Dual G1-winner La Cara works for G1 Alabama pres. by Keeneland Sales

• Dual G1-winner La Cara works for G1 Alabama pres. by Keeneland Sales
• Pop Idol lands career-best 87 BSF for Galway coup; G1-winners Dorth Vader, Sacred Wish breeze at Saratoga
• Nations Pride, El Cordobes all set for G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer
• Iron Dome points to $200K Albany presented by Albany Distilling Company
• Way to Be Marie and Chasing Liberty breeze on the turf; Train the Trainer to $200K Albany
• Ancient World tries turf in G3 Mahony

Tracy Farmer’s dual Grade 1-winning Kentucky homebred La Cara breezed a half-mile in 49.77 seconds Friday over the Saratoga Race Course main track in her final preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales, a 10-furlong route for sophomore fillies.

With regular exercise rider Mary Rose Hitt in the irons, La Cara covered the distance solo just after the conclusion of the 6:30 a.m. renovation break. La Cara is one of two Alabama contenders for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, who will also saddle D.J. Stable’s multiple graded stakes-winner Nitrogen.

“Perfect,” Casse said of the work. “I told Mary I wanted to go about 50 [seconds], and they said 49 and three. The key is that Mary knows her so well and she got her to go way easy. If you let her go, she would have went in 46.”

La Cara was last seen winning the Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn on June 6 at the Spa, and was entered in the local Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19, but was forced to scratch after a quarantine for suspected strangles was placed on the barn she was stabled in. Friday’s work was her third since the scratch, adding to sharp five-furlong works over the main track in 59.76 and 1:00.60 on July 25 and August 1, respectively.

La Cara notched her first Grade 1 win in April when taking Keeneland’s Ashland, adding to previous stakes success in the Listed Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs and Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs as a juvenile.

Casse also worked Nitrogen in company with unraced 2-year-old Copa de Plata on Wednesday, the pair covering five furlongs over the main in 1:01.92.

Nitrogen is preparing for a return to dirt off a narrow loss to Fionn in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational going nine furlongs over the grass on July 5 here.

Casse said the work was “super” and that he is looking forward to seeing the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro try dirt for the second time after romping to a 17-length victory in an off-the-turf edition of the Grade 3 Wonder Again on June 7 here.

On Thursday, Casse sent out Farmer’s Grade 3-winner Abientot to a game runner-up effort in the Listed Galway, where she finished one length behind the pacesetting Pop Idol after rallying from last-of-9 under regular pilot Dylan Davis. The petite daughter of Not This Time was awarded a career-best 83 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“She ran great,” Casse said. “It’s a little short for her here. What’s amazing is she was last at the eighth pole, so I was proud of her. She’ll go to Kentucky Downs next.”

Casse also noted that fellow turf sprinter Bring Theband Home exited his sizzling Grade 2 Troy victory on August 3 in good order as he now looks to the Grade 2 Nearctic on October 4 at Woodbine Racetrack next.

The 5-year-old son of Into Mischief earned a 105 Beyer for his 1 1/2-length Troy victory, which came on the heels of a career-best 109 earned for a 4 1/4-length win in the Listed Harvey Pack on July 4 in which he came just 1/10 of a second shy of Cogburn’s track and North American record of 59.80 seconds.

“He’s good and he’s going to Woodbine and then the Breeders’ Cup,” Casse said.

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Pop Idol lands career-best 87 BSF for Galway coup; G1-winners Dorth Vader, Sacred Wish breeze at Saratoga

R.A. Hill Stable and trainer George Weaver’s Pop Idol received a career-high 87 Beyer Speed Figure for her wire-to-wire victory in Thursday’s Listed $150,000 Galway, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

The daughter of Maclean’s Music was one of four entrants for Weaver and led each step of the way under Hall of Famer John Velazquez to notch her second stakes score in her first effort off a more than eight-month layoff dating to a win in Woodbine Racetrack’s Shady Well in November.

“She came back well,” Weaver said. “I had four fillies in the race, and I felt like they were all doing well and had a chance to win. She popped out of there and showed some speed. She got the most uncomplicated trip and got the job done. Johnny did a great job with her.”

Weaver said he was not surprised the talented filly showed up with a big effort off the bench.

“My other fillies all kind of had troubled trips and cost them a chance to win or hit the board, but anyways, it would not have surprised me if any of those fillies won – Pop Idol either,” Weaver said. “She was doing well, she already put together a nice resume last year and is a legit, nice horse who already won a stakes race. It wasn’t a surprise.”

