Crazy Beautiful primed for peak performance in G1 Alabama

by NYRA Press Office

• Crazy Beautiful primed for peak performance in G1 Alabama
• Yibir eyes $1M Jockey Club Derby Invitational after Group 2 Great Voltigeur win
• Ego Trip readies for class jump in G2 Lake Placid
• Rookie Report: Pletcher pair look strong in Saturday opener
• New York Race Track Chaplaincy announces cancellation of the Charity Basketball Game
• Saratoga Week 6 stakes probables

Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Crazy Beautiful will look to extend her win streak to three in Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama, a 10-furlong test for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Kenny McPeek has saddled two of the past three winners of the Alabama with Eskimo Kisses [2018] and Swiss Skydiver [2020] and will attempt to one-up his record with Crazy Beautiful.

The Liam's Map grey boasts a record of 10-5-3-0 with purse earnings of $700,865 and enters from wins in the Grade 3 Summertime Oaks on May 30 at Santa Anita ahead of a six-length romp in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 3 at Delaware Park.

"If she runs back to her last couple of races, I think she's definitely in the picture," McPeek said. "She's a lovely filly to be around and we're cautiously optimistic."

Crazy Beautiful will exit the inside post Saturday under Jose Ortiz, who guided the filly to a convincing score in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in March.

All three of Crazy Beautiful’s graded wins have come at 1 1/16-miles but McPeek said he is confident the filly will handle the stretch out in distance.

"I don't think it's going to be a problem," McPeek said. "Jose Ortiz rode her perfectly in his last ride on her in Florida. I think it's just a matter of timing the race and hopefully she finishes up like she can."

Crazy Beautiful finished tenth in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May, a race won by Alabama rival Malathaat, but McPeek said he has drawn a line through that effort.

"She got hammered leaving the gate and nothing really went right," McPeek said. "She never got in a rhythm and really had no chance. We look at it as a throw-out."

Crazy Beautiful has posted four works on the Oklahoma training track in preparation for Saturday's test.

"She's done great here. She's a very professional filly and very easy to be around," McPeek said. "She's had some nice maintenance breezes. It's really uncomplicated with her. She's ready to go."

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Yibir eyes $1M Jockey Club Derby Invitational after Group 2 Great Voltigeur win

Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, who have already teamed up to win a pair of New York Grade 1s this year with Althiqa, could be invading once again with the talented Yibir, who upset Wednesday’s Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York Racecourse on opening day of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

A homebred son of Dubawi and full-brother to triple Group 1 winner and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Wild Illusion, the sophomore upset the 12-furlong, left-handed affair, defeating the well-regarded trio of High Definition, Sir Lucan and Royal Ascot-winning stablemate Kemari.

The second edition of the $1 million Jockey Club Derby, over the same 1½-mile distance, is scheduled for September 18 at Belmont Park. The contest is the third and final leg of the Turf Triple series for males, offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar.

The inaugural edition of the Jockey Club Derby was won by eventual multiple Group 2 winner Spanish Mission, defeating a field that included Grade 1 winner Henley’s Joy, future Grade 1 winner Digital Age and Tone Broke, winner of two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown. Due to pandemic-related circumstances, the race was not contested in 2020.

The Great Voltigeur has a storied history of unveiling quality Group 1 horses, producing future champions Alleged, Cracksman and Rainbow Quest, as well as four subsequent Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic victors [Fantastic Light, Rewilding, Postponed and Old Persian] and a Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner, Cross Counter.

The 1999 and 2001 winners Fantastic Light and Milan, completed the exacta in the 2001 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. The race often produces a top contender for the Group 1 St Leger, the third leg of the English Triple Crown, but geldings are not permitted, which is one of the reasons Yibir is possible to head stateside.

“I’ve got him in the Irish St Leger, but I’d say we’re potentially looking to make our way to America for the Jockey Club [Derby],” Appleby said. “That’s the plan at the moment, but we’ll let the dust settle, as they say.

“We’re very pleased with him and have always liked him,” Appleby continued. “It’s 3-year-olds over a mile and a half on the turf, which I think he takes a lot of experience there as a horse. As we know, he’s not missed a beat this year and full credit to him. He’s got some constitution. He doesn’t miss a gallop and doesn’t miss a run. He hasn’t travelled internationally yet, but he’s had plenty of mileage on him going around [England], so far. The plan is for him hopefully to be one of those exciting international campaigners.”

