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Bond seeks long awaited Woodward (G1) win with Prioritize

by NYRA Press Office

• McGaughey hopes his patience is rewarded with Civil Union
• Colic keeps Victim of Love out of Sunday's Honorable Miss (G2)
• Rice trainees on the work tab at Belmont Park
• A trio of Pick 5s lined up for Saturday's Woodward (G1) card

Veteran conditioner Jimmy Bond owns victories in some of the most historic races on the NYRA circuit, but is still chasing after a win in the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward. On Saturday, William L. Clifton, Jr.'s Prioritize will attempt to give the Saratoga mainstay his first win in the prestigious event.

Bond has come close several times in the Woodward, including runner-up efforts with Grade 1 winners Behrens in 2000, who was defeated a head by Lemon Drop Kid; and L'Carriere, who was four lengths back of Cigar in 1996. Will's Way, winner of the 1996 Travers, finished third in the Woodward the following year to Formal Gold in the final start of his career.

"They've showed up, but not showed up," Bond quipped.

Behrens, who Clifton, Jr. also owned, was a three-time Grade 1 winner having captured back-to-back editions of the Gulfstream Park Handicap in 1999-00 and was a game second in the 2000 Dubai World Cup. He retired with over $4 million in lifetime earnings and was the richest horse that Bond has trained.

"He was a nose to Deputy Commander in the [1997] Travers and a nose to Victory Gallop in the [1998] Whitney," Bond recalled. "He was just a great horse. He ran against probably Sheikh Mohammed's best horse ever [Dubai Millennium] over in Dubai and ran second. He was an iron horse, an old throwback."

Prioritize will make his second graded stakes appearance, having finished third beaten by one length in the 2018 Grade 3 Hill Prince over the turf at Belmont Park. Last out, he defeated a tough field in a 1 1/8-mile Saratoga allowance, which included Grade 1 Kentucky Derby contender Money Moves, while recording a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure under jockey Eric Cancel, who will have the return engagement for Saturday's race.

Having won prestigious races in New York including the Whitney, Travers, Wood Memorial, Suburban and Met Mile, Bond said a triumph in the Woodward would achieve a long-term goal.

"I'd love to put it on our resume, but most importantly for Mr. Clifton because of what he means to us," Bond said. "The horse is doing fantastic. He had a trip over the track already and ran gutsy, grinding it out. His numbers are getting better. He's coming back in five weeks, which I like. Eric has ridden him tremendously and he keeps getting better with Eric aboard. Hopefully he makes a good showing."

Prioritize was initially campaigned on turf, where he has won twice with a victory on debut at Gulfstream Park followed by a triumph against winners two starts later over the inner turf at Saratoga. Bond changed tactics with Prioritize four starts ago and ran him on the main track, where he won for a $35,000 tag on December 20 over the Aqueduct main track. He recorded two runner-up efforts over the main track before his last out win.

Bond said he switched gears with Prioritize because his sire Tizway was mainly a dirt horse. Tizway, who also was trained by Bond, won the Grade 1 Met Mile and Grade 1 Whitney in 2011. His dam was Whey Sauce, a Japanese-bred Kurofune mare who was stakes placed over the turf in England.

"He kind of got flat and I had to try something different," Bond said. "Tizway himself was a dirt horse, but this one has some Japanese influence on the dam side."

The classic distance of ten furlongs is not a concern for Bond, who said his horse will relish the added ground.

"One good thing about him is that he'll run all day," Bond said. "I don't think the mile and a quarter will be an issue for him at all. I think that's our biggest advantage. I think I have a true mile and a quarter horse. So that's one big positive. I always thought Tizway would get the mile and a quarter but unfortunately, he got hurt before the Classic. He showed it to me winning the Whitney here. His daddy won over this course pretty nicely, so maybe his son can as well."

Bond purchased Prioritize for a frugal $45,000 from the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Legacy Bloodstock.

"He and Tizway were both big bodied horses," Bond said. "This horse is a beautiful horse. I can't believe we only paid $45,000 for him. He's just a nice horse."

Bond has enjoyed a highly prosperous meet at Saratoga this summer, having won 11 of 36 starts at a 61 percent clip as of Thursday morning.

