C R K Stable well represented on Whitney Day with Baeza, Remember Mamba

• C R K Stable well represented on Whitney Day with Baeza, Remember Mamba
• Title Role looks to flip the script in G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
• Oracle Bloodstock selections square off in G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
• North American Record Holder Doncho contests G2 Troy
• New York-bred Waralo tries for first graded win in G2 Troy
• Embouteillage impresses with debut graduation on Wednesday at the Spa
• Carmel Coast, cross entered this weekend, likely for Saturday’s G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster
• Gargan feeling good about Saturday first-time starters, including Gorillaz, half-brother to Magnitude

The C R K Stable of Lee and Susan Searing will look to win a pair of Grade 1s on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course with Remember Mamba in the $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing and Baeza in the featured Grade 1, $1 million Whitney.

The Whitney will be broadcast to a national audience on FOX as part of a two-hour edition of FOX Saratoga Saturday, which will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

The Searings, who will be in Saratoga this weekend, named their stable after their three children's first initials - Christina, Richard, and Katherine. They own Baeza in partnership with Grandview Equine and will hope to secure their first win in the nine-furlong Whitney, which offers a ‘Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

Baeza made his first nine starts for the late trainer John Shirreffs, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on Friday. Shirreffs oversaw an 8-2-3-2 sophomore campaign for Baeza, who hit the board in two legs of the Triple Crown along with a Grade 1 score in the Pennsylvania Derby in September at Parx.

“I'm so glad the Hall of Fame is honoring him,” Lee Searing said. “To hang around the barn with John was a treat. He was as close as you could get to a horse whisperer. He tinkered with certain things to try and make the horse better. He was in the stalls with the horses. He had his own feeding program, and he was there in the morning and back again for feeding time every day. He never missed a day and had great success. He was as good a trainer as there ever has been.”

Baeza was transferred to the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott for his 4-year-old campaign, joining the stable of his great rival from a sophomore campaign in Sovereignty. The two foes squared off on three occasions last year as Baeza completed the trifecta for Sovereignty’s Grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets along with a one-length second in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun here.

Searing credited Shirreffs for his patient handling of Baeza, who didn’t debut until December of his 2-year-old campaign.

“He was a late foal, but he has developed into a bigger, stronger horse that wants to beat you. He just needs to break a bit better out of the gate,” Searing said.

Baeza, a 4-year-old McKinzie colt, has struggled leaving the gate at times throughout his career, including both starts this season at Churchill Downs when a three-quarter length third in the Grade 2 Alysheba in May and a 1 1/4-length second last out in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 27.

Mott will look to alleviate the gate issue with the aid of quarter pads on each side of Baeza in the gate.

“John and Bill were friends and I knew they trained a little bit the same way. Bill sure has handled these two horses the right way,” said Searing. “We've got to win one of these and hopefully the trip he gets will be one that gives him a good chance to win.

“It does put the horse at a disadvantage,” added Searing regarding the slow starts. “Not only his last race, the race before that was even worse, he was going to win.”

Baeza [No. 8, Flavien Prat, 7-2 ML] will face a formidable field on Saturday that features seven millionaires, including the more than $9 million-earning dual Grade/Group 1-winner Magnitude, the reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty, 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Whitney victor White Abarrio, the reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nitrogen, and Grade 1-winner Antiquarian. 

“This is as good a group of older horses as we've seen in thoroughbred racing in a long time. We want to run against the best,” Searing said.

C R K Stable’s Remember Mamba was off a step slow last out when a late-running neck third in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on July 4 here for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

The Kitten’s Joy colt won his first three outings, culminating in a half-length score in the Grade 3 Transylvania in April at Keeneland. He followed with a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 American Turf in May at Churchill ahead of his try in the Belmont Derby.

Remember Mamba [No. 3, Jose Ortiz, 3-1] will rematch Saturday with Belmont Derby one-two finishers Title Role and West End Kid.

“I think Mamba is going to be a late running horse,” Searing said. “Mamba is growing and getting stronger. I look forward to watching him run. We're climbing the ladder.”

Searing credited DeVaux and her husband, David Ingordo, who is C R K Stable’s bloodstock advisor, as well as April Mayberry, who identifies and purchases their yearlings, for providing a strong group of active campaigners.