Kemari was a bit of a disappointment on Wednesday as one of the favorites, checking in last of eight in his fourth start. The Group 2 Queen’s Vase winner is also a gelding and Appleby said he could be stamping his passport, as well.

“It was a little bit disappointing and he didn’t gallop out. He didn’t finish off the race showing that a step up in trip would be good,” Appleby said. “We’ve penciled in to potentially go to America after this trip, but we’ll see what comes out with Kemari. I’m a big disappointed, but I’m not too worried. He’ll come back.”

Yibir has more than double the experience of Kemari, winning for the fourth time in 10 starts on Wednesday. Two starts prior, he was an ultra-impressive winner of the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket over 13 furlongs. James Doyle, aboard Wednesday, is undefeated on the 3-year-old bay charge, including both group wins and his maiden win last August over seven furlongs.

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Ego Trip readies for class jump in G2 Lake Placid

Rebecca Hillen’s Ego Trip ran a competitive second in her North American debut for trainer Brendan Walsh, finishing just one length back to Rastafara in a one-mile contest on July 24 over the Saratoga turf. The daughter of No Nay Never will now look to build on that experience as she competes as part of a six-horse field in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid for sophomore fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf course in Race 9.

The Irish-bred Ego Trip ran second going seven furlongs in March at Newcastle in Great Britain for trainer Kevin Ryan before shipping across the Atlantic and entering Walsh’s care.

Walsh said she has progressed nicely as she readies for her graded stakes debut.

“She was very unlucky last time; she ran a really nice race,” Walsh said. “The first time racing in this country, I think she found the track a little tight and things a little faster for her. But she’s been working great since that race, so we decided to go straight to this one and take a shot at it. It’s six runners. I can’t see why she couldn’t at least place.”

Ego Trip drew post 3 in the Lake Placid with Tyler Gaffalione, aboard for her start last month, back in the irons. She is listed at 6-1 on the morning line in a field that includes 6-5 favorite Technical Analysis out of post 2.

Since that runner-up performance, Ego Trip has continued to train at Saratoga, breezing twice on the Oklahoma training turf, including a four-furlong work in 49.09 seconds on August 13. After running over firm going last out, Walsh said he’s hoping the rain will subside heading into the weekend.

“She’s a very nice filly. From what we’ve seen, we think she can be really good as time goes along,” Walsh said. “We’re going to take our chance. Hopefully, the weather dries out a little bit for us.”

Godolphin homebred Maxfield came out of his runner-up effort to Knicks Go in the Grade 1 Whitney in good order and could return to the work tab in the next week, Walsh said.

Maxfield tied a personal-best 105 Beyer, first set in his win in April in the Grade 2 Alysheba in April at Churchill, for his effort in the five-horse Whitney on August 7 in the Saratoga’s meet premier race for older horses. The 4-year-old Street Sense colt is 7-1-1 in nine career starts with earnings of more than $1.4 million.

“He came back out of the race really well and is still in Saratoga,” Walsh said. “We haven’t worked him back yet but we’ll probably work him in the next few days. We haven’t really decided where we are going to go next. We want to see him work back and give it a week or two and see what happens with everything else.”

La Signare also continues to train at Saratoga and is a possibility for the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl on the final Saturday of the summer meet on September 4. Previously held during the Belmont fall meet, the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl was moved to the Saratoga turf slate this year. It is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Grade 1, $4 million Breeders’ Cup Longines Turf on November 6 at Del Mar.

Owned by Madaket Stables, the Cambrons and Bradley Thoroughbreds, La Signare has earned black type in three consecutive Grade 1 appearances, starting with a third in the Jenny Wiley in April at Keeneland before running second in the Gamely in May at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old French-bred daughter of Siyouni has already ran once at Saratoga this meet, finishing behind Summer Romance and winner Althiqa in a third-place effort in the 1 1/8-mile Diana on July 17.

La Signare has stayed at Saratoga since that effort, making registering her first workout since the Diana when breezing four furlongs in 50.64 on August 11 on the Oklahoma main track.

