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Caravel works for G3 Troy; West Will Power possible for G1 Whitney

by NYRA Press Office

•    Caravel works for G3 Troy; West Will Power possible for G1 Whitney
•    Cody’s Wish breezes in preparation for G1 Whitney
•    Tapit Trice breezes at Belmont for G1 Haskell; debut winner Pirate possible for G1 Hopeful
•    Unified Alliance likely for $150K Galway; Cynane targeting $150K P.G. Johnson
•    Brion hopeful for strong start to steeplechase season with two contenders in G1 A.P. Smithwick
 
Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables’ multiple Grade 1-winner Caravel worked a half-mile solo in 48.88 seconds Saturday over the Oklahoma training turf as she prepares to take on the boys in the Grade 3, $300,000 Troy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older horses on August 5, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Brad Cox and piloted through her breeze by exercise rider Kelvin Perez, NYRA Clockers caught Caravel through splits of 13.60, 25.40 and out five-eighths in 1:01.20 and six-furlongs in 1:15.60.

Cox said the reigning Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner impressed in her second move back since taking the six-furlong Grade 1 Jaipur over the boys on June 10 at Belmont Park.

“Really good. She's an outstanding workhorse,” Cox said. “It's her first move up here on the turf. She breezed last weekend at Churchill. It’s just a maintenance move and she's doing great. She’s pointing to the Troy right now.”

Caravel has won 15-of-23 starts and made just shy of $1 million last year, posting wins in the Grade 3 Intercontinental at Belmont and the Grade 3 Franklin at Keeneland. She is undefeated in three starts this year, taking the Grade 2 Shakertown in April at Keeneland ahead of a score at Churchill Downs in May in the Unbridled Sidney.

Cox said he likes to keep Caravel fresh and is spacing out her races accordingly with an eye to a title defense in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park.

“She ran extremely well at Keeneland off the layoff,” Cox said. “If there’s something that makes sense [between the Troy and Breeders’ Cup] we can try it before Santa Anita.”

Cox said Caravel is in career form.

“She’s really good. Physically, she looks amazing. She's happy,” Cox said. “I don’t know if we need her to get any better, she just has to continue to be as good as she’s been the first half of the year. If we can duplicate that in the second half, we'll be in great shape.”

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Wet Paint worked five-eighths in 1:00.60 Saturday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies.

“Really good move this morning. She went five-eighths from the half in 1:00.60 and out in 1:13.60,” Cox said. “She’s not the flashiest workhorse, but this morning she was on it and she was wanting to do it. I loved what I saw from her. She’s set up for a big run next week.”

Flavien Prat will pilot Wet Paint in the CCA Oaks.

Gary and Mary West’s Kentucky homebred West Will Power worked a half-mile in 51.40 this morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for a possible start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5 here.

“It was just a really easy half mile and if all is well he make the trip up this week,” Cox said.

The 6-year-old Bernardini horse has posted six consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, including a career-best 109 in winning the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic in March at Fair Grounds and a 102 last out when a half-length winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on July 1 at Churchill Downs.

Albaugh Family Stables’ Angel of Empire and Gary and Mary West’s Hit Show, who dead-heated for fourth last out in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, worked five-eighths in company in 1:00.90 Friday over the Oklahoma training track.

“Very good move. I'm very happy with them,” Cox said.

Both horses earned a 99 Beyer for their Belmont effort and will point to the nine-furlong Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by DK Horse on July 29 with an eye towards the 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26.

Cox said a turnback from 12-furlongs can only help.

“It shouldn't hurt,” Cox said. “I don't know if any of these horses want to run a mile and a half, but they ran big races in the Belmont and got really good figures. They've had time to recover and had some really good moves down at Churchill.”
***
Cody’s Wish breezes in preparation for G1 Whitney

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Cody’s Wish worked five-eighths in 1:00 flat Saturday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 5-year-old Curlin bay has won 9-of-13 career starts and is currently on a six-race winning streak topped by a powerful 3 1/4-length score last out in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 10 at Belmont Park.

“He was very good. He went five eighths and went well and appeared to be well within himself,” Mott said.

Cody’s Wish is currently ranked atop of the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll with 315 points, eclipsing his stablemate Elite Power [271], who is targeting the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 29.

“I'm not going to argue with it. At this point, he's a good choice,” said Mott, with a laugh.

Cody’s Wish has yet to win beyond one mile, finishing third in a nine-furlong maiden special weight in July 2021 at the Spa and second in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Challenger last March at Tampa Bay Downs.

“We're uncertain about the nine furlongs, but we're going to remain optimistic,” Mott said. “Until they do it, you never know. Maybe now that he's more mature than he was early on, maybe he'll do it. He's more seasoned.”

