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Arcangelo works for G1 Travers

by NYRA Press Office

• Arcangelo works for G1 Travers
• Cody’s Wish turns attention to G2 Vosburgh; Pretty Mischievous training well since G1 Test
• Carl Spackler could target G1 Hollywood Derby
• Sterling Silver’s next dance to come in G1 Ballerina H.
• Early look at Saratoga Race Course Week 7 stakes probables

Blue Rose Farm’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets-winner Arcangelo posted a five-furlong breeze Wednesday in 1:01.63 over the Saratoga Race Course main track under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano in preparation for the August 26 Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers.

Trainer Jena Antonucci said she was pleased with the work, which served as a maintenance breeze after he covered the same distance in 1:00.21 on August 6. 

“It went super. It was everything we were looking for,” Antonucci said. “The big heavy lifting was in the prior work, so we’ll just keep his feet on the ground for the next 10 days and keep him happy.”

The son of Arrogate was an emphatic 1 1/2-length winner of the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes on June 10, proving the distance was no problem with a strong turn of foot from 2 3/4 lengths off the pace. He will turn back a quarter-mile in the Travers, a scenario Antonucci said will be well within his wheelhouse. 

“It’s not often you can say you’re on the cutback at a mile and a quarter,” said Antonucci, with a laugh. “He’s flourished here this summer and continues to mature. We just take it one day at a time.” 

In addition to the Belmont, Arcangelo scored by a head over Bishops Bay in the Grade 3 Peter Pan in May at Belmont. Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Arcangelo was a $30,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

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Cody’s Wish turns attention to G2 Vosburgh; Pretty Mischievous training well since Test 

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Cody’s Wish will return to one-turn racing this fall at the Belmont at the Big A meet after finishing third in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course. A potential landing spot for the 5-year-old bay could be the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh for 3-year-olds and up sprinting seven furlongs on September 30, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park. 

While the Vosburgh provides a berth into the Sprint, Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock for Godolphin, said Cody’s Wish could use the Vosburgh as a steppingstone towards a try at a successful title defense in the Dirt Mile, which he won last year by a head over Cyberknife. 

“We were hoping he would run better in the Whitney and it was a great opportunity to figure it out,” said Banahan “So, we took our chance and obviously it didn’t work out as well as we’d hoped for. But he’s come out of the race well and we’ll regroup and try and to make him a repeat winner in the Dirt Mile. I think we’ll keep him in New York and potentially run him in the Vosburgh.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Curlin raced beyond one mile for the first time since July 2021 in the Whitney and attempted his usual closing kick under regular pilot Junior Alvarado, but finished 10 lengths back of the victorious White Abarrio. That ended a six-race win streak that included his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile coup at Keeneland, and additional Grade 1 scores in the Churchill Downs at its namesake track and the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, and last year's Forego at the Spa.

Earlier on the Whitney card, Godolphin sent out multiple graded stakes-winner Pretty Mischievous in the Grade 1 Test where she earned the victory after pacesetter Maple Leaf Mel led at each point of call before suffering an injury and falling just before the wire. 

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous cut back from a win in the one-turn 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Acorn presented by Great Jones Distilling Co. in June at Belmont and rallied strongly from four lengths off the pace in the Test to put her head down over Clearly Unhinged. 

Banahan said while plans are still to be determined, the daughter of Into Mischief could look to a start in Parx Racing’s Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on September 23 next. 

“She came out of the race very well and we found out in the race that the seven-furlong pace was a little too fast for her,” said Banahan. “She stayed on well in the race and came out of it well. Nothing is set in stone yet and we’re guided by the filly, but we’ll have a look at the Cotillion. It’s a significant race and it’s the last race at a distance for the 3-year-old fillies.” 

Banahan added that Godolphin plans to send out both Matareya and Caramel Swirl in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap on August 26, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. 

Matareya, a dual Grade 1-winner trained by Brad Cox, was last seen finishing third in the Grade 3 Chicago at Ellis Park, while Caramel Swirl, trained by Mott, has not been seen since finishing third in the Grade 2 Bed o’ Roses on June 17 at Belmont. 

“Matareya is in good shape and Brad is very happy with where she is at the moment,” said Banahan. “Caramel Swirl will probably run in there as well, so we’ll see if one of them can win it.” 

Matareya vies for her third career Grade 1 triumph after wins in the Acorn last year and Derby City Distaff in May at Churchill. Caramel Swirl is still in search of her first top-level score and will look to finish one better than her runner-up performance to subsequent Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive in last year’s Ballerina. 

