

Leaving from the outside post under Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Mystic Guide tracked in third outside of Happy Saver, piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., as Tacitus, with Jose Ortiz up, led the field down the backstretch through an easy half-mile in 49.68 seconds.

Mystic Guide moved outside of the pacesetter late in the turn as Happy Saver waited for racing room behind rivals that finally emerged when Tacitus came off the rail on the turn for home. Mystic Guide put a nose in front inside the final eighth, but Happy Saver squeezed up the rail and powered home to a three-quarter length score.

“The Jim Dandy was the beginning of him starting to put it all together,” said Stidham. “I thought he was unlucky in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. It was a cat and mouse game that day with the two Ortiz brothers and Johnny sitting outside of them and then magically the rail opened up for Happy Saver. We were unlucky to lose that race.”

Mystic Guide, who has paired with Belmont Stakes-winning rider Luis Saez for his two starts this season, opened his current campaign in impressive fashion with a six-length win in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap on a sloppy track on February 27 at Oaklawn Park, garnering a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Obviously, we don't really know how much the sloppy track played into that number. He came back in the Dubai World Cup and made the number look like it was real, which was good,” said Stidham. “We've given him plenty of time and he's had three months since that race to bounce back. Looking at him train and his weight and his coat, he's an absolute picture right now.”

Stidham said Godolphin homebred Gershwin – a 3-year-old half-brother to Mystic Guide by Distorted Humor – is possible for the Dwyer with a number of races also under consideration, including the 1 1/16-miles $250,000 Iowa Derby on July 2 and the 1 1/16-miles Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby on July 7.

“We're considering the Dwyer, but we also have our eye on the Iowa Derby and Indiana Derby, too,” said Stidham.

Stidham said that while both siblings are chestnuts, they demonstrate very distinct differences in personality.

“Mystic Guide is a little bigger and stronger in stature and he's much tougher; a real man,” said Stidham. “Whereas Gershwin is easier to handle and not as strong and tough as Mystic Guide is. They're similar in looks, though.”

The well-bred Gershwin has seen 3-of-5 career starts washed off the turf, including a last out score in the Grade 3 Penn Mile on May 28 at Penn National.

“We've felt like there's more to him than what we've seen from a numbers standpoint,” said Stidham. “He's almost like Mystic Guide in that he's taking time to develop and the only reason we were thinking of grass is that we hadn't seen what we were hoping to see from him on dirt up to this point.

“He did well to win the Grade 3,” continued Stidham. “Even though it was off the turf, you start thinking maybe he is fine on the dirt and just taking time to really breakthrough and come up with a big number. That's why we're content to continue on with the dirt.”

Susan and John Moore’s Princess Grace will make her seasonal debut in the Perfect Sting, a one-mile turf test for older fillies and mares.

The 4-year-old daughter or Karakontie won 3-of-4 starts last season, topped by a win in the off-the-turf Grade 2 Mrs. Revere in November at Churchill Downs to close out her campaign.

“She's coming off a layup but she's been training really well and we're looking to get her starting back,” said Stidham. “I had no clue what to think when we stayed in the off-the-turf that day and she went out and ran a huge race.”

Princess Grace is out of the Silent Name mare Masquerade, who was also campaigned by Stidham and posted wins on dirt, synthetic and turf through a career ledger of 28-6-8-2.

“It looks like Princess Grace could do both surfaces but we'll stay with the turf,” said Stidham. “We trained her mother and she was an ultra-consistent horse, but I think she was better on turf, too.”

Stidham said Princess Grace, who earned a career-best 88 Beyer with a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Valley View in October at Keeneland, could be special.  

“She gives you that indication,” said Stidham. “She's a small, feminine looking filly but she runs huge in her races and everything she does is game and all heart. Those kind don't have to be big and powerful, they just have what it takes inside and she seems to have that.”

Wind of Change on point for G2 John A. Nerud

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said the Brazilian-bred Wind of Change is targeting the Grade 2 John A. Nerud, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on July 4 at Belmont offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

The 6-year-old son of Forestry was transferred to Joseph, Jr.’s care in the spring and ran a close second on debut for the conditioner to next-out winner Miles Ahead in a six-furlong optional-claiming sprint in April at Gulfstream.

Last out, Wind of Change captured the six-furlong Mr. Prospector by a widening 6 1/4-lengths over a sloppy Monmouth Park main track on May 29.

“He ran second at Gulfstream and we were a little disappointed he got beat, but the horse that won was in good form,” said Joseph, Jr. “He came back and ran big at Monmouth.”

Wind of Change earned a career-best 100 Beyer in the Mr. Prospector and Joseph, Jr. said he is cautiously optimistic the 6-year-old bay can continue to match or improve on that figure.

“He trained like that kind of horse going into it but slop numbers tend to be a bit higher, so I'll take that with a grain of salt,” said Joseph, Jr.

