Adam Coglianese Photo

Chad Brown wins record-extending ninth G1 Diana with defending champ Whitebeam

by NYRA Press Office

• Chad Brown wins record-extending ninth G1 Diana with defending champ Whitebeam
• Pletcher updates on G1 NYRA Bets Haskell contenders, plus recent winners Illuminare and Miss Justify
• New York-bred Mo Plex makes his presence known in G3 Sanford
• Tough Catch proves uncatchable in Saturday debut
• G1 Diana runner-up Moira mapping out next start
• G1 winner Aspen Grove works over Saratoga training turf

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown enjoyed a stellar Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, winning the Grade 3, $175,000 Kelso with Carl Spackler and a record-extending ninth Grade 1, $500,000 Diana with defending champion Whitebeam.

In victory, Juddmonte's British homebred Whitebeam became the eighth horse to win the historic event in back-to-back years, joining Miss Grillo [1946-47], Tempted [1959-60], Shuvee [1970-71], Hush Dear [1982-83], Glowing Honor [1988-89], Forever Together [2008-09], and the Brown-trained Sistercharlie [2018-19].

Following the race, Brown, a disciple of the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, was keen to credit his team for their dedication to their craft and the success they help to routinely deliver in Grade 1 events at Saratoga. The first of Brown’s impressive 154 Grade 1 wins dates to the 2011 Diana with Zagora and includes past Diana winners Dacita [2016], Lady Eli [2017], Sistercharlie [2018-19], Rushing Fall [2020] and In Italian [2022].

“One of my assistant trainers, Jose ‘Baldo’ Hernandez, has been here for every single one of our Grade 1 wins, and he’s an important member of the team,” Brown said. “Kriss Bon, the exercise rider for Whitebeam, rode Rushing Fall and there are several team members underneath them that have been here for 15-16 years in all different positions from hotwalkers, to grooms, riders, assistant trainers. It's very rewarding. It's really the Frankel way - we don't have much turnover here.”

Brown said he truly appreciates the bond developed with longtime staff members like Hernandez and Bon, who are hands-on with his valuable stock day in and day out.

“It's a great working relationship to know where the horses are at,” Brown said. “When you've worked here this long, that feedback matters a little bit more the longer you've been on our team."

Whitebeam, a 5-year-old Caravaggio mare, made the lead under Flavien Prat and hit the three-quarter mark in a comfortable 1:13.76, opening up by 1 1/2-lengths at the stretch call and kicking on to the wire to score by three-quarter lengths over the closing Moira in a final time of 1:48.14.

Peter M. Brant’s Gina Romantica, one of five Brown trainees in the Diana, closed well and missed place by a nose. The other Brown trainees included fifth-place Coppice, eighth-place Fluffy Socks and ninth-place Chili Flag, who closed to win the Grade 1 Just a Game last out here.

Brown joked after the race that he was “all in” on Whitebeam from the half-mile onward.

“Yes, and a little bit on ‘Gina’ making a move on the turn because she wasn't too far away, but the rest of them had their work cut out for them,” Brown said. “Whitebeam really showed up - yes, she had things her own way, but she did kick home and really extended herself and got to the wire first, which was terrific to see. It was so nice to see Gina Romantica come back into form. It was unfortunate she lost that bob for second against another really good horse, but she was right there.

“Coppice ran much better. She had the most challenging trip of all of them,” Brown added. “Although she was well positioned early, when the pace didn't materialize it worked against her because she started to pull a little bit. It was a challenging trip, but she was full of run under the wire. I think she's set up for a good season.”

Brown noted that Fluffy Socks and Chili Flag were both compromised by the moderate tempo.

While some of the Brown quintet will point to the Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa on August 22, Brown said he may look at trying one or more against the boys in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap on August 10, a one-mile test for 3-year-olds and up offering a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

Chief among potential Fourstardave possibles would be Gina Romantica, who closed to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Santa Anita Park when just one length back of the victorious Master of The Seas.

“Chili Flag and Whitebeam are certainly horses you could consider for the Fourstardave depending who is running and such,” Brown said. “Gina Romantica was only beaten a little over a length in the Breeders' Cup Mile by Master of The Seas, so I guess it's in play - we'll see.”