“We’ll probably think about the Flower Bowl. She’s been doing well and been really good in her works,” Walsh said.

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Rookie Report: Pletcher pair look strong in Saturday opener

Saturday’s opener, a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight on the main track, features multiple first-time starting juveniles with rich pedigrees, including a coupled entry for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm in Napa Valley and Major General.

Napa Valley, a WinStar homebred Flatter dark bay, is out of the Dubawi mare Mandrell, whose dam was dual Grade 1-winner Country Star.

“They both have been training very well and they have worked well from the gate,” said WinStar Farm CEO and Racing Manager Elliott Walden. “Napa Valley worked with last weekend’s maiden winner of Todd’s [Power Agenda]. That horse won, so that bodes well for Napa Valley.”

Napa Valley has breezed consistently since arriving at Saratoga in late June and recorded two sharp half-mile works from the gate on the main track. He went the four-furlong distance in 47.55 on August 1 before going 47.60 the following Sunday.

Major General, a son of third-crop sire Constitution, also has been training forwardly into his debut with two solid gate works on the main track. The dark bay or brown colt went a sharp half-mile in 47.22 from the gate on August 7.

“He’s a very athletic horse, much like Constitution,” Walden said. “We bought him at the Keeneland sale off Peter O’Callaghan [of Woods Edge Farm]. He just reminded us of what we see in the good Constitutions, and that’s athleticism and balance.”

Napa Valley drew post 1 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez while Major General will be piloted by Luis Saez as the coupled entry.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will debut Gilded Age, a bay son of Medaglia d’Oro.

Owned by Grandview Equine and Don Alberto Stable, Gilded Age was a $600,000 purchase from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His dam is Grade 1-winner Angela Renee, by Bernardini, and a full-sister to Grade 1-winner and producer To Honor and Serve, who won the 2012 Woodward at Saratoga for Mott. Her only other progeny of racing age is Act of Honor – an unraced sophomore Empire Maker colt.

“He’s a nice horse. He’s one that has potential to be a nice one down the road,” Mott said. “He’s training well, and I think he’s showing that his best races are ahead of him.”

Gilded Age will break from post 2 under Junior Alvarado.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen will saddle $1 million purchase Raymond for Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables and Peter Liedel.

The bay son of leading sire Into Mischief is out of the graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Teen Pauline, who also produced Cambria – a turf stakes winner at Kentucky Downs.

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. will ride from post 8.

Peter Brant’s Triple Elvis, a son of Into Mischief, makes his debut for trainer Chad Brown.

Purchased for $700,000 from Denali Stud at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Select Sale, Triple Elvis is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Night and Day, whose dam was 13-time Grade 1-winner and Hall of Fame champion Serena’s Song.

Triple Elvis worked a sharp five-eighths from the gate on Saturday over the main track in 1:00.10.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call from post 6.

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New York Race Track Chaplaincy announces cancellation of the Charity Basketball Game

[Files provided by the New York Race Track Chaplaincy]

The 13th annual jockeys-versus-horsemen charity basketball game, which benefits the programs of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and was scheduled to be played on Wednesday, September 1, has been canceled, the organization announced today.

“With COVID-19 infection rates climbing again, we just couldn’t jeopardize the safety of the participants or the hundreds of fans who come to the game each year, so we decided it was best to cancel it once again,” said NY Race Track Chaplaincy executive director and lead chaplain Humberto Chavez. “We are all disappointed but hopefully we can resume the tradition next summer during the Saratoga meet.”

The game, which was not able to be played last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is one of the most popular events on the Saratoga social calendar and it routinely attracts more than 300 fans.

The jockey team is usually coached by Hall of Fame jockey Ángel Cordero Jr., with trainer Todd Pletcher and agent Kiaran McLaughlin coaching the horsemen team. Mitch Levites of the NYRA television department serves as the announcer and provides lively commentary.

Proceeds from this event serve to benefit signature programs of the NY Race Track Chaplaincy.

The NY Race Track Chaplaincy provides the backstretch community with children's enrichment, social service, and recreational programs, as well as educational opportunities, and non-denominational religious services.