“David has done a great job for me. Cherie and David had a plan, and I don't know that you could execute a plan better than they have so far. She’s had tremendous success,” said Searing, who teamed up with DeVaux to win the Grade 2 Secretariat last weekend at Colonial Downs with Supercharger.

The Searings will be returning to Saratoga on August 29 to see their speedy Englishman in the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at seven furlongs for sophomores.

The DeVaux-trained son of Maxfield has won 3-of-4 starts and recently earned a 115 Beyer Speed Figure for a 5 3/4-length romp in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on June 6 here during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

“He's a very fast, gifted, very good-looking animal. He's coming into this race with solid workouts. We'll be back for that one, too,” Searing said.

Searing has enjoyed success with horses named for athletes including both Remember Mamba and multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Kobe’s Back – both named to honor the late basketball great Kobe Bryant.

He noted a couple of promising 2-year-old prospects named for athletes in Elway, named for the Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, and Verlander, honoring three-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Justin Verlander.

“I try to incorporate a name or two each year of an athlete,” Searing said. “Both of those are close to racing and doing well. You never know until they get to racing, we're pretty patient.”

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Title Role looks to flip the script in G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing

Will Stroud’s Title Role will attempt to make a small bit of history on Saturday, seeking to become the first horse to win both the Grade 1 Belmont Derby and Grade 1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing, at Saratoga Race Course.

Victorious in the former on July 4 by a nose after an enterprising ride by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the Simon Crisford-trained son of dual champion Too Darn Hot is after the lion’s share of the $750,000 purse in the latter’s 1 3/16-mile Mellon turf test for sophomores.

“The horse is doing very well and has settled really well into his surroundings at Saratoga,” Crisford said. “Of course, we were delighted with his performance in the Belmont Derby, as we thought he would take well to the American style of racing. My only concern going into the race is probably the weather, but with that said, he has proven he can handle any kind of going.”

Stroud, who purchased the majority of the Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas and Group 2 German 2000 Guineas winner from the Coolmore conglomerate after the latter, is excited to see if his new investment will not only bring another swift return, but also stay on the trajectory of a proper stateside miler-to-middle-distance type. Following the Saratoga Derby, Title Role will join the care of conditioner Brendan Walsh. 

“He’s settled in so well and we are happy with him,” Stroud said. “We’ve got Johnny V. back on him, which is great, and now that he’s seen what he was able to do at a mile and an eighth, I think he’ll ride him a little more conservatively and probably send him a little bit later, which is probably where he should have been last time, but he was drawn out and that forced Johnny’s hand - so we’re well aware that we were lucky to win that. It was either get him going early or sit back and wait and I’m glad he gave him such a good trip to get it done.”

Bred in Great Britain, Title Role is out of Antoinette Oppenheimer’s Lemon Drop Kid mare, Valiant Girl, winner of Calder’s Grade 3 My Charmer for trainer Graham Motion in 2013 and unplaced in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational the same year. A winner of 5-of-8, the bay charge has earned $727,945 and won in four different countries - USA, UK, UAE and Germany.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Stroud concluded. “The field will be tough, regardless, and we have a lot of respect for all the horses in the race at this level. There are no easy days in Grade 1 races like this. We’re going to see what he can do at a mile and three-sixteenths. We know he’s great at a mile and he we have seen what he can do at a mile and an eighth, so this race will determine everything.”

The previous six attempts of Belmont Derby winners in the Saratoga equivalent include Henley’s Joy [5th, 2019], Gufo [2nd, 2020], Bolshoi Ballet [4th, 2021], Classic Causeway [3rd, 2022], Far Bridge [3rd, 2023] and Test Score [3rd, 2025].

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Oracle Bloodstock selections square off in G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing

Oracle Bloodstock’s Conor Foley is no stranger to class and quality in his work, something that will be on high display Saturday in the Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing when two horses he selected and purchased for two separate clients at the same sale [Keeneland September 2024] will go to post against one another.

West Paces Racing, Rainbow’s End Racing Stable and Michael P. Lyden’s Tom Morley-trained Glavine and Magic Carpet Racing, Catherine W. Coyle and Blue Bison Stable’s Ray Handal-conditioned Heeere’s Johnny will break from adjacent posts, one and two, and exit solid performances when finishing third and first, respectively, in the Listed Saranac last out.

