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New York-bred Pat On the Back enjoying millionaire status after G2 Kelso win

by NYRA Press Office

• 2018 Wood Memorial-winner Vino Rosso training well ahead of G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Midnight Bisou remains on target for G2 Beldame
• Tacitus and Yoshida to arrive in town later this week for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Tax on point for G3 Oklahoma Derby
• Crystalle, Famished targeting graded turf stakes for Kimmel
• Albertrani considering G3 Nashua for maiden winner Spycraft
• Our Country on track for G3 Pilgrim
• All Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 returns $15K

Pat On the Back, owned by Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables, surged to a half-length score in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park, pushing his earnings to more than $1.1 million.

The 5-year-old Congrats chestnut, trained by Jeremiah Englehart, had won seven stakes against fellow New York-breds heading into the Kelso, where he prevailed to make the grade in his 26th career start.

Englehart said his assistant trainer Axelle Solares and team have taken extra care to ensure the now millionaire New York-bred is in peak condition.

"He's still battling foot issues," said Englehart. "My blacksmith and staff have done a great job. He, and my assistant, Axelle, they go over his feet every day. You just hope that he stays happy and stays together and we can go on from there."

Solares was part of a proud Englehart team who saddled and cheered home Pat On the Back on Saturday. She said the staff works hard to keep the horse in pristine condition.

"'Pat' has ingrown heels and they can get irritated. He's a chestnut and has sensitive skin and we've had to deal with a quarter-crack in the past," said Solares. "It's a lot of work for his groom, Carlos, to keep his feet clean. His groom and the blacksmith do a great job keeping him well."

Pat On the Back returned to a hero's welcome in the winner's circle on Saturday.

"He's the best horse we have in the barn," said Solares. "I've been working with him since he arrived here and we've made a lot of progress with him. It was very emotional. He won a Grade 2 and he's a New York-bred. He's shown everyone he can be competitive."

Pat On the Back, bred by Sugar Maple Farm, boasts a record of 6-3-2 from 11 starts at Belmont with $830,750 in purse earnings. Solares said racing at Belmont is a significant homefield advantage for their star pupil.

"He loves Belmont," said Solares. "It doesn't matter what we ask of him - as soon as we say Belmont, we know he's going to show up. He's won at six furlongs, at a mile and now going open company. I'm very happy for him. Now, he's a Grade 2 winner and it will have a huge impact on his stallion career."

Solares said that Pat On the Back was in very good order on Sunday morning.

"He's very happy and very proud. He's always feeling like a gorilla the day after he wins," said Solares.

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2018 Wood Memorial-winner Vino Rosso training well ahead of G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's Vino Rosso remains on target for the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 28 at Belmont Park, according to his connections.

The Todd Pletcher trainee is coming off consecutive triple digit Beyer Speed Figures, including a 100 for his third-place effort in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 Whitney last out on August 3 at Saratoga Race Course. That built on his three-quarter length win in the Grade 1 Gold Cup on May 27 at Santa Anita Park, earning a 105 Beyer in winning at the Jockey Club Gold Cup distance of 1 ¼ miles.

One of four graded stakes on Saturday's stacked card, the Jockey Club Gold Cup is a "Win and You're In" qualifier to the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park.

"We're still on schedule for the Jockey Club Gold Cup," said Pletcher assistant Byron Hughes. "He's been running well this summer. He's a very talented horse and has stepped up from his 3-year-old campaign. We're excited about Saturday and think he's training well enough to win it."

As a 3-year-old, Vino Rosso won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct Racetrack before running ninth in the 2018 Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes won by Justify to clinch the Triple Crown. After ending his year with a fifth-place effort in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers, Vino Rosso was given more than six months off, where he started his 4-year-old year with a win in the Stymie in March at the Big A before running fourth in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April at Aqueduct.

A son of Curlin, Vino Rosso is 5-0-3 in 13 career starts with earnings of $1,353,125.

Wertheimer and Frere's No Word is on target to make his stakes debut in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles on the turf, Hughes said. The Silent Name colt won at that distance in his debut on August 31 at Saratoga and has continued to train at the Spa, including a four-furlong breeze in 50.70 seconds on the Oklahoma turf training track on Friday.

Daniel McConnell's Prince Lucky came out of his runner-up effort in Saturday's Grade 2 Kelso Handicap in good order, Hughes said, though no definitive spots have been picked out for his next start.

The 4-year-old Corinthian gelding came out of his win in the State Dinner on July 7 with another strong performance, dueling winner Pat On the Back in the stretch. Carrying 119 pounds, Prince Lucky finished a half-length back to Pat On the Back, carrying 116 pounds, in the one-mile route on the main track.

