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Cyberknife breezes for G1 Runhappy Travers; Lady Rocket readies for G1 Ballerina; Mo Strike training forwardly for G1 Hopeful

by NYRA Press Office

·    Cyberknife breezes for G1 Runhappy Travers; Lady Rocket readies for G1 Ballerina; Mo Strike training forwardly for G1 Hopeful

·    Brown-trained G1 Runhappy Travers Day contenders on the work tab at Saratoga

·    Malathaat breezes for G1 Personal Ensign; Charge It to breeze for G1 Runhappy Travers Sunday morning

·    Ain’t Life Grand drills through final G1 Runhappy Travers tune-up

·    Speaker’s Corner in California state of mind; Cody’s Wish to G1 Forego

Gold Square’s multiple Grade 1-winning Cyberknife had his final breeze Saturday in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers August 27 at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trained by 2021 Travers winner Brad Cox, the son of Gun Runner breezed five-eighths in 1:00 flat over Saratoga’s main track, where he has posted three workouts since he captured the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 23 at Monmouth Park , a win that saw him earn a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure. 

“Excellent move, galloped out great and cooled out good,” said Cox. “We’re all set. He’s doing about as well as he can do and we are excited about the race.”

After finishing a distant 18th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs, Cyberknife rebounded to capture the Grade 3 Matt Winn in June at the Louisville oval before his Haskell feat over Grade 1-victor Taiba. 

Cox said that those two wins since Cyberknife’s run in the Kentucky Derby and the scorching pace endured during the Derby makes a case for drawing a line through the distant finish.

“He was too close to the hot pace,” said Cox. “That was the kind of race you just draw a line through and act as if it never happened. That’s what we’ve done. He’s got a good race record since and a good race record before, and we think as long as we have a good week, we’ll show up and run a big race.” 

A $400,000 purchase out of the Fasig Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, Cyberknife is a lifetime 9-5-2-0 with $1,596,520 to his name. 

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations and Ten Strike Racing’s multiple graded stakes winner Lady Rocket breezed Saturday at Churchill Downs, going five-eighths in 1:00 and will ship from Kentucky to run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina on August 28 here. The seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in November at Keeneland. 

Never worse than fourth in fourteen career starts, Lady Rocket took a field of seven wire-to-wire in the Grade 3 Chicago at Churchill in June and has continued to train over the Louisville oval in preparation for the Ballerina. 

“She breezed really good at Churchill this morning,” said Cox. “She’ll ship, not exactly sure which day, but midweek she’ll make it here, and looking forward to giving her another opportunity in a Grade 1.” 

Cox expressed confidence with how Lady Rocket has progressed towards a return to Saratoga where she won on debut in 2020. 

“She ran big last time and had plenty of time to recover,” said Cox. “Her schedule’s been very, very good lately and we’re excited about another swing in a Grade 1.” 

The 5-year-old Tale of the Cat mare made the grade in December at Aqueduct Racetrack in the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap. She has won races at six different racetracks and has banked just shy of $700,000 in her career, going 7-3-2 over 14 starts.

Nassar Bin Omairah’s Mo Strike has trained forwardly since capturing the Grade 3 Sanford Opening Weekend at Saratoga Race Course and is still on target for the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful on Closing Day of the Spa meet. 

"He’s going to breeze tomorrow [Sunday] morning on the main track. It’s 15 days out,” said Cox. “He’s doing really well. He’s definitely grown since the Sanford physically and we like what we’ve seen.” 

Cox said that Mo Strike is capable of improvement in his Grade 1 debut. 

“I think he needs to move forward, but I think he has moved forward just based off him physically and mentally,” said Cox. “He’s been a pretty intelligent horse and we’re excited about taking a swing with him in a Grade 1. 

“He’s faced two big fields in his two starts and lots of times these young horses don’t get that opportunity so he does have a lot of experience,” added Cox. “He faced adversity last time with just shipping in here three days before the Sanford. He fended off horses in both of his starts and really showed his ability to finish up in a race.” 

Donegal Racing and Joseph Bulger’s Grade 1-winner Arklow will make his next start at Kentucky Downs in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup September 10, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Keeneland. Arklow has continued to train over the Oklahoma training turf since his runner up effort in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga Race Course. 

The 8-year-old son of Arch will breeze again on Friday, as Cox said he wants to get Arklow on a slightly different training schedule going into Kentucky Downs. A winner of over $3 million in his career, Arklow is 9-9-2 in 37 career starts. 

Peachtree Stable’s multiple graded stakes-winner Tawny Port, last seen finishing third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, returned to Churchill Downs last week and is targeting the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing September 24.  He breezed a half-mile in 49.80 Saturday on the Churchill Downs main track. 

Tawny Port captured the Grade 3 Ohio Derby two starts back where he defeated next out Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational winner Classic Causeway. 