“They’re both really good horses and we’re hopeful that we can see them perform well, but it’s a tough race - it’s a Grade 1,” Foley said. “We purchased Glavine [hip 701] a little earlier than Heeere’s Johnny [hip 2391] but really liked both a lot and are really pleased with how they’ve developed.”

From the same sale, Foley also purchased Listed Central Park winner Attfield, also trained by Morley, as well as Bhupat Seemar-conditioned swift Dubai Carnival winner Magic Art.

“Glavine was just a physical specimen and a large, imposing horse, even as a yearling,” Foley, who also still manages the colt, said. “He had a good pedigree, but the page wasn’t that deep—but remember this is before Not This Time really took off to where he is now, which helped us from a price point at that time. He was well-made and we thought maybe he would like the dirt, but we are obviously thrilled with how he went on the turf. We’ve been able to give him time when he needed it. Six months ago, I would not have thought he would make it to this race, so for him to take us here is really exciting. We feel like we are as good as a lot of these horses, but he has not had the best of trips, so we are very happy with the inside draw for him.

“Heeere’s Johnny ran huge last time,” Foley added. “I have to give Ray credit. The first time the horse breezed, he called me and said, ‘this is a really good horse.’ Last year he was just unlucky not to win one of those graded stakes, but ran very well in the Breeders’ Cup, with the form of that race, with Gstaad winning, has turned out to be fantastic. Ray always believed in the horse and the tough winter probably cost him some training delays.

“He was very well-balanced and I love Oscar Performance as a stallion. He maybe was not as fashionable as he is now, but he’s one we’ve always liked. The one thing about buying yearlings is that they may have a late-maturing pedigree sometimes, but if they look like they have a little bit of speed, that’s how they stay on the list. He just looked like he was an above-average, fast and well-made two-turn horse. We care about buying and selecting athletes. We don’t care about pedigrees until we decide who has to get vetted and thinking about their prices. A horse’s pedigree is not determining if they’re going on the list, but it might determine how far we go in bidding. Oscar Performances—it takes a couple punches to knock them out; they like a fight and that’s what this horse is like.”

The 45-year-old former employee of Darley America and the Breeders’ Cup began Lexington-based Oracle Bloodstock as a full-time and fully fledged operation 14 years ago, working closely with retired multiple graded stakes-winning trainer Jim Hatchett, as well as pre-training associate Nick Esler.

The operation was met with immediate and has maintained continued success, including selecting Grade 1 Travers champ Keen Ice and eventual Broodmare of the Year Puca in their first crop of purchases. They have persisted at a regal level, with an honor roll that includes selecting Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets-winners Mo Donegal and Dornoch, as well as one of the world’s top dirt sprinters of the past decade, Tuz, for just $7,000. Other luminaries include Ballagh Rocks, Donegal Momentum, Plus Que Parfait, A. P. Kid, Celtic Striker, English Soul, Collective Effort, The Big Torpedo, Ocala Dream, Midnight Rising, Oceanic, Saddle Up Jessie, Rayya, Society Man, Carrick, Donegal Moon, Seabhac, Ice Princess, Finnegan’s Wake, Arklow and Wicked Trick.

“We started off well and have been blessed enough for it to continue and I think that is because we always try to get the best possible athlete for our clients,” Foley concluded. “We have a great team and never try to waste anyone’s investment. We are very proud that Glavine [$250,000] and Heeere’s Johnny [$100,000] weren’t expensive, either, in the grand scheme of things. That’s important to us and we always do our best.”

Both horses are assigned a morning line of 12-1, with Kendrick Carmouche set to ride Glavine and Dylan Davis aboard Heeere’s Johnny.  

***

North American Record Holder Doncho contests G2 Troy

JAL Racing’s Doncho holds the North American Record of 59.75 seconds for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf and will return to that distance in Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Troy, for 3-year-olds and up on the Mellon turf, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Michelle Lovell, Doncho set that record last August when wiring an optional claimer by 3 3/4 lengths at Ellis Park. The now 5-year-old Mo Town gelding exited to win the Da Hoss at Colonial Downs ahead of an off-the-board finish in the Grade 2 Woodford in October at Keeneland to cap his campaign.