Elite Power worked a bullet five-eighths in 59.60 Friday over the Oklahoma training track and could make two starts here this summer with the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego on August 26 also under consideration.

“His work was very good,” Mott said. “He’ll go to the Vanderbilt and then possibly the Forego.”
***
Tapit Trice breezes at Belmont for G1 Haskell; debut winner Pirate possible for G1 Hopeful

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice breezed a half-mile in 49.15 seconds over the Belmont Park main track on Saturday in preparation for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 22 at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer and three-time Haskell winner Todd Pletcher, the son of Tapit was a last-out third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 10.

“He just did what he normally does which is work well and gallop out strongly. He was moving great. It was everything we wanted to see,” Pletcher said.

Luis Saez will ride Tapit Trice in the Haskell.

Pletcher began his Saturday of Opening Weekend at the Spa in style, debuting promising juvenile Pirate in a 5 1/2-furlong main track maiden special weight.

The son of Omaha Beach, who is a half-brother to this year’s Grade 1 Preakness winner National Treasure, coasted to a three-length victory in frontrunning fashion under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and completed the course in 1:04.89.

“He got away alertly, but they put a lot of pressure on him early. I thought it was a good performance and very professional like he’s been since we got him,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful going seven furlongs here on September 4 is a logical option.

“We’ll play it by ear. Normally we’d wait for the Hopeful, but we’ll see how things go,” Pletcher said.

Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, Pirate was a $350,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His second dam, Proposal, produced multiple stakes winner Inspired – the dam of graded stakes-placed Carmel Road. He hails from the line of Mahubah, who was the dam of the mighty Man o’ War and great great grand dam of 1946 Triple Crown winner Assault.
***
Unified Alliance likely for $150K Galway; Cynane targeting $150K P.G. Johnson

After matching a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure in Friday’s off-the-turf $150,000 Coronation Cup, Reagan Jack Racing’s Unified Alliance could finally get her chance to try the grass next out in the $150,000 Galway on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course.

The daughter of Unified earned her first stakes triumph in the 5 1/2-furlong Coronation Cup while making her debut for trainer Tom Morley. Previously under the care of John Servis, she was a two-time winner going six and seven furlongs at Parx Racing before finishing second in the six-furlong Jersey Girl on June 11 at Belmont Park. There, she finished one length behind the victorious L Street Lady, who ran third in the Coronation Cup.

“She’s a filly with a fantastic constitution,” Morley said. “She licked the feed tub clean last night and her legs were ice cold and tight this morning. She had a nice and quiet walk and some grass. She’ll have another easy day before going back to the track, but she has a tremendous temperament. It didn’t really surprise me to find her happy as Larry this morning.”

Unified Alliance also provided jockey Javier Castellano with his second stakes triumph on only the second day of the meet. The Hall of Famer, who rode Grade 3 Schuylerville winner Becky’s Joker on Opening Day, also guided Unified Alliance in the Jersey Girl and was aboard for her breeze over Belmont’s inner turf in preparation for Friday’s engagement, going five furlongs in 1:03.29.

“We don’t know whether she can run on the turf yet, but Javier breezed her on the turf at Belmont and was very, very enthusiastic about the way she worked,” Morley said. “Quite clearly, she can run on the dirt as well at a decent level. It was a discussion at dinner last night as to what her next target will be. There are a number of races that are possible for her. Yesterday was a big day for this filly to be a stakes winner for the first time.”

The 5 1/2-furlong Galway, which is run on the turf, appears to be the most likely landing spot for Unified Alliance, but Morley also mentioned the Grade 3, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks on August 25 going seven furlongs at its namesake track as a possible target.

“We certainly will keep the Galway as a possibility. She has won going seven-eighths on the dirt so there’s a chance we could think about stretching her out a little bit,” Morley said. “My gut is that she’s a fast filly that wants to stay sprinting. We’ll probably lean towards the Galway, certainly a race like the Charles Town Oaks wouldn’t be totally out of the question either. She has natural speed and has won going seven furlongs and the race is worth a lot of money. But my gut is we will get her ready for the Galway.”

Bred in Kentucky by Calvin Crain and Shane Crain, Unified Alliance is out of the Speightstown mare Star Power. She was bought for $60,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale.

Morley also reported that Cynane, a last out 10th in the Group 2 Queen Mary on June 21 at Royal Ascot, returned to Morley’s Belmont division on Friday and will target the $150,000 P.G. Johnson going 1 1/16 miles on August 30 at the Spa.

The 2-year-old daughter of freshman stallion Omaha Beach broke her maiden at first asking on May 11 going five furlongs at Belmont en route to her international endeavor. She was piloted by Castellano in both of her career starts.