Weaver added each of his Galway contenders emerged well from the effort, and that no immediate plans have been made for Pop Idol.

A $150,000 purchase at last year’s Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale, Pop Idol is out of the Grade 3-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Unspurned. She returned $37.60 on a $2 win bet at odds of 17-1.

On Friday, Weaver sent out two Grade 1-winning mares to breeze at the Oklahoma training track, beginning with Dorth Vader, who covered a half-mile in 49.50 seconds over the dirt. The daughter of Girvin won the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford on June 6 here, and was last seen finishing a prominent fourth in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher on July 19 at Monmouth Park.

Weaver said the Florida homebred for John Ropes is targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on August 23 here, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar. Dorth Vader already secured a berth into the Breeders’ Cup with her Ogden Phipps win.

“She had a nice half in 49 and change, and we were happy with her,” Weaver said. “We’ll run in the Personal Ensign if things continue going how they are now.”

Later in the morning, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola’s Sacred Wish took to the Oklahoma’s turf training track to breeze a half-mile in 50 and 1/5 seconds, according to NYRA clockers.

The dark bay Not This Time 5-year-old won the Grade 1 Matriarch in December at Del Mar ahead of a neck second to Be Your Best in the Grade 2 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park. Her latest effort was a neck second to Segesta in the Grade 3 Matchmaker on July 19 at Monmouth.

“She worked well and she did what we wanted her to do,” Weaver said. “She’s going to Kentucky Downs.”

Kentucky Downs offers the Grade 3, $2 million Ladies Turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going one mile on August 30.

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Nations Pride, El Cordobes all set for G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer

Trainer Charlie Appleby holds a strong hand in multiple top-flight winner Nations Pride and recent Group 2-winner El Cordobes for Saturday’s 12-furlong Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Sword Dancer is a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar. Godolphin and Appleby have captured three of the last four runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Turf with Rebel’s Romance [2022, 2024] and Yibir [2021].

Nations Pride and El Cordobes arrived at Saratoga on July 31 and have settled in well according to Appleby’s traveling assistant Chris Connett, clearing quarantine Saturday and shifting over to Godolphin’s Greentree facility adjacent to the Spa backstretch. On Wednesday, the pair put a little air into their lungs with a stronger effort over the Spa main track.

“On Wednesday, they backed up to the wire, had a nice, easy canter around and then from the quarter-pole they joined up and quickened up together in hand. It just blows the cobwebs out before the weekend,” Connett said. “They've settled in very well. Nations Pride is a bit of an old pro coming over here. It's slightly new for El Cordobes - he's been to Dubai once last winter, but he's taken it very well. We're very happy with them both.”

Six-time British Champion jockey-turned-top Godolphin morning stable rider Kieren Fallon traveled over and has accompanied Nations Pride through his daily morning routine while Jamie Linwood is the regular work partner of the up-and-coming El Cordobes.

On Saturday, William Buick will have the call on Nations Pride [post 5, 3-1ML], while Flavien Prat will pilot El Cordobes [post 1, 4-1ML] as they look to topple defending race winner Far Bridge [post 6, Joel Rosario, 9-5ML], who traveled gate-to-wire last year to best Godolphin’s Appleby-trained duo of Measured Time and Silver Knott.

Nations Pride, an 11-time winner from 22 starts for purse earnings in excess of $3.6 million, has enjoyed top flight success in the 2022 Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational, the 2023 Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munchen, the 2023 Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine and last year’s Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs.

The globetrotting bay will stretch out significantly in distance with his two most recent efforts coming at nine furlongs at Meydan, including a win in the Group 2 Singspiel in March. He was a non-factor last out in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on April 5.

“He's shown his versatility, including winning the Arlington Million last year at a mile and a quarter,” Connett said. “He's got speed but stretching him out gives him time to ease into his races more than being pressured into them early.”

Nations Pride was a romping winner of the 2022 Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont at the Big A traveling 12 furlongs.

El Cordobes, a 4-year-old Frankel bay, boasts a consistent 9-3-2-2 ledger and arrives from a career-best effort, besting a compact field of four in the 12-furlong Group 2 Princess of Wales’s on July 10 at Newmarket. Buick has guided El Cordobes through his last five outings, including a 12-furlong handicap score on May 3 at Newmarket, a three-length third in the 12-furlong Group 3 Aston Park on May 17 at Newbury and a distant third in the 1 3/4-mile Race to the Ebor Grand Cup in June at York.

“He's an unexposed type,” Connett said. “The mile and three quarters might have been a step too far for him that run at York, hence he came back to a mile and a half next time. He's a very strong finishing mile and a half horse.”