Prince Lucky was a six-length winner in the Grade 3 Hal Hope in February at Gulfstream Park in his 2019 bow and followed with a 4 ¾-length score in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile in March. After running sixth in the Grade 3 Westchester in May and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day June 8 at Belmont, Prince Lucky rebounded to win the State Dinner by 1 ¾ lengths and finished in the money again yesterday.

"He was second-best. He looks good and ate up last night. He seemed bright and alert this morning and in really good shape," Hughes said. "I think we got him back to his form from earlier in the year. Hopefully, he can continue to run well for the rest of the year."

China Horse Club International's Alberobello was listed a possibility for the Grade 2, $300,000 Beldame for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on Saturday, but Hughes said he is unsure of what the plans would be for her next start. The 4-year-old Bernardini filly is coming off a third-place finish in the Summer Colony at the Beldame distance on August 18 at Saratoga and is 3-2-1 in nine career starts.

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Midnight Bisou remains on target for G2 Beldame

Horses like Midnight Bisou come along once in a lifetime and owner Jeff Bloom said he is relishing every moment of it.

The talented daughter of Midnight Lute has won all six of her starts this year, three of which are Grade 1. She worked a half-mile in 49.81 seconds over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Sunday in preparation for the Grade 2, $300,000 Beldame on October 5 at Belmont Park.

"She just breezed perfectly this morning and so we're headed to Belmont," said Bloom, who owns Midnight Bisou in partnership with Sol Kumin's Madaket Stable and Allen Racing.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou has put together a sensational 4-year-old campaign, which has included wins in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park and Personal Ensign at Saratoga, all of which are Grade 1.

Never off the board in 17 career starts, Midnight Bisou was a two-time Grade 1 winner at age 3, taking the Santa Anita Oaks and Cotillion, the former of which was won while under the care of former trainer Bill Spawr.

"I think, more than anything else, she has continued to both physically and mentally mature as she has gotten older. There's really no magic to it," Bloom said. "We're pretty proud of her 3-year-old campaign, but certainly she's much better this year. Oddly enough, she seems to get better with each race, including the Personal Ensign where she battled with Elate. One would think that would take something out of her, but she was jumping out her skin after the race. She's just really continued to grow."

One of the remarkable characteristics of Midnight Bisou, Bloom says, is her mellow temperament in the barn area and her ability to switch gears when it's time to get down to business.

"She's just an incredible horse to be around," Bloom said. "She's got that presence that shows she's a competitor, but she loves people. As long as you have a peppermint or a carrot in your hand, she'll be your best friend. Once she gets that saddle put on her and she steps foot on the track, she's focused on her job. With fillies, a lot of the time, the ones that are good can be tough to be around."

Following the Beldame, Midnight Bisou will likely target the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. She finished third in last year's edition behind subsequent Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Monomoy Girl. She will then go through the sales ring at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale following the Breeders' Cup.

"She's reached a level that very few have achieved," Bloom said. "You always strive to compete at the top level but Midnight Bisou has gone above and beyond that. Her value is hard to imagine but right now, we're focusing on the rest of the year and trying to keep her undefeated."

Bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Midnight Bisou was purchased for $80,000 from the Ocala Breeders Sales Company's Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in April 2017. She is out of the Repent broodmare Diva Delite.

Bloom said Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational victor Henley's Joy is slated for more graded stakes action at Big Sandy, targeting a possible start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Hill Prince on October 5.

Henley's Joy contested all three legs of the inaugural Turf Trinity, recording fifth-place finishes in the Saratoga Derby and Jockey Club Derby.

"We're considering the Hill Prince and we definitely want to take advantage of the remaining 3-year-old turf stakes the rest of the year," Bloom said. "He seems to appreciate firm going and the track was wet last time and had a little more give than he likes."

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Tacitus and Yoshida to arrive in town later this week for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup

Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott saddled a well-bred maiden debut winner in LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing's Tiesto in Saturday's fourth race at Belmont.

The 2-year-old Tiznow colt, bred by David Jacobs and Tiznow Syndicate, is a half-brother to Grade 1 winning millionaire Promises Fulfilled. Purchased for $600,000 at this year's 2-year-olds in training Ocala Breeders' Sale, Tiesto prepared for his debut in Saratoga, where he recorded his first six workouts before Saturday's race.

Sent off at odds of 11-1 with rider Dylan Davis aboard, he stalked from fourth position from the field of eight moving four wide on the first turn, moving to striking distance and let loose at the quarter-pole kicking clear in the stretch to earn the victory by 3 ½ lengths.

"It was a nice victory from him yesterday," said Leana Willaford, assistant to Mott. "He did most of the preparation for that race in Saratoga and came down here to gallop a few days before the race and did everything right. He's a good looking horse and well behaved. He also seems to have come out of the race well, so it's exciting."