Joseph, Jr. said Wind of Change, who won a Group 3 at one mile in his native Brazil, should handle the stretch out in distance.

“I like him at six [furlongs]. I think seven [furlongs] is well within his reach, but he'll have to prove it,” said Joseph, Jr. “He's done it in Brazil but it's a different caliber of horse there. He's come back with two good works and he'll have one more this week.”

Joseph, Jr. will unveil Labarde, a $160,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, in Saturday’s second race at Belmont at 5 1/2-furlongs on the main track for juveniles.

The dark bay son of More Than Ready is out of the multiple graded stakes winning Eskendereya mare Eskenformoney, who won the 2017 Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm at Belmont.

Labarde posted a three-furlong bullet breeze from the gate in 34.05 on June 13 on the Belmont dirt training track and followed with a half-mile in 48.75 on the main track in company with 6-year-old stakes-placed gelding Carom [49.25] on June 20.

“He worked quick from the gate. It was definitely an impressive work,” said Joseph, Jr. “He came back the other day and went a half with Carom and he held his own against an older horse, which is normally a good gauge for a 2-year-old. We're hoping he'll run well and show some ability.”

Labarde has posted six works in preparation for his career debut and Joseph, Jr. said he would have preferred at least one more work.

“The fitness is always a question mark in the back of your head,” said Joseph, Jr. “We can use this as a race to build for Saratoga and maybe he can win it.”

Joseph, Jr. said Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig’s Drain the Clock is on target for the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam on August 1 at Saratoga.

Drain the Clock kept an unbeaten record around one-turn intact when outdueling Jackie’s Warrior to capture the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency on Belmont Stakes Day.

Joseph, Jr. said Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex, who finished a close third in the Grade 1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap won by Silver State, remains on target for Saratoga summer engagements in the six-furlong Grade 1, $350,000 A.G. Vanderbilt on July 31 and the seven-furlong Grade 1, $600,000 Forego on August 28.

“They both bounced out of their races well. Drain the Clock will go to the Amsterdam and Mischevious Alex will go to the first Grade 1 sprint at Saratoga,” said Joseph, Jr. “They'll both most likely work next week at Belmont before they go up to Saratoga”

American Power to target G2 Nerud; Chateau possible for out-of-town sprint stakes

Sanford J. Goldfarb, Irwin Goldfarb and the Estate of Ira Davis’ American Power will make his next start in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud on July 4 at Belmont.

Trained by Rob Atras, the 6-year-old Power Broker chestnut, piloted by Kendrick Carmouche, finished an even third last out in the 6 ½-furlong Grade 2 True North that saw graded stakes-winning millionaires Firenze Fire and Flagstaff run one-two on June 4 at Belmont.

Atras said the slight stretch out in distance will benefit American Power.

“He's going to work Saturday or Sunday and we'll see how he does there and if everything is good, we'll go to the Nerud,” said Atras. “I talked to Kendrick after the last race and he said even a mile would be good for this horse as well. We'll take a shot in this race and see how he does.”

A start in the Nerud would mean a rematch against the well-regarded Firenze Fire, but Atras said his horse is up to the task.

“It's going to be a tough race, but he's been training well,” said Atras. “I'm not saying he's a win candidate, but he stepped up last time against some pretty tough sprinters. I was happy with his performance.”

Atras said Beach Haven Thoroughbreds’ Maracuja, who was expected to start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Mother Goose before running a fever, is recovering well.

“She spiked a temperature and I didn't want to take any chances, so we decided not to go,” said Atras. “I backed off on her a little bit and she's just doing some light training right now. She was fit and ready to run in that race off of her last couple works, so I don't think she'll miss too much time. I'm hoping to breeze her back next week when she's right.”

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Honor Code graduated at third asking in a maiden allowance sprint on February 21 at the Big A before closing to finish second to Search Results in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Gazelle in April at the same track.

Maracuja exited that effort to finish a rallying seventh after a poor start from an inside draw in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Michael Dubb’s Chateau is nominated to a pair of six-furlong stakes next weekend, including the Grade 3 Smile on July 3 at Gulfstream and the $100,000 Lite the Fuse on July 4 at Pimlico.

“We have him nominated next weekend in stakes at Pimlico and in Florida,” said Atras. “I'm not sure if we'll do one of them or none of them, but I'll speak with Mike and figure out the best thing to do with him.”

The 6-year-old Flat Out gelding, who boasts a record of 35-7-10-8 with purse earnings of $525,769, has made his last three starts in graded company, led by a 3 1/2-length score in the six-furlong Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap in March at Aqueduct.

The dark bay faded to fourth in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April at Aqueduct, but stayed on for second last out after setting the pace in the six-furlong Grade 3 Runhappy won by Firenze Fire on May 8 at Belmont.