Doncho was a troubled off-the-board finisher when returning in the King T. Leatherbury in April at Laurel Park, but rebounded with two five-furlong wins ahead of the Troy, including the Listed Mighty Beau over next-out stakes-winner Joe Shiesty in June at Churchill Downs and the William Garrett Handicap last out on July 10 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The Mighty Beau victory, which came with a stalking trip compared to Doncho’s usual frontrunning tactics, earned the gelding a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Joe Shiesty was actually in front of us early that day. It was good to see that Doncho could run him down from not being on the lead,” Lovell said. “That was a good next step into his maturity. It was good to see that he could do that.”

Doncho made six of his first seven starts on dirt, including a win in the Listed Gold Fever in May 2024 at Belmont at the Big A, and his last six have been on turf.

“He went up to Aqueduct and won that race, which was fun. I think he’d still run on the dirt just as well,” Lovell said. “I think the 5 1/2-furlong distance suits him, but as he’s matured, I think he’s fine going six if he had to run on the dirt. The Ellis Park race was obviously a great effort from him when he broke the record, so why change anything? If it rains off one of these days, I guess we’ll be back on dirt, I wouldn’t be afraid to run him at all.”

Doncho worked a bullet half-mile in 47.40 seconds on July 31 at Churchill Training.

“That was under wraps,” Lovell said. “He’s pretty sharp most of the time. He’s been training really well. He’s firing on all cylinders right now.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides Doncho from post 3, tabbed as the morning line second choice at odds of 3-1.

“There’s some good horses in this race,” Lovell said of the nine-horse field. “When you dig in, there’s some very fast horses and some really nice closers. It’s a nice race. It is a good step forward for him, we’d like to get some graded earnings. It would be nice to win, but just to see him against these quality horses at Saratoga is very exciting for us.”

***

New York-bred Waralo tries for first graded win in G2 Troy

My Purple Haze Stables’ in-form Waralo will make his graded bow for trainer Chris Englehart in Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Troy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Saratoga Race Course.

A New York-bred son of War Dancer, Waralo has found his best form as a turf sprinter after making his first 18 starts sprinting on dirt. Last May, Englehart moved him to the lawn for a 3 1/2-length state-bred allowance win at Belmont at the Big A, and he has finished first or second in six races since, including a pair of back-to-back stakes wins at the Big A in the Listed Elusive Quality in May and the state-bred Ashley T. Cole on June 27, both six furlongs.

Last summer, the 7-year-old gelding won an open-company allowance by a nose over the Troy course and distance, but Englehart said the half-furlong cutback isn’t necessarily ideal for his stable star.

“I’m not sure it’s a positive,” Englehart said. “I don’t think six furlongs is a problem for him at all, but maybe it’s a little easier for him to get to the lead going six furlongs than it is five-and-a-half. I think the biggest factor is there’s a lot of horses with his kind of speed, and maybe even faster. He may have to learn a new way to be successful on the turf.”

Waralo has made the lead in six of his seven turf outings, the lone outlier when he was a half-length back through the first quarter-mile before drawing off to victory in his turf debut. In the Troy, he faces a field that includes speedy rivals in North American record-holder Doncho and Grade 1-placed John the Beer Man. 

“He’s obviously going to have to step up, and I don’t think he’s the type of horse that has to be in front – he never was when he was on the dirt, but he’s been a frontrunner since he’s been on the turf,” Englehart said. “We’ll just have to watch the race and see. I’m hopeful for him that he can handle the step up, but we’ll see.”

Bred by Casey Newick, Waralo has banked $545,805 through his 25-11-7-2 record. He has trained for the Troy at Belmont Park, where he posted a fastest-of-6 five-furlong bullet in 1:01.89 over the main track on July 27.

“He’s been training real well, and he deserves a shot,” Englehart said. 

Jose Lezcano, aboard for the Ashley T. Cole, has the call from post 5-of-9.

***

Embouteillage impresses with debut graduation on Wednesday at the Spa

Wertheimer and Frere’s Kentucky homebred Embouteillage was an impressive winner of her debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the Mellon turf on Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course, pouncing from two lengths back to land the 1 1/4-length victory over Rockabye in a final time of 1:02.78.

Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of Kingman is out of the Grade 3-winning English Channel mare Mitchell Road, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner Country House. Her third dam, Quake Lake, was trained by Motion.

Motion said Embouteillage, which means ‘traffic jam’ in French, was professional as she saved ground early and angled out around rivals in the stretch, kicking on when asked for her best by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

“We liked her a lot, but you never know or expect them to win first time, so that’s always nice,” Motion said of the effort that produced a 71 Beyer Speed Figure. “She’s always been very professional. We don’t stable here and ship up the day before, and the guys said she laid down all morning before the race and was very good about everything, so that’s a bonus. She’s always been really classy.”

Motion is unsure of Embouteillage’s best distance, but is inclined to stretch her out next up. One option is the Grade 1 Natalma going one mile on September 12 at Woodbine Racetrack, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in October at Keeneland. The Breeders’ Cup also offers the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf Sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“I’m leaning towards the Natalma – I like the one turn, the timing is really good, and Johnny can ride her,” said Motion, whose other Wertheimer and Frere-owned trainees include Grade 3-winner Toupie. “It’s quite appealing for me. I don’t know how far she’s going to want to go. She’s quick. I guess if it wasn’t for wanting to look down the road, you might sprint her again, but you don’t have a lot of time. You only have one or two races between now and if you want to get to the Breeders’ Cup. But those are good problems to have.”

For now, Motion is simply pleased to have a classy young filly in the barn for Wertheimer and Frere.

“She’s a very kind filly, lovely to be around and very uncomplicated,” Motion said. “Those people are just such good owners, and they’ve been in the game for so long and have been so good and very loyal to me. I’m excited to have a nice horse for them.”

***

Carmel Coast, cross entered this weekend, likely for Saturday’s G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster

Trainer Whit Beckman said on Friday that Carmel Coast likely will compete in Saturday’s Grade 1 Test presented by Ticketmaster at Saratoga Race Course instead of shipping to Ellis Park for the following day’s Audubon Oaks.

Carmel Coast, 15-1 on the morning line for the seven-furlong Test for 3-year-old fillies, has made three starts this year, winning an entry-level optional claimer in May at Churchill Downs before experiencing troubled starts in a pair of stakes at Saratoga, finishing second in the Jersey Girl in June during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and fifth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 10. With jockey Tyler Gaffalione named to ride, she drew the outside post in the field of 8 entered in the Test.

“This filly has had trouble with her post draw with her last couple of starts,” said Beckman, who trains the dark bay daughter of Omaha Beach for Legion Racing, MHM Stables, Ed Stefanski, and William Conlin. “Being inside for her, she doesn’t really like [dirt]. In some of these races she got left at the gate a little bit and took some dirt, and she resents that. [The Test is] a quick race on paper. Being here [at Saratoga], we are taking a shot. She belongs with this group of fillies.”

On Thursday, Beckman unveiled New York-bred Beach Belle, who led at every call en route to a 3 3/4-length debut score in a six-furlong maiden race restricted to 2-year-old fillies who sold for $65,000 or less at their latest auction. Beckman said he considered running Beach Belle, who is owned by Ribble Farms, Carlo Dominguez, Deann Baer, and Stanley Skelton, in a state-bred maiden race before opting for the maiden auction event. Like Carmel Coast, Beach Belle is by Omaha Beach. She was purchased for $40,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale.

“Having those options [is helpful], especially when you are not a huge stable and a lot of the horses you are bringing [were purchased for] $65,000 or less,” Beckman said. “It’s tough to compete with those $1 million, $900,000 horses. I think [the maiden auction races have been] one of the greatest conditions introduced to level the playing field. We all know that money and ability don’t necessarily go hand in hand and you can take your shots, but even if you have a good $65,000 horse you might run into a buzzsaw. It just gives people a better option for that first start.”

Beckman said Beach Belle will be considered for the $200,000 Seeking the Ante, a seven-furlong race for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies on September 4 at Saratoga.

The trainer is mulling his options with Icon Racing Stable’s Runaway Bride, who on debut July 24 won a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length. The Listed $200,000 Bolton Landing [5 1/2-furlongs, August 26] and Listed $200,000 P. G. Johnson [1 1/16 miles, September 4] are local options, but she also will be considered for the one-mile Grade 1 Natalma on September 12 at Woodbine.

