Cy Fair set for stakes debut in Listed Bolton Landing

Medallion Racing, Swinbank Stables, Joey Platts and Mark Stanton's  impressive maiden winner Cy Fair will make her stakes debut in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Bolton Landing, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by George Weaver, the Not This Time bay dominated in her Opening Day July 10 debut over course and distance, taking over from pacesetter Gracie’s Delight in the turn for home through a half-mile in a rapid 44.18 seconds over the firm footing. She quickly opened up a 4 1/2-length lead at the stretch call under returning Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez and stayed on strong down the lane under a hand ride to score by 3 1/4-lengths in a final time of 1:01.49. The convincing victory registered a field-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Weaver said Cy Fair [post 4, John Velazquez] more than lived up to expectations on debut.

"It was impressive. We were happy with her, and she definitely ran well enough to deserve a chance in this race,” said Weaver, who has already won the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation with Governor Sam and the Listed Galway with Pop Idol at this meet.

The $185,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase is out of the winning Arch mare Remarqued – a half-sister to Crimson Advocate, who won the 2023 Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot with Velazquez aboard for Weaver. Crimson Advocate, out of the graded stakes-placed Proud Citizen mare Citizen Advocate, has since gone on to win the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge and Group 1 Falmouth this year for John and Thady Gosden.

Weaver was able to point out one abundantly obvious similarity between Cy Fair and Crimson Advocate.

"They're both very fast," said Weaver, with a laugh. "It's always cool to have some connections in the family when you train one - especially one that was successful. We're looking forward to the next step for her."

Weaver indicated he was pleased with Cy Fair’s half-mile work in 50.14 August 10 over the Oklahoma training turf.

"She's push-button. She's willing and eager to go whenever you want her to and she gave us what she wanted and we're leading her over there ready,” Weaver said.

Debby Oxley’s Kentucky homebred My Sweetheart [post 2, Jose Ortiz] returns to turf following a runner-up effort last out in the Listed Schuylerville on July 4 here.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Flameaway chestnut graduated in her May 22 debut over firm Churchill Downs turf with a 1 1/2-length pressured frontrunning score over next-out maiden winner Clowning Around.

My Sweetheart was bumped at the break in the six-furlong Schuylerville and stumbled slightly but recovered quickly to show the way through a half-mile in 46.39 over the fast main track. She led until the sixteenth pole before Kingsolver took over to score by two lengths. Kingsolver exited that event to run second in the Ellis Park Debutante.

"She ran well last time but her race was good on the grass at Churchill, and I wanted to give her another try. I like this distance for her,” Casse said.

My Sweetheart is out of the unraced Curlin mare My Darling, whose second dam is multiple dirt graded stakes-placed Darling My Darling, the prolific broodmare whose direct descendants include Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning Champion 3-Year-Old Male and recent Grade 1 Whitney-winner Sierra Leone and multiple Group 1-winning globetrotter Forever Young.

Gary Lewin’s Snow Face Princess [post 3, Flavien Prat] looks to double up on local scores after graduating last out at second asking over course and distance.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the Midshipman dark bay debuted with a fourth-place finish over muddy and sealed footing in May at Belmont at the Big A. She returned on July 30 here to graduate by two lengths in stalking fashion and earn a 69 Beyer.

The $110,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase is out of the Honor Code mare Crusin Alone. Her second dam is the graded stakes-winning Carson City mare Moonlight Sonata – a half-sister to Grade 2-winners Wilburn and Beethoven.

James Chicklo’s Florida homebred Gerrards Cross [post 5, Sonny Leon] puts her undefeated record on the line for trainer Kathleen O’Connell.

The Midshipman chestnut has won both starts in frontrunning fashion, romping by six lengths in her June 6 debut over the Gulfstream Park dirt and following on July 27 at Monmouth Park with a 2 1/2-length score over turf in the five-furlong Colleen.

Gerrards Cross, out of the stakes-winning Concerto mare Spanish Concert, is a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed Dream Concert.

Rounding out the field are New York-bred maiden winner Sacred Goddess [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for trainer Jeremiah Englehart; elevated maiden winner Sapphire Beach [post 1, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Rusty Arnold; maiden Bramble Blast [post 8, Luis Saez] for conditioner Michael Dini, and Should’ve [post 7, Joel Rosario],a first-time starter cross-entered as main-track only in an August 16 maiden here for trainer Wesley Ward, who has won this event a record five times.

The Bolton Landing is slated as Race 8 on Sunday’s 10-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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