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Carl Spackler could target G1 Hollywood Derby

Trainer Chad Brown said e Five Thoroughbred Racing Thoroughbreds' Carl Spackler could target the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar as a long term goal following an impressive victory in a re-scheduled edition of Friday’s Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga Race Course. 

The chestnut Lope de Vega sophomore entered the one-mile Hall of Fame from a three-month layoff, having last raced when eighth in his stakes debut in the Grade 2 American Turf on May 6 at Churchill Downs. Brown said Carl Spackler was not looking well after returning to Belmont Park, but the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer brought the talented colt back to good condition, taking the Hall of Fame by 2 1/4 lengths over stablemate Appraise. Carl Spackler earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure for the triumph over the good inner turf course. 

“Tricky schedule for 3-year-old colts, but I’m not sure yet,” said Brown when asked about where his newly minted graded stakes winner would run next. “I’ve got my eyes on the Hollywood Derby late in the year for that horse, but I’m not sure if I would run him once between now and then.”

Should Carl Spackler make the trek to the West Coast, he could be joined by fellow Brown trainee Program Trading, who was a hard-fought winner of the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 5 for owner Klaravich Stables. Brown mentioned the Hollywood Derby as a possibility for the fellow Lope de Vega sophomore following the Saratoga Derby. 

Bred in Ireland by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, Carl Spackler is out of the Brown-trained and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds campaigned graded stakes-winning More Than Ready mare Zindaya, who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Western Aristocrat.

One race after the Hall of Fame, Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb’s New York-bred Dr Ardito got back to the win column with a devastating late rally in the $125,000 Evan Shipman Handicap going one mile through the Wilson Chute. This was the 5-year-old gray son of Liam’s Map’s first stakes win since capturing the February 20 Haynesfield at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Brown mentioned that Dr Ardito would likely remain against fellow New York-breds. 

“I think so, I’ll talk to [co-owner] Michael Dubb about that,” Brown said. 

Bred in the Empire State by Fred W. Hertrich, III and John D. Fielding, Dr Ardito is out of the Indian Charlie mare Delightfully So, who produced winners Navistar and Delight of the Nile.

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New York-bred Sterling Silver’s next dance to come in Grade 1 Ballerina H.

Mark Anderson’s New York-bred Sterling Silver is likely to return to Grade 1 company in the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, a seven-furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on August 26, at Saratoga Race Course. 

Sterling Silver, trained by Tom Albertrani, won an optional claiming race at the Spa going the Ballerina’s distance last time out on July 29. She trailed the four horse field by three lengths before launching a move just before the stretch and closing strong to win by one length. 

“We know it’s going to be a tough race, but she’s been training really well,” said Albertrani. “This year she has always been right there. We just would like to take a crack at it and hopefully she wants to go.” 

The Ballerina provides a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Santa Anita – a race in which the 4-year-old Cupid grey finished ninth in last year at Keeneland.

Albertrani said Sterling Silver exited her last effort in good order and returned to the tab a week and a half later, where she breezed four furlongs in 49.33 seconds. 

“She’ll work again probably in a couple of days. Things are going well with her,” Albertrani said. “She deserves a shot at it and I think seven-eighths seems like her best distance.”

Sterling Silver has hit the board in her last four efforts, only missing this campaign when fourth in her first start off of a four month layoff in March at Tampa Bay Downs. The gray filly ran well versus state-bred fillies and mares at Belmont Park this spring when second in the 1 1/16-mile Critical Eye Handicap in May before turning back to finish a close third in the six-furlong Dancin Renee on June 25, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Kant Hurry Love and Grannys Connection, who flipped positions and ran 1-2 again in the recent Union Avenue Handicap.

The multiple graded stakes-placed Sterling Silver hit the board last year when third in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont and a close second to Wicked Halo in the Grade 2 Prioress ahead of a distant third in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont at the Big A. She captured the state-bred Franklin Square last January at Aqueduct. 

Bred in the Empire State by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, Sterling Silver, a $13,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, sports a record of 15-5-2-3 with $512,988 in earnings. 

Albertrani will send out Chalk Racing’s Savage Spirit in Race 6 on Friday, a maiden special weight going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf for New York-bred 2-year-olds. This will be the Accelerate chestnut’s second start, missing the board here on July 27 in a five and a half furlong turf sprint. 