Mott will be well represented in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup which offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 2 at Santa Anita Park with a pair of multiple graded stakes winners in 5-year-old Yoshida and 3-year-old Tacitus.

A Japanese-bred son of Heart's Cry, Yoshida is winless in five starts this year but has shown good form of late finishing third in the Grade 1 Woodward and second in the Grade 1 Whiney at Saratoga Race Course.

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Tacitus remains in search of his first career Grade 1 victory after capturing the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs and Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack. He subsequently finished third in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and second in the Belmont Stakes. Following a summer campaign at Saratoga which included a pair of second-place finishes in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 2 Runhappy Travers, he will face older horses for the first time.

Willaford said both contenders are doing well and expected to arrive at Belmont from Saratoga later this week.

"Bill seems to be happy with each of them," said Willaford. "He was here yesterday and said he liked where he was at with each of them in their training coming up for next Saturday. Hopefully, they'll both run good races to each of their abilities. They're each talented horses and the meet's been a little slow so far, a lot of seconds, but we'll get through it. It goes up and down and we're hoping next weekend will trend upward."

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Tax on point for G3 Oklahoma Derby

R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, and Corms Racing Stable's Tax breezed four furlongs in 47.60 seconds on Saturday morning on the Belmont training track.

Trainer Danny Gargan said the dark bay son of Arch, claimed for $50,000 out of a maiden win in October at Keeneland, is on point for next Sunday's Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, with the Grade 2, $400,000 Hill Prince, a nine-furlong turf route on October 5 at Belmont as a backup plan.

"We'll probably run him in Oklahoma," said Gargan. "He worked good here the other day. With the timing, we can still make the Breeders' Cup if we wanted to, but if we run him October 6 we won't make the Breeders' Cup."

Tax has excelled in graded stakes company in New York winning the Grade 3 Withers and Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets, while hitting the board in the Grade 2 Remsen and Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets.

Gargan said Tax, who contested two-thirds of the Triple Crown, placing 14th in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont, could also contest the Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery in the fall at Aqueduct should they decide to skip the Breeders' Cup.

"He's doing great, but it's all about timing at this stage of the game," said Gargan. "If he wins there [at Remington], then we can do the Discovery. The timing is still up in the air."

Gargan said New York-bred Ice Princess, a 12-length maiden winner at first asking on September 6 at Belmont, is under consideration for the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette, a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event on October 6.

"She's doing well right now. I'm considering running her in the Frizette," said Gargan.

Bred by Mina Equivest, the Palace Malice grey was purchased for $75,000 at the 2018 New York-bred Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale.

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Crystalle, Famished targeting graded turf stakes for Kimmel

Trainer John Kimmel sent well-regarded juveniles Crystalle, with Joel Rosario up, and Famished to train on the Belmont turf on Sunday, covering four furlongs in 50.55.

"We gave them another maintenance half-mile. Both these horses are pretty fit," said Kimmel. "They worked in company last Sunday and they went again in company this morning and we switched who was inside and who was outside. The dogs were far out and they went in 50 and change."

Crystalle, a Palace Malice filly, captured the P.G. Johnson on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course, while Famished, an Uncle Mo colt, graduated at second asking on August 31 at the Spa. Both juveniles are targeting 1 1/16-mile turf races on the grass next weekend at Belmont with Crystalle set for the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo on September 29, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim on September 28 as the intended goal for Famished.

"Famished looks terrific on the grass," said Kimmel. "My thought is if we're trying to get him to the Breeders' Cup, it's probably easier to get him to the Juvenile Turf than it is to the dirt race. He might actually be better on turf than dirt. We don't know that for sure yet, but he sure looks good on it.

"We know for sure Crystalle is better on turf," added Kimmel. "Those two breezed together on dirt a number of times and Famished annihilates Crystalle. When they breeze on the grass, they're very compatible."

Famished, bred in Ontario by Michael C. Byrne, is among the early contenders for the $1 million Queen's Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at 1 1/4-miles on Tapeta at Woodbine. The unique Canadian Triple Crown series features the Prince of Wales at 1 3/16-miles on dirt at Fort Erie, with the concluding leg, the Breeders' Stakes, at 1 1/2-miles on turf at Woodbine.

Kimmel said the Queen's Plate is a long-term consideration for Famished.

"Absolutely," said Kimmel. "These grass horses seem to transition well to Tapeta. It will be interesting to see how he handles that surface. I think he'd run on anything, he's such a nice horse."

Nedlaw Stable's Harris Bay, a 2-year-old son of Carpe Diem, earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for his impressive debut win at six furlongs on September 15 at Belmont. Bred in New York by WinStar Farm, the $170,000 Keeneland Yearling Sale purchase is under consideration for the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow on October 19, part of Empire State Breeders' Showcase Day.