“She came out [of the maiden race] great. We’re really happy with her,” said Beckman. "What we are going to do next? We are looking at a couple of different things. There’s the Bolton Landing. She won going 5 1/2 furlongs. I think she will stretch out and wants to run two turns, so the P. G. Johnson is an option. The Natalma at Woodbine would be an option. Those are probably the three things we are looking at, but we have not really honed in [on a specific race]. I have not breezed her back yet. She’ll breeze this coming weekend, so once we get her back we will figure that out.”

***

Gargan feeling good about Saturday first-time starters, including Gorillaz, half-brother to Magnitude

Trainer Danny Gargan is hopeful that the future will be coming on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course as he will send out three promising first-time starters in maiden special weight events for 2-year-olds, including Gorillaz, a half-brother to Magnitude, the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney for 3-year-olds and up later that day.

Gargan initially planned to run Gorillaz later in the Saratoga meet in a seven-furlong race, but when the NYRA racing office decided to split Saturday’s open 6 1/2-furlong maiden race he decided to move up the colt’s debut. Gorillaz, who is owned by Gargan in partnership with Pine Racing Stables and Belmar Racing and Breeding, was tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Race 1 and will be ridden by Luis Saez from post position 3.

His stablemate Mystrix, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds and Belmar Racing and Breeding, is the 7-2 top choice on the morning line in Race 2. Saez has the assignment aboard Mystrix from post 8.

“I didn’t want to run [Gorillaz and Mystrix] against each other,” said Gargan. “When they said they were going to split the race – I’m lucky with the ownership and he’s a talented horse and we know he’s a two-turn horse – I made some phone calls and I talked to my two partners and said, ‘Let’s just get him started.’ He could win. He’s very talented, but if he runs second or third, we want to get a race in him.”

Gorillaz and/or Mystrix may take a similar path as Dornoch, the Gargan trainee who finished second to subsequent dual Grade 1-winner Seize the Grey on debut going 6 1/2 furlongs in July 2023 at Saratoga before finishing runner-up in the one-mile Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park in his next outing. Dornoch went on to win four graded stakes, including the 2024 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell.

“I’m thinking if one of them wins, they’ll run back here [at Saratoga], and if one of them is second or third I’ll run them at Monmouth [in the Sapling on September 5]. So that’s my goal. If they run second or third here, they’ll be the favorite in the Sapling,” Gargan said.

Gargan purchased Gorillaz for $110,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The trainer entered Gorillaz in Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in May, but the colt did not meet his reserve when bidding stopped at $490,000.

Gorillaz is named after the “virtual band” who produced the hits “Feel Good Inc.” and “Clint Eastwood.” By Bolt d’Oro, the bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Freddie Duignan, son of Gabriel “Spider” Duignan and Aisling Duignan.

“The mare is Rockadelic. He looks like a gorilla. So, I named him Gorillaz,” said Gargan. “When you look at him, he’s a big, imposing monster. He’ll be the biggest horse in the paddock, I can promise you that. He’s 16.3 [hands], he’s a big, strong beautiful horse. His name fits him. Win or lose, it’s going to be a lot of fun to get him running.”

A $600,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Mystrix is by Good Magic and hails from the family of Fantastic Fellow and Social Paranoia, who were multiple graded stakes winners on turf.

“Mystrix is ready to run,” said Gargan. “I think he’ll run really good. We were pointing him to this race. He’s another two-turn dirt horse, but he’s the fitter of the two and we trained him to this race.”

In Race 6, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies, Gargan will be represented by Baccari Racing Stable and Robert Cotrone’s Stefania, a $75,000 Keeneland September yearling who is by American Pharoah and out of Welcome Guest, second in the 2012 Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct Racetrack. Saez will ride Stefania, 8-1, from post 4.

“If I had to pick one to win to win, I think [Stefania] wins the sixth race,” said Gargan. “If you said, ‘Who do you think is a first-time-out horse,’ she’s the one I’d say wins. [Hall of Fame trainer] Todd [Pletcher], they say, has the next coming in the race [Red Poppy, 5-2, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], but my filly is really, really good, and she’s really, really ready. [Gorillaz and Mystrix] are big colts and they take a bit to catch on, but she is on. She’s there. She can run.”