"We're very lucky because he have the farm [Song Hill Farm] and we have the private barn," Bond said. "Each spring, were one of the first ones to come in. I watched [veteran trainer] Leo O'Brien many, many, many years ago and a couple other trainers, but they would come in three or four weeks before the old four-week meet and they always had bang up meets."

Bond credits the tranquil atmosphere in Saratoga, in combination with the newly installed main track at Saratoga for such a successful meet.

"I believe it's the environment to be honest. The water and the casual quietness of it all. Horses just eat better and do better up here," Bond said. "I always try to get my horses up here three or four weeks before. Our other horses are just up here all the time. I think it's an advantage.

"I have to really give kudos to [NYRA's Senior Vice President, Operations and Capital Projects] Glen Kozak and his crew. This track has just been phenomenal. They've done magnificent work. The amount of rain we've got, and this track will be fast by the first race today," added Bond. "As a whole, you got to give him and his team all the credit in the world, I thank NYRA for spending the money to redo this track last year. They've got themselves one of the best tracks I've ever trained on and run on in my lifetime."

Bond scored a victory on Wednesday afternoon when Evaluator tracked the pace to splash home over a sloppy going at Saratoga, winning by 13 lengths.

"He was touting me," Bond said. "I was a little nervous when the two horse [Yankee Division] scratched because I was worried there would be lone speed. It was nice to win for R and H Stable. They're great people."

***

McGaughey hopes his patience is rewarded with Civil Union

Since a victorious stakes debut in the last out River Memories on July 12 at Belmont Park, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has had the Grade 2, $200,000 Glens Falls penciled in for Joseph Allen's Civil Union.

A Kentucky homebred, Civil Union tracked a leisurely pace in her last effort before taking command approaching the quarter pole and drew off to a 1 ¾ length win.

McGaughey said he bypassed the Grade 3 Waya on August 8 at Saratoga with the 5-year-old War Front bay to give her some extra space in between races. In 2017, he saddled Apple Betty to victory in the River Memories for Allen and subsequently raced fourth in the Waya.

"She fits in there really well and she's trained really well up here," said McGaughey, who won the 2012 Glens Falls with Hit It Rich. "I think she'll run a good race on Saturday. She's gotten bigger and stronger. I think her two winter races helped her a lot. I'm looking forward to running her."

Civil Union is out of the unraced Unbridled's Song mare Photograph, who was a half-sister to War Flag, who won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl in 2017 and was third in that year's Glens Falls for McGaughey. She is a direct descendant of Grade 1 winner Andover Way, who produced multiple turf champion producing stallion Dynaformer.

"Hopefully, she'll be that way. She might be a little further along than War Flag was," McGaughey said.

Finishing in the money in five of her six lifetime starts, Civil Union won on debut for former trainer Chad Brown in August 2018 over the inner turf at Saratoga. She didn't find the winner's circle until June 21 of this year, where she defeated winners for the first time going 1 ¼ miles over the inner turf at Belmont Park en route to her River Memories score.

Jockey Joel Rosario will pilot Civil Union, who breaks from the rail as the 3-1 morning line second choice.

***

Colic keeps Victim of Love out of Sunday's Honorable Miss (G2)

Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Victim of Love shipped to Saratoga fromher base at Penn National in anticipation of running in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss. But trainer Todd Beattie said the 4-year-old Speightstown filly is suffering with a bout of colic and will not be able to run in the six-furlong sprint.

"I shipped her Tuesday night and when we got her here, she coliced and unfortunately, we can't run her now because of that," Beattie said. "We shipped up here with the intention of running her, but with this colic, it hit bad enough where we are going to have to give her some time."

Victim of Love has already produced an impressive campaign that saw her win her first career graded stakes when she defeated four-time graded stakes-winner Come Dancing by 1 ¾ lengths to capture the Grade 3 Vagrancy on June 27 at Belmont Park.

Last out, Victim of Love ran third in the Grade 1 Ballerina on August 8 going seven furlongs at the Spa. Since last October, she has finished on the board in six of her last seven starts, including a win in the 6 ½-furlong What a Summer in January at Laurel Park.

"We're disappointed as hell since we were really looking forward to running it," Beattie said. "She was stepping the right way. I was optimistic and then this popped up out of nowhere. Now, we just want to get her comfortable and get her back to normal and give her a little bit of time to get that way."