“She came back in yesterday to Belmont and she’ll go to Saratoga in about 10 days,” Morley said. “She had a lovely little vacation at Hidden Brook Farm and it she looks like she’s really grown and got a little longer. I’m looking forward to going back down and seeing her next week. We will hopefully be pointing towards the P.G. Johnson.”

Morley expressed confidence in Cynane’s ability to get a distance of ground, noting her stamina-filled pedigree. Her dam Burning Arch, by Arch, was a two-time winner going two turns on the grass and is a half-sister to Cat’s Claw – who won the 12-furlong Waya at Saratoga in 2014. Her third dam, Matlacha Pass, was the dam of dual Grade 1-winner Pine Island as well as Point of Entry – a five-time Grade 1-winning turf stayer.

“She’s got a very stout pedigree with a lot of stamina in the female family and being by Omaha Beach,” Morley said. “Javier was very clear about that after the race at Ascot and said she wants to go further now and the reason she won going five eighths at Belmont is because she’s simply a superior animal. She certainly has a big future going further. She has a wonderful temperament and she’ll relax very nicely in those longer races.”

Cynane was bought for $250,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Oracle Bloodstock. She is owned by VinLaur Racing Stables, West Paces Racing and Rainbow’s End Racing Stable.

***
Brion hopeful for strong start to steeplechase season with two contenders in G1 A.P. Smithwick

Two years ago, trainer Keri Brion enjoyed a breakout year when winning 4-of-5 of America’s Grade 1 steeplechase events, including a sweep of all three run at NYRA racetracks that began when Baltimore Bucko stormed home a 5 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga Race Course.

This year, Brion will hope to begin similar momentum as she saddles Freddy Flintshire and Historic Heart in this year’s edition of the Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial, a 2 1/16-mile hurdle test for older horses that is slated as Race 1 on Wednesday’s 10-race card at the Spa.

“We’re going to try to win another one, fingers crossed,” said Brion, whose pair of entrants have both been assigned 148 pounds. “These are two nice horses and the race is pretty wide open, really. Both of mine come in with really good chances and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. It would be great to win another one.”

Upland Flats Racing’s Freddy Flintshire arrives from a runner-up effort to runaway winner Cool Jet in the Green Pastures on May 13 at Percy Warner. There, he tracked in fourth in the early stages under Danny Mullins and improved to second at the stretch call before running evenly down the lane.

The Green Pastures effort came just two weeks after the 5-year-old son of Flintshire posted a dominant victory in the 2 3/8-mile Queens Cup at Charlotte when drawing off to a 14 1/2-length triumph under Parker Hendriks, who rides Wednesday from post 1.

“I didn’t do him justice running him back two weeks after he absolutely annihilated everyone in the Queens Cup,” said Brion. “He was a little bit dull going out to Nashville. I love him and he loves Saratoga, and he won an allowance race there last year. He’s matured and he’s a better horse.”

The consistent Freddy Flintshire, who makes his graded stakes debut, relished a change in career when joining Brion in November 2021. After hitting the board in two of his first nine outings on the flat, Freddy Flintshire has never finished out of the money in seven starts over the jumps with a hurdle record of 7-3-2-2. He boasts total purse earnings of $144,637.

Atlantic Friends Racing’s Historic Heart makes his second start of the year on the heels of a fourth-place finish on the flat in a 1 3/8-mile maiden special weight on July 1 at Delaware Park. The 6-year-old Fracas gelding made three starts last year, including a win in the Carolina Cup at Camden and a hard-trying fourth in the A.P. Smithwick after recovering from a stumble on the seventh fence.

“He came out of the Smithwick last year with an injury,” said Brion. “That race wasn’t an accurate depiction of his ability. He’s doing great now and just ran at Delaware and ran a really nice fourth. He wasn’t beaten by much, so he comes into this with that race.”

Brion added she is looking forward to giving a leg up to 23-time Grade/Group 1-winning jockey Danny Mullins, who will make the journey from his native Ireland to ride Historic Heart from post 4.

***

Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher reported multiple Grade 1-winning fan favorite steeplechaser Snap Decision will aim for a fall return after finishing second in the Grade 1 Iroquois in May at Percy Warner. The 9-year-old son of Hard Spun is being pointed to the Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap on September 14 at Belmont at the Big A.

“He’s good,” said Fisher. “We did throat surgery on him and plan on running him back at Belmont at Aqueduct.”

Snap Decision posted an impressive nine-race winning streak from July 2019-June 2021 that included his first graded victories in the Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap and Iroquois ahead of Grade 1 runner-up efforts in the Lonesome Glory and Grand National. He added to his strong resume last year with a memorable score in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap at the Spa when carrying 164 pounds, 11 more than the second-highest weighted horse, and drawing off to a 13 1/4-length triumph.

Bred by Phipps Stable, Snap Decision has amassed $945,334 in total purse earnings through a record of 39-14-9-7.