With the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf being contested at 11 furlongs this November at Del Mar, it will be interesting to see the path certain contenders take in the months ahead.

One Brown trainee that is definitely pointing to the Fourstardave is e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Carl Spackler, who tracked the pacesetting Talk of the Nation throughout the one-mile test for older horses before putting a head in front at the stretch call and taking command for good inside the final sixteenth to secure the half-length win under regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione.

The victory was a redemptive one for Carl Spackler, who entered from a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Poker on June 8 here as a follow-up to a gutsy head score when wide in the Listed Opening Verse in May at Churchill Downs.

“He ran terrific. I was so happy to see him come back into form,” Brown said. “Now that I was able to observe this race yesterday and tie it into his training and his affinity for Saratoga, I have to believe that his race during Belmont Stakes week here where he didn't fire must have been a bit of a hangover from that challenging trip off a layoff at Churchill.

“Yesterday, we saw a horse that was fully over that race and back to his normal self,” Brown continued. “Tyler rode a great race - he made a good move in the first turn to reposition himself in the two-path and that was really the winning move.”

Brown not only trained two stakes winners on the card, he also conditioned the sire of a third stakes winner here Saturday in Mo Plex, a New York-bred son of Complexity, who won the Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Complexity has 12 winners from 16 starters putting him atop the freshman sire list in winners, progeny earnings [$648,991], and graded stakes winners [1]. He leads Vekoma by one winner with four fewer starters.

Complexity was purchased for $375,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Campaigned by Klaravich Stables, the son of Maclean’s Music was an impressive debut winner in September 2018 at the Spa en route to a three-length score in that year’s Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park.

“Complexity was a horse that was so good to us,” Brown said. “He won the Champagne and he was a brilliant winner first time out here. He was a very precocious horse and a very likeable horse.

“I'm so pleased that the horse is off to such a good start at stud,” Brown added. “We've had several graduates of our program that are off to really good starts at stud. It's great personally and it's great for our business for different owners and breeding farms to see that we can make good stallions here - we've made plenty in a short time with horses like Complexity, Good Magic and Practical Joke. These horses are off to really good starts and we have others in the pipeline with Jack Christopher, Early Voting and Zandon.”

Brown said the early success for Complexity is particularly special as he and his team were there through nearly all of the horse’s progression in a career that included a win in the 2020 Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont as part of a 10-5-1-0 record for purse earnings of $616,350.

“We did buy Complexity as a yearling and developed him from yearling up and it's very rewarding for the whole program,” Brown said. “It's so great to see and know that we're doing a lot of things right. And for the industry to see - particularly major breeding farms and owners - that if part of their business plan is paying for their operations by creating stallions, that we're certainly a good option.”

Another Brown trainee making strides towards a stallion career is Sierra Leone, who worked a half-mile solo in 48 2/5 Sunday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for a start in the nine-furlong Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun on July 27 here.

“It was more of the same. I'm liking what I'm seeing. He worked super - very similar to his last couple of works and he galloped out with a lot of energy. I couldn't be happier with the way he's moving,” Brown said.

Sierra Leone captured the Grade 2 Risen Star in February at Fair Grounds and followed in April with a victory in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Blue Grass. He was a close runner-up to Mystik Dan in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May ahead of a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8 here.

Campaigned by Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith, Sierra Leone had worked in company training up to the Belmont but has worked solo leading into the Jim Dandy.

“In observing the horse as he's changed and matured with more races under his belt, I wanted to change a couple things about my approach with him - minor changes - and that was one of them. I wanted to see how he reacted to it and I'm very pleased with how it's going,” Brown said.

Brown said Sierra Leone is training forwardly into the Jim Dandy which will serve as a prep for the Spa’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 24.

“The horse has remarkable consistency with his physical and mental constitution. He's remained the same the whole season,” Brown said.

Klaravich Stables’ Domestic Product is also heading to the Travers Day card with an eye towards a start in the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.

The talented colt won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in March at Tampa Bay Downs ahead of a 13th-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He landed second in the Listed NYRA Bets Pegasus on June 15 at Monmouth Park – the local prep for the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell – but returned instead on short rest to dominate the one-turn mile Grade 3 Dwyer on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A in place of stablemate General Partner.