A possible New York option for Chateau is the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, slated for July 31 at the Spa.

Single Soul could try Turf Triple series; Mean Mary to pass on G1 Diana

Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown and Team Hanley’s Single Soul earned an 80 Beyer for her three-quarter length maiden win traveling 10 furlongs on the Belmont turf on June 17 under Jose Ortiz for trainer Graham Motion.

Initially campaigned by Chad Brown, the sophomore daughter of Dubawi, out of the High Chapparal mare The Miniver Rose, closed to finish third in November in her first start for Motion traveling 1 1/16-miles on the Big A turf.

Motion said the British-bred’s pedigree led him to stretching out the talented bay.

“She came to me from Chad last fall and I thought she ran very well at Aqueduct. We gave her the winter off and with her pedigree, I thought this was what she wanted to do and she won pretty nicely,” said Motion.

Motion said Single Soul is an ideal candidate for NYRA's Turf Triple series for sophomore fillies, which kicks off on July 10 with the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational at 10 furlongs and continues through the 1 3/16-miles Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks on August 8 and concludes with the 11-furlong Jockey Club Oaks on September 18 at Belmont. All three races offer a purse of $700,000.

“I think there's a good shot you could see her in one of the later legs in that series of races for sophomore fillies,” said Motion. “She won't make the first leg, and while it's possible she could make the second leg at Saratoga, it's more likely I'll find a race for her and then point to the last leg of the series at Belmont. I'd rather find a race before facing horses of that caliber. The longer race in September at Belmont is a more makeable goal. It’s a very nice series and it’s good that New York offers these races as nobody else has [anything like] them.”

Motion said he is unlikely to send last-out Grade 2 New York-winner Mean Mary to the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana, a nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares on July 17 at Saratoga.

The veteran conditioner has come as close as possible to training the winner of the Diana without having a horse cross the wire first, with Ultra Brat losing by a nose to Sistercharlie in 2018. Quidura (2017), Shared Account (2010), and Sweet Talker (2006) all lost by a head, while Aruna was beaten 1 1/2 lengths in a second-place effort in 2011.

Last year, Mean Mary missed by a neck in the Diana when second to Rushing Fall.

“She's doing good. We're really happy with her, but I'm not looking to run her back too quick,” said Motion. “I suspect I'll nominate her to the Diana but I doubt I'll run her. That race has been a tough race for me the past few years.”

Motion said Mean Mary could instead point to the 11-furlong Grade 1 United Nations on July 17 at Monmouth or wait for the 1 3/16-miles Grade 1 Beverly D on August 14 at Arlington Park.

“I think ideally she wants to go a little further,” said Motion. “So, it's possible she could go to the United Nations and then the Beverly D or I may just wait for the Beverly D.”

Belmont Park week 11 stakes probables

Saturday, July 3

G2 $400,000 Suburban BC WAYI

Probable: Happy Saver (Todd Pletcher), Max Player (Steve Asmussen), Moretti (Pletcher), Mystic Guide (Mike Stidham), Prioritize (H. James Bond)

Possible: Country Grammer (Pletcher), Informative (Uriah St. Lewis), Night Ops (Brad Cox)

$100,000 Perfect Sting

Probable: Honey Cake (Jonathan Thomas), Madita (Arnaud Delacour), Piedi Bianchi (Carlos Martin), Princess Grace (Stidham), Viadera (Chad Brown)

Possible: Sweet Melania (Pletcher)

Sunday, July 4

G2, $250,000 John A. Nerud BC WAYI

Probable: American Power (Rob Atras), Doubly Blessed (Mike Maker), Firenze Fire (Kelly Breen), Mind Control (Pletcher), Three Technique (Jeremiah Englehart), Wind of Change (Saffie Joseph, Jr.)

Possible: Top Seed (Shug McGaughey)

$100,000 Manila

Probable: It’s a Gamble (Breen), Mira Mission (Thomas Bush), Public Sector (C. Brown)

Possible: Original (John Terranova), Safe Conduct (Philip Serpe), Three Two Zone (Marya Montoya)

Monday, July 5

Grade 3, $250,000 Dwyer

Probable: Civil War (Tom Albertrani), Mahaamel (Pletcher), Pickin’ Time (Breen), Ridin With Biden (Butch Reid)

Possible: Gershwin (Stidham), Starrinmydreams (Dallas Stewart)

$150,000 Grand Couturier

Probable: Ajourneytofreedom (Mike Maker), Burning Bright (Thomas), Fantasioso (Ignacio Correas, IV), Gufo (Christophe Clement), Kinenos (Brad Cox), Moon Over Miami (Bill Mott), Sadler’s Joy (Albertrani), Sovereign (C. Brown)

Possible: Shamrocket (Pletcher)