Appleby will look to build on previous Grade 1 New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) success with Althiqa [2021 Just a Game and 2021 Diana], Nations Pride [2022 Saratoga Derby Inv.], Cinderella’s Dream [2024 Belmont Oaks Inv.] and Measured Time [2024 Resorts World Casino Manhattan], as well as 12 additional graded scores.

Connett, who has traveled over many of those runners, said both horses are in good order as they trained Friday morning over the Spa main track.

“This morning we had a walk and a trot out on the private track at Greentree and then came down to the main track and they did one lap of the main track at a canter,” Connett said.

The Sword Dancer is slated as Race 10 on Saturday’s 12-race card, which co-features the Grade 2, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational in Race 9. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern. 

***

Iron Dome points to $200K Albany presented by Albany Distilling Company

L and N Racing and Chester Broman, Sr.’s New York-bred sophomore Iron Dome improved his record to 3-2-0-1 over the Saratoga Race Course main track Thursday with an 11-length state-bred allowance romp versus elders.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Into Mischief colt is out of the graded stakes-placed Speightstown mare Speightful Affair, and is a half-brother to the popular New York-bred Mr. Buff – a sizable 17-hands tall graded stakes-placed chestnut that banked more than $1.4 million through a 48-17-8-5 ledger, including 11 stakes wins.

Iron Dome has blossomed since arriving at Saratoga, finishing third in a seven-furlong state-bred sprint versus elders in June here over sloppy and sealed footing. He stretched out to nine-furlongs for his last two outings and dominated state-bred elders with powerful performances, graduating by 10 1/2-lengths on July 16 ahead of his geared-down effort Thursday under regular pilot Jose Ortiz. Thursday’s run earned a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

Asmussen assistant Scott Blasi, when asked about comparisons with the gentle giant Mr. Buff, said Iron Dome is equally well-mannered.

“He has the same disposition so the mare must throw a great foal. He's a pretty horse, very long - looking at him, you wouldn't think he would run that far, but he does,” Blasi said.

Blasi indicated that Iron Dome will now point to the $200,000 Albany presented by Albany Distilling Company, a nine-furlong route for state-bred sophomores on August 21.

“A mile and an eighth really seems to be within his realm. That's two big efforts in a row,” Blasi said. “We're excited about his progression and as long as he trains well, we'll try to run him back in the Albany - it's not great spacing, but it’s against straight 3-year-old New York-breds.”

Asmussen previously won the Albany with Private Emblem [2002] and Chestertown [2020].

“It’s like the Kentucky Derby for New York-breds, so it would be nice to win it again,” Blasi said.

Iron Dome, bred in the Empire State by Chester and Mary Broman, was purchased for $500,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He has banked $125,711 via a 6-2-0-2 ledger.

***

Way to Be Marie and Chasing Liberty breeze on the turf; Train the Trainer to $200K Albany

Robert V. Lapenta and Madaket Stables’ multiple graded stakes-placed Way to Be Marie and Twin Creeks Racing Stables and CMNWLTH’s multiple stakes-winner Chasing Liberty worked solo half-miles Friday on the Oklahoma training turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Way to Be Marie was caught by NYRA clockers in 49 and 2/5 while Chasing Liberty went in 52 and 4/5 – both Kentucky-breds worked with exercise rider Jesse Sauder up for trainer Rob Atras.

Way to Be Marie, a 4-year-old Not This Time filly, has banked $371,200 via a 13-3-4-2 ledger. She was last seen finishing a one-length fifth in a one-mile division of the Listed De La Rose on July 10 here under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Atras said he will nominate Way to Be Marie to the one-mile Listed Perfect Sting on August 29 and the 11-furlong Grade 2 Flower Bowl on August 30, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar. However, he said Way to Be Marie is likely to try the Grade 2, $2 million [$1 million KTDF] Grade 3 Ladies Marathon at 1 5/16-miles on September 6 at Kentucky Downs.

“At a mile against good fillies, she doesn't have that turn of foot. She's better with a little more ground,” Atras said. “Irad got off her last time and said to me, 'this is a really nice filly, but when they kicked, I didn't have the same kick.'  She can stay a little more, so we're nominating everywhere to see what is the best fit.

“I thought she worked great,” Atras added. “ I wanted her up here to breeze on the grass. I think it will help her.”

Chasing Liberty, a sophomore son of Constitution, has banked $899,459 via a 9-4-1-2 record. However, Atras said he has struggled with turf spots for the talented chestnut colt, even running him on dirt when a head second in the off-the-turf Caesars Handicap two starts back on May 14 over a sloppy and sealed Horseshoe Indianapolis track.