His sire, Practical Joke, won the 2017 Dwyer two starts before a win in that year’s H. Allen Jerkens.

“I subbed him in there and he ran the best race of his career, certainly. It makes sense to keep him at one turn at this point,” Brown said. “Now that he has had two races in three weeks, I'll freshen him up and run in the Jerkens - it worked with the sire.”

Brown, a six-time leading trainer at the Spa, has three wins at the current meet heading into Sunday’s action which is good for a tie for the lead with Hall of Famer Mark Casse.

***

Pletcher updates on G1 NYRA Bets Haskell contenders, plus recent winners Illuminare and Miss Justify

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher worked a trio of horses Saturday under consideration for the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell over Saratoga Race Course’s main track as Fierceness, Mindframe and Tuscan Sky each put in their final preparations towards the nine-furlong test on July 20 at Monmouth Park.

Fierceness is owned by Repole Stable, as is Mindframe, co-owned with St. Elias Stables, and Tuscan Sky bears the colors of Spendthrift Farm.

“As of right now and speaking to the connections, the plan is to enter all three in the Haskell,” Pletcher said. “We'll take that next step and then assess how everything is shaping up.”

Pletcher also provided an update on Repole Stable’s Mentee, who scratched from Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford due to a fever on the morning of the six-furlong juvenile sprint.

“He's much better this morning,” said Pletcher. “His temperature was normal, so knock on wood with a little bit of good fortune, he'll be back on track pretty soon.”

The City of Light bay, out of the winning Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, is a full-brother to reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness. He was the Sanford’s morning-line favorite after a five-furlong track record debut win on June 15 at Belmont at the Big A.

Despite the unfortunate scratch of Mentee, Pletcher still had a formidable Saturday at the Spa, saddling sophomore colt Illuminare to a seven-furlong allowance win versus elders and Talk of the Nation to a close second in the one-mile turf Grade 3 Kelso.

Centennial Farms’ Illuminare is now 2-for-2, both wins coming at the seven-furlong distance at Saratoga. In his second outing, the City of Light dark bay attended the pace before drawing off with ease to win by 4 3/4 lengths under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

The performance earned a career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure, one point higher than his 88 for a 1 3/4-length debut win on June 7 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Don Little, Jr., President of Centennial Farms, said the effort was promising.

“It’s nice to say we are already 2-for-2 at Saratoga this year, that sounds good. He had to be hustled up a little, which can take a bit out of a horse, but then he relaxed in the middle of the race and traveled inside the whole way,” said Little, Jr. “He got a little nervous in the turn and then had a massive run. He said, ‘see you later’ which was very nice and encouraging.

“The good news is that this morning he looked good out of the race. The next start will be interesting to see,” Little, Jr. added.

Pletcher said the lightly-raced prospect was professional in victory.

“I thought it was a good effort. He was going up against more experienced horses and we ended up scratching into the one-hole. I thought it was a brave effort for only his second start,” Pletcher said. “He pulled away in the end. I think he's a horse that should appreciate even more distance.”

Connections said Illuminare’s next start is to-be-determined, but options include another allowance versus elders, or elevating into a stake versus sophomores such as the 1 1/16-mile Listed Smarty Jones on August 24 at Parx Racing while nominating to the seven-furlong Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial that day at Saratoga.

Little, Jr. added that Grade 3 Peter Pan-winner Antiquarian, fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, is still enjoying a freshening at their farm in Middleburg, Virginia.

Allen Stable and CHC, Inc.’s Talk of the Nation earned his fourth career placing at the Grade 3 level, when defeated a half-length by multiple graded stakes winner Carl Spackler in the Kelso. The 4-year-old Quality Road dark bay set the pace before battling back along the rail in the stretch, but was unable to fend off his classy rival– the same foe who beat him a head in similar fashion in the Listed Opening Verse in May at Churchill Downs.

“He shows up and runs every time. It's a tough beat, but hard to be disappointed in his effort,” said Pletcher regarding the ultra-consistent Talk of the Nation, 9-3-5-1 on the lawn.