Bred in Kentucky by Daniel J. Burke, Victim of Love was purchased for $160,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale. She has compiled a 5-2-3 record in 16 career starts with earnings of $315,829.

***

Rice trainees on the work tab at Belmont Park

A number of Linda Rice-trained stakes horses breezed recently at Belmont Park in preparation for upcoming starts at the 27-day Belmont fall meet, offering 38 stakes worth $5.58 million in purse money, that will kick off on Friday, September 18 and run through Sunday, November 1.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Newly Minted, a 4-year-old daughter of Central Banker bred in the Empire State by Chester and Mary Broman, worked five-eighths in 1:00.60 on August 31 on the Belmont main.

Boasting a record of 11-6-3-1, Newly Minted has won four restricted stakes, including a last-out neck score in the Union Avenue at Saratoga on August 13.

Rice said the talented bay is under consideration for the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom at 6 ½-furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on October 3 at Belmont.

"She's doing well," said Rice. "We'll take a look at the Gallant Bloom at Belmont. On Showcase Day, we'll take a look at the sprint."

The $125,000 Iroquois, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, is slated for the October 24 Empire Showcase Day card which will offer eight stakes worth $1.2 million.

Paul Pompa, Jr.'s Turned Aside, a bay son of American Pharoah, made the grade last out in the Grade 3 Quick Call sprinting 5 ½-furlongs on the Saratoga turf. The Kentucky homebred breezed six furlongs on Big Sandy in 1:13.20 on August 31 and Rice said the colt is targeting the Grade 3, $500,000 Franklin-Simpson, a 6 ½-furlong turf sprint for sophomores on September 16 at Kentucky Downs.

"He's a really honest horse and gives you a good effort wherever you run him," said Rice. "We're excited about going. Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride him, and he has quite a bit of experience on that turf course."

A trio of stakes performers also had their first work back at Belmont off a freshening including Montauk Traffic, Scilly Cay and Nicodemus.

Chris Fountoukis' Montauk Traffic, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Cross Traffic, captured the seven-furlong Jimmy Winkfield in February at Aqueduct. He followed by rallying for fourth last out in the Grade 3 Gotham on March 7 at the Big A.

Montauk Traffic worked a half-mile in 50.04 August 31 on the Belmont main.

"That was his first breeze back after some time off this spring and I hope to have him ready for mid-October," said Rice.

Alpha Delta Stables' homebred Scilly Cay, winner of the 6 ½-furlong Rego Park in January at Aqueduct, went a half-mile in 48.90 August 31 on the Belmont main.

"We're just getting him going and he should be ready in up to six weeks," said Rice.

Everything's Cricket Racing and Lawrence Goichman's Nicodemus, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Candy Ride, breezed a half-mile in 49.75 September 1 on the Belmont main.

The dark bay horse, who made the grade in the 2019 Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont, finished second in his seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Toboggan in January at the Big A. He was third last out on July 2 at Belmont in an optional-claiming mile.

"That's the first breeze since his return and we're looking to have him ready for a fall campaign," said Rice.

Following opening weekend at Belmont, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Columbus Day weekend, when live racing will be offered on Monday, October 12 and return on Friday, October 16.

New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19. NYRA will issue updated guidance regarding COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys, trainers and owners in the near future.

America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Belmont Park fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

***

A trio of Pick 5s lined up for Saturday's Woodward (G1) card

Saturday's lucrative Woodward Day program at Saratoga will offer three Pick 5s, two Pick 4s and an enticing jackpot in the Empire 6.

Saturday's card features four graded events, led by the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward at 10 furlongs for 3-year-olds and upward; the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy at nine furlongs for sophomores; the Grade 2, $200,000 Glens Falls, an 11-furlong inner-turf marathon for older fillies and mares; and the Grade 2, $200,000 Prioress, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies.

Saratoga Live presents daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

The 12-race card begins at 11:45 a.m. Eastern with the first of three Pick-5s featuring a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the inner turf for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward. The eight-horse field is led by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables, and LNJ Foxwoods' Tackle, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who will look to graduate at second asking. Ancient Times, a half-brother to Grade 1-winning millionaire Wild Dude, will look to win on debut for trainer Todd Pletcher.