Chasing Liberty, a three-time stakes winner, was last seen finishing a 2 1/4-length third in the 5 1/2-furlong Dade Park Dash on July 4 at Ellis Park. Atras said Chasing Liberty is probable for the Grade 1, $2 million [$1 million KTDF] Franklin-Simpson, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomores also on September 6 at Kentucky Downs.

“He was coming last time, but I think the 6 1/2-furlongs will suit him,” Atras said.

Alipony Racing and Saints or Sinners’ impressive New York-bred Train the Trainer is aiming for a start in the $200,000 Albany presented by Albany Distilling Company, a nine-furlong route for state-bred sophomores on August 21.

The Dialed In gelding is perfect in three front-running state-bred outings since joining the Atras barn following a debut second for trainer Mark Glatt in April at Santa Anita.

Train the Trainer graduated by five lengths in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint versus elders over a muddy and sealed surface in May at Belmont at the Big A. He followed with a pair of stakes starts against straight 3-year-olds, taking the seven-furlong Mike Lee on June 4 here by 2 3/4-lengths ahead of a four-length romp in the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby on July 14 at Finger Lakes.

Atras said the added distance should suit Train the Trainer.

“I like the way he ran. He wasn't staggering to the wire,” Atras said. “He’s built and looks like he can handle it, but you never know until they try it sometimes.”

Train the Trainer worked back a half-mile in 51.45 seconds August 2 at Belmont Park and Atras said the $52,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase will have his next two works here at Saratoga.

“He came out his last race really good,” Atras said. “We sent him to Belmont for a little bit and he breezed once down there really nice.”

Train the Trainer is out of the winning Forestry mare Heavenly Vision, a half-sister to dual Grade 2-winner Cairo Prince.

***

Ancient World tries turf in G3 Mahony

Repole Stable’s stakes-placed Ancient World is the lone contender without grass racing experience in Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Mahony, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Joe Sharp, the Into Mischief gelding finished third in the six-furlong Listed Chick Lang in May at Pimlico Race Course ahead of a last-out sixth to the undefeated Verifire in the seven-furlong Listed Maxfield on June 29 at Churchill Downs.

Ancient World’s 11 3/4-length Maxfield defeat may be better than it looks on paper, as he broke from post 1-of-11 and was beaten by 3-for-3 Verifire, next-out Grade 2 Amsterdam presented by Albany Med Health System-winner Smoken Wicked, Grade 3-placed Captain Cook, Chick Lang-winner Retribution and Grade 3-winner Speed King.

Ancient World has worked back four times at Saratoga, most recently breezing a half-mile in 50.74 seconds over the Oklahoma turf training track on August 3, where he covered the same distance in 48.44 on July 20.

“He’s doing well,” said Sharp. “We’re obviously taking a shot trying the turf. He had two nice works on the grass up here. He seems to handle it. I think being able to close at 5 1/2 furlongs might be right in his wheelhouse.”

Luis Saez, aboard for the Maxfield, has the return call from post 7, tabbed at odds of 10-1 on the morning-line.

“Luis got to know him a little bit last time at Churchill,” Sharp said. “Like I said, the turf is a complete unknown, but the horse is doing really well physically.”

The bay began his career 2-for-2 sprinting six furlongs, winning his Fair Grounds debut in March and an allowance in April at Keeneland. He closed to win both races, including from 14 lengths back early in his first race.

Ancient World, a $525,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the dual dirt stakes-winning Indian Charlie mare Thirteen Arrows, a half-sister to 2013 Grade 1 Whitney-winner Cross Traffic out of dual dirt Grade 1-winner Stop Traffic, who did win twice and was stakes-placed on grass.

“There is some reason he could like it,” said Sharp of the pedigree. “That played a factor and we discussed it with the team of Repole’s. We figured we will give this race a chance. If he runs well here, we will look at Kentucky Downs in a big 3-year-old stakes down there.”

Erich R. Brehm, Jr.’s juvenile filly Oscar’s Encore graduated on debut sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs versus maiden auction company on Wednesday here. The Oscar Performance chestnut tracked the pace and won by two lengths, earning a 61 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.

“She ran to our expectations for sure. We had high hopes for her. She was working well but they still have to put all the pieces together and she sure did,” Sharp said. “She is Ontario-bred, we are taking a look at all the options. I think you’ll likely see her in an auction allowance race at Kentucky Downs or a stake.”