Pletcher was on the right-end of a closing kick Friday as Miss Justify surged to victory along the rail in the Wilton, a one-mile main track test from the Wilson Chute restricted for sophomore fillies which had not won a sweepstake other than state-bred.

The Justify bay earned a career-best 87 Beyer in her second consecutive score at the distance after capturing an optional-claimer by 2 1/2 lengths on June 1 at Churchill.

“I think she proved that her allowance race was no fluke at Churchill. She's one that seems to be improving each time,” Pletcher said. “At the top of the stretch I wasn't sure which way she was going and then she came charging up the rail - it was nice to see.”

Miss Justify was making her third start for Pletcher after a pair of sprint outings for trainer Susan Cooney at Laurel Park to begin her career, including a debut win in October ahead of a third in the Smart Halo in November.

***

New York-bred Mo Plex makes his presence known in G3 Sanford

R and H Stable’s New York-bred Mo Plex broke like a shot in his stakes debut and did not look back to conquer Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford, a six-furlong sprint for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the son of freshman sire Complexity broke alertly from the outermost post 7 and surged to the lead through splits of 22.51 seconds and 45.92 over the fast main track. Studlydoright came running late, like he did to win the Listed Tremont, but was unable to catch the early pacesetter who stopped the clock one-length the best in a final time of 1:11.72.

After the effort, Englehart said the performance was a testament to a strong New York-bred program.

“I love the program. This is where I call home all year long, and I concentrate and focus on buying New York-breds. Hopefully, we’ve got a few more we can unveil later in the meet and have some fun with,” said Englehart. “It’s just a tremendous program, and they’ve shown they can run with anything.”

Bred by Everything’s Cricket Racing, Mo Plex, a $45,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, is out of the Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy. In victory, he became the first graded stakes winner for Complexity.

Najja Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., said the performance reflects well on the state’s breeding operation as a whole.

“Every strong performance by a New York-bred during the Saratoga meet is great promotion for the program and is a credit to our breeders, owners, conditioners and everyone involved in the New York-bred program,” said Thompson. “Mo Plex has clearly stamped himself as a leading juvenile to watch and we’re excited for his connections and to see his future development.”

Mo Plex, a 10-length debut winner in his lone other effort going 5 1/2 furlongs versus fellow state-breds on June 20 at Belmont at the Big A, earned a career-best 73 Beyer Speed Figure in Saturday’s victory.

Eric Vidal, a Belmont Park and Saratoga assistant to Englehart, said the colt exited the race in good order.

“He’s all good. He scoped well,” said Vidal. “He did an impressive job there. He did the job that he was supposed to do.”

***

Tough Catch proves uncatchable in Saturday debut

Tough Catch and Luis Saez were just that for their rivals yesterday in Race 7 at Saratoga Race Course, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for juveniles on the main track.

Breaking from the inside post, the Dallas Stewart-trained Tough Catch shot to the front and never looked back, prevailing by three-quarter lengths over the closing Innovator and Hall of Famer Joel Rosario.

Tough Catch rolled through fractions of 21.75 seconds, 45.00, and 57.54, stopping the clock in a final time of 1:04.63. The strapping gray colt is out of the winning Broken Vow mare Try to Catch Her and is from the first crop of Grade 1 Champagne-winner Complexity, who also sired yesterday’s Grade 3 $175,000 Sanford-winner Mo Plex and jumped to the top of the freshman sire list.

Stewart, who co-owns the colt, quipped, “Those Complexitys can really run!”

Tough Catch worked 10 seconds flat at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where he was purchased for $280,000 by On Our Own Stable, S.O.K. Racing, Gervais Racing, Zak Stables and Stewart.

Stewart said Tough Catch returned well from the debut win, which saw him earn a 78 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He came back good. He is a big colt and showed a lot of speed yesterday, but I don’t think he needs the lead,” said Stewart. “It just kind of worked out that way, I mean he broke like a rocket from the gate.”

Stewart had a sense the horse would make a strong debut after his last work on July 2 at Churchill Downs. That day, he covered a half-mile in 46.80 seconds from the gate, a near-bullet at the distance to be ranked second of 27.