In Race 2 [12:18 p.m. ET], a wide-open field of eight $16,000 claimers will sprint six furlongs on the main track with class-dropping Wegotoldyougotsold looming large off the six-month layoff.

State-bred turf sprinters lead the charge in Race 3 [12:53 p.m.] as Colts Neck Stables' Silky Blue looks for her second career win for trainer Jorge Duarte.

The 11-furlong Glens Falls [Race 4, 1:26 p.m. ET] will see Allen Stable homebred Civil Union looking to make the grade on the inner turf off a last-out win in the River Memories at Belmont Park for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. The Chad Brown-trained duo of My Sister Nat, last out winner of the Grade 3 Waya, and Eliade will provide steep opposition.

A well-bred field of nine juveniles will try to make a name for themselves with a maiden score at the Spa traveling seven furlongs on the main track in Race 5 [2:01 p.m. ET]. Shortleaf Stable homebred Caddo River, a dark bay son of Hard Spun trained by Brad Cox, offers a number of bullets on the work tab. Shadwell Stable homebred Munqad, a War Front bay trained by Todd Pletcher, is a half-brother to 2016 Gotham champ Shagaf. Hall of Famer Bill Mott will saddle second-time starters Olympiad and Officiating, in a popular angle for the veteran conditioner.

The middle Pick 5, which offers a mandatory payout, will begin with a first-level allowance sprint in Race 6 [2:38 p.m. ET], ahead of an overflow field of juveniles contesting a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the inner turf [Race 7, 3:11 p.m.] in which L and N Racing's Hidden Enemy will look to improve off a first-out fourth, while fending off an intriguing group that includes firster American Diamond, an American Pharoah bay trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse.

The Late Pick 5 begins in Race 8 [3:46 p.m. ET] with a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf allowance featuring an overflow field of Empire State-breds, that will lead into the Grade 2 Jim Dandy [Race 9, 4:21 p.m. ET] to kick off a trio of graded races. The nine-furlong event for sophomores runs through the Pletcher barn with Grade 1 Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr Post and undefeated Happy Saver looming large.

In Race 10 [4:57 p.m. ET], a field of nine sophomores fillies will sprint six furlongs on the main track led by Group 1 placed Kimari for trainer Wesley Ward and the speedy Mott-trained graded-stakes winner Frank's Rockette.

The day's featured race, the Grade 1 Woodward Handicap [Race 11, 5:30 p.m. ET] at 10 furlongs on the main track, will see the Mott-conditioned Tacitus toil in search of his first Grade 1 win. The regally-bred Tapit grey, out of Eclipse Award-winner Close Hatches, will carry a field high 124 pounds. Prioritize, making just his fourth start on dirt in search of a first stakes score, gets in light at 115 pounds for trainer Jimmy Bond.

Closing out the card [Race 12, 6:08 p.m. ET] is an overflow field of $40,000 claimers battling 1 1/16-miles on the Mellon turf course led by graded-stakes placed Our Country, who will look to get back to winning ways for trainer George Weaver. Other leading contenders include the lightly-raced Doubly Blessed, trained by red-hot trainer Mike Maker for equally live owner Three Diamonds Farm; Centennial Farms' Life On Top, who drops in from allowance company for trainer Jimmy Jerkens; and the late-running Shootin the Breeze for trainer David Cannizzo.

The Woodward Day card will also feature two Pick 4s which will begin in races 2 [12:18 p.m.] and 9 [4:21 p.m.]

The Empire 6, which boasts a jackpot of $307,132 heading into Thursday's live racing action at the Spa, kicks off Saturday in Race 7 [3:11 p.m.]

The Empire 6 requires the bettor to select the first-place finisher of the final six races of the card. On non-mandatory payout days, if one unique ticket exists, then 100 percent of the net pool, plus the jackpot carryover if applicable, will be paid to the winner. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place finisher in all six races, then 75 percent of the day's net pool will be distributed to those who selected the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races. The remainder will be added into the jackpot and carried to the next day's Empire 6.

A mandatory payout of the Empire 6 is slated for Monday's Closing Day card at Saratoga, which is highlighted by the Grade 1, $250,000 Runhappy Hopeful at seven furlongs for 2-year-olds; and the $85,000 Lure, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older horses.

For more information, please visit http://www.nyrabets.com.