“Distance should definitely help him. He got a lot out of his first race. I expect a big improvement this Friday,” Albertrani explained. “He’ll definitely be a little closer to the pace this time and in the first race he got a good education.” 

Bred by Kelly and Paul Zanella, Savage Spirit was a $60,000 purchase at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred Sale. 

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Early look at Saratoga Race Course Week 7 stakes probables

Wednesday, August 23

$135K John’s Call

Probable: British Royalty (Barb Minshall), Burning Bright (Norm Casse), Daunt (Robert Ribaudo), Oceans Map (Gregg Sacco), Pioneering Spirit (Linda Rice), Sy Dog (Graham Motion), Tawny Port (Christophe Clement), The Grey Wizard (Motion)

Possible: Tide of the Sea (Tom Morley)

Thursday, August 24

G2 Mohegan Sun Ballston Spa

Probable: Evvie Jets (Mertkan Kantarmaci), Gam’s Mission (Cherie DeVaux), Jumbly (Joseph O’Brien)

Possible: Technical Analysis (Chad Brown), Whitebeam (Brown)

Friday, August 25

G1 Personal Ensign

Probable: Clairiere (Steve Asmussen), Idiomatic (Brad Cox), Nest (Todd Pletcher), Secret Oath (D. Wayne Lukas)

Possible: Malloy (Wayne Catalano), Sixtythreecaliber (Tom Amoss), Society (Asmussen)

$150K Smart N Fancy

Probable: Bubble Rock (Brad Cox), Can’t Buy Love (Michael Trombetta), Poppy Flower (Bill Mott), Talkin Tipsy (James Gulick), Train to Artemus (Kelly Breen)

Possible: Roses for Debra (Christophe Clement)

Saturday, August 26

G1 Travers

Probable: Arcangelo (Jena Antonucci), Disarm (Asmussen), Forte (Pletcher), Il Miracolo (Antonio Sano), Mage (Gustavo Delgado), National Treasure (Bob Baffert), Reincarnate (Baffert), Scotland (Mott), Tapit Trice (Pletcher)

G1 Ballerina BC WAYI

Probable: Caramel Swirl (Mott), Dr B (Butch Reid, Jr.), Echo Zulu (Asmussen), Goodnight Olive (Brown), Matareya (Cox), Society (Asmussen), Sterling Silver (Tom Albertrani)

G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial

Probable: Arabian Lion (Baffert), Fort Bragg (Baffert), Lord Miles (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), New York Thunder (Jorge Delgado), Verifying (Cox)

Possible: One in Vermillion (Esteban Martinez)

G1 Forego

Probable: Elite Power (Mott), Gunite (Asmussen)

Possible: Lightening Larry (J. Delgado), Synthesis (David Jacobson)

G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer BC WAYI

Probable: Bolshoi Ballet (Aidan O’Brien), Channel Maker (Mott), Soldier Rising (Clement), Stone Age (Brown), Verstappen (Brendan Walsh)

Sunday, August 27 – New York Showcase Day

$250K Albany (NYB)

Probable: Allure of Money (Michael Ferraro), Drake’s Passage (Clement), Leo and Royal (Jeremiah Englehart), Maker’s Candy (Mike Maker)

Possible: Jackson Heights (Orlando Noda)

$200K West Point presented by Trustco Bank

Probable: City Man (Clement), Dakota Gold (Danny Gargan), Jerry the Nipper (Pletcher), Saratoga Flash (Joseph, Jr.), Spirit of St. Louis (Brown)

$200K Fleet Indian

Probable: Amanda’s Folly (Linda Rice), Cairo Sugar (Alan Bedard), Ichiban (Rice), Krystalheir (Marialice Coffey)

Possible: Timely Conquest (Mark Hennig)

$200K Yaddo

Probable: Golden Rocket (Patricia Farro), Marvelous Maude (Brown), New Ginya (Clement), Whatlovelookslike (Pletcher)

Possible: Runaway Rumour (Horacio De Paz)

$200K Seeking the Ante

Probable: Caldwell Luvs Gold (Cox), Concerti (Joe Sharp), Lady Arwen (J. Englehart), Miss d’Or Cherie (Clement), My Shea D Lady (Carlos David)

$200K Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital

Probable: Always a Warrior (David), Antonio of Venice (Rudy Rodriguez), The Wine Steward (Maker), Whatchatalkinabout (Wesley Ward), Works for Me (Joe Lee)

Possible: El Grande O (Rice), Tall Paul (Baffert)