“His last work from the gate was easy - he was in-hand the whole way,” Stewart recalled. “We got lucky we bought him in April, and he has just come along so nicely.”

Stewart said the debut winner will now set his sights on stakes company in the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful, a seven-furlong dirt test for juveniles, on September 2 here.

“He will stay up here and target the Hopeful; that’s the plan right now,” Stewart said.

Stewart has 10 stalls here at Saratoga for the meet and plans to enter as many races as he can.

“We are up here to run, so that is what we are going to do. I mean, I have ten horses here we ran five yesterday,” Stewart said. “It is a tough meet, but that is Saratoga – you don’t come here thinking it is going to be easy.”

One of those runners included Gervais Racing’s 2-year-old filly Gerlin’s Empire. The daughter of Classic Empire and the Curlin mare French Press ran second in the first race on yesterday’s program, a 5 1/2-furlong dirt restricted maiden race for juvenile fillies that RNA’d or sold for $50,000 or less at their last auction. Gerlin’s Empire finished 6 1/4 lengths back of the winner Dare to Breeze.

“She came back well; we were happy with her performance and the winner was very good. We will look to run back in the same type of race later in the meet,” her trainer noted.

Other juveniles in the barn include Smoken Wicked, who in his first start for the Stewart barn was last seen finishing second in the six-furlong Listed Bashford Manor on June 30 at Churchill Downs.

Smoken Wicked will look to go one better in the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, a 6 1/2-furlong dirt sprint for juveniles on August 10. The Louisiana-bred son of Bobby’s Wicked One and the winning Street Boss mare Street Smoke joined the Stewart barn after breaking his maiden on debut for trainer Sturges Ducoing at Evangeline Downs.

“He is a nice Louisiana-bred colt by Bobby’s Wicked One. We are pointing him for the Saratoga Special,” said Stewart. “He is doing very well up here.”

Stewart also brought a group of promising fillies to the Spa, and has a half-sister to his Grade 2-winner Hoist the Gold, Anakarina. The daughter of Vekoma is out of the winning Tapit mare Tacit Approval and broke her maiden in her second outing on June 26, annexing a 4 1/2-furlong maiden at Churchill. She has worked back twice since the effort, most recently covering a half-mile in 48.40 seconds July 12 at Churchill.

“She is aiming for the Adirondack here and will ship up shortly. I like her a lot and you know she is a half to Hoist the Gold, so that is exciting,” Stewart said.

The Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack is a 6 1/2-furlong dirt sprint for juvenile fillies on August 4 at the Spa.

Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets-winner Hoist the Gold will look to join the stakes action as well, with possible targets including the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 27, or the Grade 1 $500,000 Forego on August 24. Hoist the Gold is winless in his five starts this year and exits a third-place effort in the June 29 6 1/2-furlong Listed Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs.

“I am going to nominate to the Vanderbilt and the Forego with him. Not sure about running in the Vanderbilt yet, but we definitely have the Forego circled,” said Stewart.

***

G1 Diana runner-up Moira mapping out next start

Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables and SF Racing’s graded stakes-winner Moira posted a game runner-up effort to frontrunning winner Whitebeam in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Diana, a nine-furlong inner turf test for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Kevin Attard and piloted for the first time by Tyler Gaffalione, the 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare saved ground in sixth position through moderate splits before tipping out and closing with good energy to miss by three-quarter lengths. The gallant effort, which earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, was the first start for Moira since her close third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November at Del Mar.

“The race yesterday really solidified her as one of the top filly and mare turfers in North America,” Attard said.

Attard traveling assistant Korina McLean, who is the regular exercise rider of the talented mare, said Moira exited the Diana in good order.

“She's very happy - sharp still,” McLean said. “She ran a huge race. There was no pace and for her to come with a run like she did off an eight-month layoff, we're very happy with her.”

Moira was named Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2022, winning the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate against the boys. She was tacked on the walk ahead of the Diana, making her way around the perimeter of the Saratoga paddock as Attard and McLean attended to the equipment needs and keeping her focused – a tactic that began after Moira was fractious ahead of the Woodbine Oaks, losing both hind shoes.

“Ever since the Woodbine Oaks, we've always tacked her on the walk. We keep her moving and it keeps her happy,” McLean said.