Horsemen, individuals, or organizations who would like to make a donation to the NY Chaplaincy may do so via the NY Chaplaincy website at www.rtcany.org or by contacting Eleanor Poppe at [email protected] or 516-428-5267.

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Saratoga Week 6 stakes probables

Wednesday, August 25

$120K John’s Call

Probable: Ajourneytofreedom (Mike Maker), Moon Over Miami (Bill Mott), Ry’s the Guy (Ian Wilkes), Temple (Tom Morley), Ziyad (Graham Motion)

Possible: Fantasioso (Ignacio Correas, IV), Mutamakina (Christophe Clement)

Thursday, August 26

$120K Riskaverse

Probable: Designer Ready (Mott), Hit the Woah (Christophe Clement), Invincible Gal (Motion), Keeper of the Time (Brendan Walsh), Stand By You (Todd Beattie), Third Draft (Shug McGaughey)

Friday, August 27

$150K West Point presented by Trustco Bank

Probable: City Man (Christophe Clement), Cross Border (Maker), Rinaldi (James Bond), Sanctuary City (James Ferraro), Therapist (Clement)

Possible: Klickitat (Jimmy Jerkens)

$200K Funny Cide

Probable: Bourbon’s Hope (Charlton Baker), Daufuskie Island (Jeremiah Englehart), Montebello (Bob Baffert), Run Curtis Run (Maker), Senbei (Clement), Shipsational (Edward Barker)

$200K Seeking the Ante

Probable: Classic Lynne (Joe Sharp), Hideout (Wayne Potts), Laoban’s Legacy (Je.Englehart), November Rein (Kelly Breen), Velvet Sister (Steve Asmussen)

$250K Albany

Probable: Americanrevolution (Pletcher), Anejo (Jack Sisterson), Bingo John (Brad Cox), Bobby Bo (Baffert), Joey Loose Lips (Michelle Giangiulio)

Possible: It’s Gravy (Breen)

$150K Yaddo

Probable: Classic Colors (Clement), Dancingwthdaffodls (Eduardo Jones), Giacosa (Bond), Kilkea (Mark Hennig), Mike’s Girl (Charles Frock), Pecatonica (Tom Bush)

$200K Fleet Indian

Probable: A Bit o’Irish Sass (Rick Schosberg), Brattle House (Clement), Byhubbyhellomoney (Bob Dunham), Epona’s Dream (Hennig), Frost Me (John Kimmel), Make Mischief (Mark Casse), U Guys Are No Fun (Je. Englehart)

Saturday, August 28

G1, $1.25M Runhappy Travers

Probable: Dynamic One (Pletcher), Essential Quality (Cox), Keepmeinmind (Robertino Diodoro), King Fury (McPeek), Masqueparade (Al Stall, Jr.), Midnight Bourbon (Steve Asmussen), Miles D (Chad Brown)

G2, $400K Ballston Spa

Probable: High Opinion (Anthony Dutrow), Kalifornia Queen (C. Brown), Tamahere (C. Brown), Viadera (C. Brown)

G1, $750K Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer BC WAYI

Probable: Channel Maker (Mott), Gufo (Clement), Japan (Aidan O’Brien), Mogul (O’Brien), Tribhuvan (C. Brown)

G1, $600K Forego

Probable: Chance It (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), Lexitonian (Sisterson), Mind Control (Pletcher), Mischevious Alex (Joseph, Jr.), Whitmore (Ron Moquett), Yaupon (Asmussen)

G1, $500K H. Allen Jerkens Memorial

Probable: Drain the Clock (Joseph, Jr.), Jackie’s Warrior (Asmussen), Life is Good (Pletcher)

G1, $600K Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti BC WAYI

Probable: Bonny South (Cox), Graceful Princess (Pletcher), Harvey’s Lil Goil (Mott), Letruska (Fausto Gutierrez), Miss Marissa (James Ryerson), Royal Flag (C. Brown), Swiss Skydiver (McPeek)

Possible: Bajan Girl (Rohan Crichton)

G1, $500K Ketel One Ballerina BC WAYI

Probable: Ce Ce (Michael McCarthy), Estilo Talentoso (Juan Arriagada), Gamine (Baffert), Lake Avenue (Mott), Sconsin (Gregory Foley), Truth Hurts (Chad Summers)