"Harris Bay ran really well and he's come out of the race well," said Kimmel. "We're going to earmark him for the mile race on Showcase Day. I don't think the added distance will hurt him. Coming down the lane, he had a big stride and was really extending himself."

Chester and Mary Broman's popular New York-bred Mr. Buff is targeting the $300,000 Empire Classic, a nine-furlong route on Big Sandy that headlines Empire Showcase Day which features eight stakes races worth $1.75 million.

Mr. Buff, a 10-time winner boasting just shy of $700,000 in purse earnings, breezed four furlongs in 48.02 on the Belmont main on Sunday under Junior Alvarado.

"Junior got on him and he worked a half in 48, out in a minute and change and out in 1:13 and change. He's gearing up for the Empire Classic," said Kimmel.

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Albertrani considering G3 Nashua for maiden winner Spycraft

Trainer Tom Albertrani said Godolphin's Spycraft could target the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua on November 3 at Aqueduct, following an impressive first-out maiden victory on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The bay son of Discreet Cat was hustled out of the gate by jockey Jose Lezcano and fended off his competition scoring by 3 ½ lengths.

"It would be a consideration if there's nothing before then, but timing wise it looks like a race that we would consider targeting for sure," Albertrani said. "He was pretty impressive. The horse always showed that he had quite a bit of talent even before he ran. I'm glad we were able to see the same performance in the afternoon that he's shown us in the morning It was impressive and hopefully he'll stretch out a little bit, too. It's always challenging going further in distance, so we'll see how far he'll go."

Albertrani and Godolphin teamed up in 2016 to win the Nashua with Hemsworth.

A Kentucky homebred, Spycraft is the third offspring out of the Bernardini broodmare Sugarcraft whose dam was multiple Grade 1 winner Sugar Shake. All three of her progeny are winners.

Albertrani said he is still planning on running Sadler's Joy in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 5. The 6-year-old son of Kitten's Joy who has amassed over $2 million in career earnings was a respective fourth and third in the last two editions of the Turf Classic and will seek his first victory since the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream Park in March 2018.

"We're good to go, he's trained real well since the Sword Dancer and we'll give him another couple of works before the race," Albertrani said. "Depending on the outcome of the Turf Classic, hopefully he'll put a good effort in ad move on to the [Grade 1, $4 million] Breeders' Cup Turf [on November 2 at Santa Anita]."

Sadler's Joy was third in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf behind world champion Enable and three-time Group 1 winner Magical.

Albertrani reported that Sadler's Joy would likely work at Belmont Park on Monday morning.

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Our Country on track for G3 Pilgrim

R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Our Country, fourth as the favorite in the Grade 3 With Anticipation last out, is scheduled to compete in the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim on September 28.

Trained by George Weaver, the 2-year-old son of freshman sire Constitution was fourth in his career debut over the turf at Saratoga, where he finished behind eventual Grade 1 winner Decorated Invader. He graduated at second asking over the Mellon turf at the Spa, gliding home to win by 5 ¾ lengths.

Our Country posted a half-mile work over the Oklahoma turf course at Saratoga on Friday completing the four-furlong distance in 50.21 seconds.

"He's been doing fine. He's been good all summer long and he continues to do well," Weaver said.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Our Country is out of the Tiznow broodmare Light and Variable.

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All stakes Cross Country Pick 5 returns $15K

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 featuring five stakes races from Belmont Park, Parx Racing in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario handled $147,037, returning $15,621 for the minimum $0.50 wager.

The sequence kicked off with the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bob for 3-year-olds at Parx, where post-time favorite King Jack, for Hall of Fame conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Michael Stinson, successfully shipped in from California to win by 1 ½ lengths to earn his first graded stakes win returning $4.80 for a $2 win wager.

In the second leg, the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies, Street Band for trainer Larry Jones outdueled even-money favorite Guarana in the field of 11 returning $17.40.

The action then switched to Woodbine for the Sweet Briar Too, where 4-1 Jean Elizabeth bested Sister Peacock by two lengths in the 6 ½-furlong Tapeta sprint. She returned $10 for a $2 win ticket.

In the penultimate leg, the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-olds, 31-1 longshot Math Wizard, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for trainer Saffie Joseph paid $64.20 for a $2 win wager charging hard late to outlast Mr. Money by a neck at the wire from the field of six.

Switching back to Belmont Park for the final leg of the sequence, the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap for 3-year-olds and up, New York-bred Pat On the Back got up late to surpass post-time favorite Prince Lucky to earn the victory. Leaving the gate at odds of 3-1, Pat On the Back returned $9 for the win.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents, featuring a 15 percent takeout and a mandatory payout of the entire pool. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country.

For more information on the Cross Country Pick 5, please visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.