Moira was well behaved Saturday and will head back to her Woodbine Racetrack base later this evening, leaving Attard to map out a plan to get her to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November at Del Mar which will be contested at 11 furlongs.

“I think she's capable of a mile and three eighths and that doesn't deter me from the Filly and Mare race,” Attard said. “You'll have to hook a horse like War Like Goddess and horses that might come from overseas that are accustomed to running that far and are tough opponents.”

Woodbine-based options for Moira include a title defense in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Canadian on August 10 ahead of the 10-furlong Grade 1 E. P. Taylor on September 14. Another consideration is the 10-furlong Grade 1 Arlington Million against the boys on August 10 at Colonial Downs.

“If she can be a Grade 1 winner that gives her a lot more residual value, but we'll take it one race a time right now,” Attard said.

Moira, bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, has banked in excess of $1.5 million through a 14-5-5-2 record.

***

G1 winner Aspen Grove works over Saratoga training turf

Glen Hill Farm and Mrs. John Magnier’s Grade 1-winner Aspen Grove worked a half-mile over Saratoga’s Oklahoma turf training track Sunday in preparation for a potential start in the Spa’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls on August 1.

The daughter of Justify covered the distance solo in 49 and 2/5 seconds, according to NYRA clockers.

“It was very good,” trainer Jack Sisterson said of the work. “She’s always worked well, and those good horses tend to work well.”

Aspen Grove was last seen finishing a troubled seventh in the Grade 1 New York presented by Rivers Casino on June 7 here. She was in tight quarters through the first half of the race when tracking in ninth-of-13, and put in a mild bid late to finish five lengths back of the victorious Didia. Despite the trouble, she equaled a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure after earning the same number in her prior outing with a third in the Grade 3 Modesty in May at Churchill Downs.

“She was a bit unlucky going into the first turn there," Sisterson said. "She got checked twice there and grabbed herself behind, and I think with a better trip she would have been a lot closer. She wasn’t going to win the race, but I think she ran well considering it all. In the Modesty, we got squeezed at the start and then she came flying.”

Sisterson said he anticipates Aspen Grove to appreciate more ground in the 1 1/2-mile Glens Falls after showing a proficiency at longer distances with a win in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational last July at Belmont Park when in the care of conditioner James Stack.

“Obviously she seemed to handle the 10 furlongs very well last year, so I don’t see 12 being an issue,” Sisterson said. “Usually the further you go, you can navigate a somewhat better trip.”

Sisterson will look to notch his first win of the Saratoga meet this week with the promising sophomore filly Wrigleyville in Thursday’s ninth race, a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies.

Owned by Glen Hill Farm, the daughter of Into Mischief finished third on debut for trainer Bethany Baumgardner in April at Gulfstream Park before moving to Sisterson to graduate last out in a 1 1/16-mile maiden against elders at Monmouth Park. She was awarded a 74 Beyer for the 1 3/4-length wire-to-wire score.

“She was impressive, and she had been working great. She didn’t disappoint us in the mornings, and Bethany sent her to us in great shape,” said Sisterson. “We have big expectations for her – she’s bred to be good, and I think she is.”

A Kentucky homebred for Glen Hill Farm, Wrigleyville is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning turfer Marketing Mix, who has also produced the stakes-placed Global Brand.

Jose Ortiz rides from post 7.

On Friday, Sisterson sends out another well-bred contender as Gene and Jude makes his career debut for breeder Glen Hill Farm in Race 1, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the Mellon turf.

The juvenile Kitten’s Joy gelding is a full brother to Grade 2-winner Chicago Style – a first-out winner - and is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed New York-bred Mr. Greeley mare You Go West Girl.

Sisterson said he has been impressed so far with the chestnut, who most recently worked a half-mile in 50 seconds flat Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt, building upon a similar effort from the gate in 49 seconds July 5.

“We like him. He’s small, but I think the barn has [nicknamed] him ‘Little Speed Ball,’” Sisterson said. “He’s training like he’s going to run a good race on Friday. He’s been forward at Saratoga and is showing he has a lot of talent.”

Ortiz will ride from post 2.