“He breezed this morning at Churchill. He’s doing really well, said Cox. “He had a work here last weekend, shipped to Churchill midweek, had a nice, easy move this morning.”

The son of Pioneerof the Nile is a lifetime 8-4-1-1 with just shy of $800,000 in earnings.

***

Brown-trained G1 Runhappy Travers Day contenders on the work tab at Saratoga

Chad Brown breezed several Runhappy Travers Day hopefuls over the main track Saturday led by Zandon, who covered five furlongs in 1:00.65, while Early Voting, piloted by Jose Ortiz, drilled five-eighths in 1:01 flat in company with Klaravich Stables' graded stakes-placed Accretive, who is targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. 

Runhappy Travers contender Artorius, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, went a half-mile in 47 flat with Search Results, who is targeting the nine-furlong Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign on Runhappy Travers Day. 

"I thought all of the Travers horses worked super," Brown said. "The track was a lot faster after the break today and a lot faster than it has been for the whole meet. We’ll see what role that plays in the preparation of horses in the afternoon. I know that’s an observation that everyone is going to tell you who has been training on it." 

Brown said his trio of contenders provides him his best ever chance at winning a first Travers. 

“Absolutely, by miles," said Brown, whose best Travers finish came last year with third-place finisher Miles D. "I’m very excited about it. I feel very grateful. These horses are hard to come by. It’s just the reality. To have three in here, I am hoping one of them can get it done.” 

Klaravich Stables' Early Voting, by Gun Runner, captured the Grade 3 Withers in February at Aqueduct Racetrack and followed with a game second in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in April at the Big A which was won by eventual Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets champ Mo Donegal. 

He returned with aplomb to win the Grade 1 Preakness in May at Pimlico Race Course but was a non-threatening fourth last out in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 30 here. 

Last week, Early Voting turned Brown's head with a solid half-mile work in 49.78 to stay in contention for the Travers. 

"Today, he even worked better," Brown said. "When you come off a poor effort, it is a step-by-step process. Last week’s work was one step in the right direction or in the Travers direction. Today was another step to confirm. He kept himself as a possibility with the last work. Today, he confirmed it." 

Jeff Drown's Zandon, by Upstart, captured the Grade 1 Blue Grass in April at Keeneland ahead of a strong third-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs. He chased home Travers rival Epicenter last out in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. 

"He really mirrored the work before the Derby where everyone was sort of drooling over it," Brown said. "It really led him to be the morning line favorite off a work, which is rare.” 

Juddmonte's Kentucky homebred Artorius has won 2-of-3 starts, including the restricted nine-furlong Curlin last out on July 29 at the Spa. Artorius bested probable Travers rival Gilded Age by 4 3/4-lengths in the Curlin. The regally bred Arrogate colt is out of the Brown-trained multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Paulassilverlining, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Dads Caps. 

“I always thought this horse has the ability to get to the Travers. It’s not a surprise at all," Brown said. "I’ve used the word ‘relieved’ that he has been able to do it, which is a small percentage or chance that he would advance this quick. He has the ability, but things happen. Horses have setbacks. Horses don’t run the way you think they are going to run. For him to hit all of the marks and get there, everything went sort of right. 

"Everything went right along the way with his works, his spacing, weather, his health, and such," Brown added. "I have been relieved that we have gave it a shot to put him on a path to get here and he hit it. The way he worked today, I think [he will have a big effort], but he will have his hands full. This is a different group than the Curlin. It was one of his best works today.” 

Brown also breezed Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant’s Jack Christopher five-eighths in 59.80 in company to the outside of allowance-winning 3-year-old colt Key Point. 

"Jack Christopher did that well within himself," Brown said. "He’s back to his old self after being a tick sluggish out of the Haskell. He has been working a little bit stronger and I was pleased with that." 

The Munnings chestnut is targeting the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on the Runhappy Travers undercard. He won his first four career starts, including Grade 1 scores in the Champagne and Woody Stephens at Belmont Park along with a prominent win in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. Last out, Jack Christopher took the lead at the stretch call of the Grade 1 Haskell but settled for third. 

***

Malathaat breezes for G1 Personal Ensign; Charge It to breeze for G1 Runhappy Travers Sunday morning 

Reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Malathaat recorded her final serious piece of preparation for the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course, breezing a half-mile over the main track on Saturday morning. 

The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin went in company with unbeaten sophomore Saint Tapit. Both horses, conditioned by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, completed their moves in 49.52 seconds. 

“They made a nice pair, I was happy with them both,” Pletcher said.

Malathaat, owned by Shadwell Stable, will be in pursuit of her first Grade 1 victory this year and arrives off a runner-up effort to in the Grade 2 Shuvee on July 24 at Saratoga to returning rival Clairiere. Also by Curlin, Clairiere defeated Malathaat in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 11 at Belmont Park. 

Pletcher noted the hot weather conditions on the day of Malathaat’s most recent effort. 

“It’s going to be a strong race. There’s going to be a lot of good fillies in there and hopefully we get a little more of a kinder temperature than the last time she ran,” Pletcher said. 

In addition to Malathaat and Clairiere, the Personal Ensign is also likely to attract last year’s winner and Champion Older Female Letruska and graded stakes winning millionaire Crazy Beautiful. 

Last year, Malathaat put together a campaign that saw victories in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Alabama at the Spa. She capped off her Eclipse Award-winning season with a late-closing third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar. A three-time starter this year, Malathaat won her seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare on April 22 at Keeneland. 

A $1,050,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Malathaat is out of Dreaming of Julia – a multiple Grade 1-winning daughter of A.P. Indy. 

Whisper Hill Farm’s homebred Saint Tapit, by Tapit and out of 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, is likely to target “stakes action somewhere”, according to Pletcher. Saturday’s work was the royally bred chestnut’s first breeze since defeating winners in a local first-level allowance on August 6. 

Pletcher added that he will breeze graded stakes winner Charge It on Sunday morning at 8:45 a.m. over the main track in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers. Also a Whisper Hill Farm homebred by Tapit, Charge It was initially slated to work on Saturday morning.

***

Ain’t Life Grand drills through final G1 Runhappy Travers tune-up 

RPM Thoroughbreds’ Iowa homebred Ain’t Life Grand breezed a bullet half-mile in 45.88 seconds Saturday over the Saratoga main track in preparation for the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers. 

“I thought it was a very good work,” said trainer Kelly Von Hemel. “That track was playing a little bit faster today than what it has been so the time was a little quicker than we anticipated. But he did everything like we wanted and well within himself. He came back great and we’re very happy with it.” 

Saturday’s work was a second local breeze for the son of leading third crop stallion Not This Time, who went a half-mile in 48.23 on August 13 over the main track. Based at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, Von Hemel said he shipped Ain’t Life Grand to Saratoga early by design. He is currently stabled in Barn 27 on the main track, which is occupied by trainer Dale Romans.  

“I think it sure helps a lot. He’s not a horse that’s difficult in that aspect but Dale Romans had said it would be beneficial to train on the track and getting a couple works over it would help our chances,” Von Hemel said. “Plus, coming from Iowa, flying wasn’t an option, so it was a long trip and we wanted to make sure he got here in time to acclimate, get over the long trip and make sure he was able to get over the track a couple of times.” 

A winner of 5-of-8 starts, Ain’t Life Grand will enter the Runhappy Travers off a pair of stakes wins at Prairie Meadows. He defeated open stakes company in the Iowa Derby on July 9 ahead of a seven-length win against his Hawkeye State-bred counterparts in the Iowa Stallion on July 23.

Ain’t Life Grand will be Von Hemel’s first starter at Saratoga since subsequent influential broodmare Miss Macy Sue, the dam of Not This Time, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss in 2008. 

Ain’t Life Grand is out of the unraced Medaglia d’Oro mare Cat d’Oro, who is out of Grade 1-winner Cat Moves.

***

Speaker’s Corner in California state of mind; Cody’s Wish to G1 Forego 

After racing against older horse division leaders Flightline and Life Is Good in his last two outings, Speaker’s Corner will venture to the West Coast for the Grade 2, $250,000 Pat O’ Brien on August 27 at Del Mar. 

The Godolphin homebred son of Street Sense was initially slated to take on another heavy hitter in Jackie’s Warrior in the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego on the same day at Saratoga. Instead, Godolphin will point Cody’s Wish, a two-time stakes winner this year, to the seven-furlong Spa test. Both horses are trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. 

“More than likely, he’ll run in the Pat O’Brien,” said Godolphin’s director of bloodstock Michael Banahan. “We think both horses are very close in ability. Speaker’s Corner won a Grade 1 already and this could be an opportunity for Cody’s Wish to jump up there. Obviously running against Jackie’s Warrior is going to be no easy task, but Speaker’s Corner has run against Flightline and Life Is Good in his last two races.”

Speaker’s Corner earned his first Grade 1 victory in the Carter on April 9 at Aqueduct, where he earned a career-best 114 Beyer Speed Figure. The win came following a pair of graded stakes triumphs going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park. Meanwhile, Cody’s Wish, a son of Curlin, captured the Grade 3 Westchester on May 7 at Belmont Park before winning Churchill Downs’ Hanshin on July 4. 

Banahan noted that the connections are taking a divide-and-conquer approach in splitting both horses up in pursuit of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on November 5 at Keeneland. 

“We want to split up those horses and figure out the best way to get to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile,” Banahan said. “Cody’s Wish has a different running style and that might suit us better in the Forego doing that. That was sort of our thought process, and we’ll see how they work before making a final decision.”