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Essential Quality records 98 BSF for G2 Jim Dandy win; targets G1 Runhappy Travers

by NYRA Press Office

• Essential Quality records 98 BSF for G2 Jim Dandy win; targets G1 Runhappy Travers
• Lexitonian follows G1 Vanderbilt score with possible return engagement in G1 Forego
• Cross Border earns 100 BSF in G2 Bowling Green score
• Swiss Skydiver breezes for G1 Whitney
  
• Caramel Swirl under consideration for G2 Prioress
  
• Moquett eyes G1 Forego for Champion Sprinter Whitmore
  
• Quarantine at Barn 86 lifted
  
•  Carlos Martin to appear at fundraiser in Gloversville
  
• Cross Country Pick 5 pays 26K; registers total pool of $125K

Essential Quality, the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner, was a determined victor of Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course and will now target the meet’s signature event, the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 28.

The Godolphin-owned son of Tapit, trained by Brad Cox, overcame a five-wide trip on both turns, rating at the rear of the compact field down the backstretch and fended off an inside rally from Keepmeinmind to finish off the nine furlongs in 1:49.92 over the fast main track.

“The more I looked at it, the more I wondered how much pace was in the race and then I thought we’d be forwardly placed just because he was fresh,” Cox said. “The horse to the inside of us [Keepmeinmind] was also fresh. I think it played out kind of the way we expected, obviously I didn’t think we would be caught quite as wide, but I thought it would be a well-grouped bunch of horses going into the first turn. He’s able to dig in and fight and continue on.”

The Jim Dandy marked a sixth graded stakes victory from the gray sophomore colt, who earned championship honors last season with victories in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, both at Keeneland Race Course.

After a triumphant 3-year-old debut over a sloppy track in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park, he returned to the Lexington oval in the Grade 2 Blue Grass where he bested Highly Motivated to secure victory by a neck.

Essential Quality suffered his only defeat as the favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby when fourth beaten a length after a wide trip in upper stretch, but returned to action with a determined victory in the Belmont Stakes when outdueling Hot Rod Charlie down the lane to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

“We always thought he was a good horse, but you just always hope all of them show that talent to reach a Grade 1 level,” Cox said. “Obviously, he was able to do that in only his second start, so he answered a lot of our questions early on as to how good he was.”

Cox expressed appreciation in being able to train horses for a world-class racing and breeding operation like Godolphin.

“Obviously this is a dream come true, but it’s a lot of hard work, good horses great staff and great clientele that has given us the opportunity and put us in the position to succeed,” Cox said.

Essential Quality would look to become the first horse since Alpha to capture the Jim Dandy-Runhappy Travers double.

Cox could hold a strong hand for the Runhappy Travers as Juddmonte Farm’s Mandaloun, winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, is also a possible contender. Cox said a breeze next weekend will likely determine which direction Mandaloun goes.

Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin’s North American operations, expressed satisfaction in running Essential Quality before the Travers and said both he and Cox were on the same page in terms of running in the Jim Dandy.

“Things are looking well, we have some nice things to look forward to,” Bell said following the Jim Dandy. “He got a lot out of this race. I would not take this for granted and Brad said very quickly he was glad he ran him. I think this will move him forward to his training for the Travers. We’re obviously very pleased with the effort, the outcome and he keeps on showing up.”

Essential Quality is out of the multiple stakes-placed Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality, who has a 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo named Famed in training at Keeneland.

***

Lexitonian follows G1 Vanderbilt score with possible return engagement in G1 Forego

It took five years and 19 races, but Lexitonian notched a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure for the first time when he registered his first career Grade 1 victory by topping Special Reserve by a half-length to win Saturday’s $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga, garnering a 102 number.

The Jack Sisterson trainee came close previously to attaining Grade 1-winner status when finishing second by a head to Flagstaff in a highly competitive edition of the seven-furlong Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day May 1.

After running last-of-sixth and being eased in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan on Belmont Stakes Day June 5, Lexitonian cut back to six furlongs in the Vanderbilt and shined, dueling Special Reserve in the stretch before edging clear, improving his career record to 5-2-2 with earnings at $687,682.

“I was just sitting outside his stall watching him this morning and he looks great and energetic,” Sisterson said. “He came out of the race in great shape. I was really proud of his effort because from a past performance standpoint, he might be a little untrustworthy at times with a good race and a bad race, but he does all the hard work. We don’t mind taking a shot with him and being a longshot. As long as he’s doing well, he gives us confidence to run in any type of race we can.”

Lexington, who came into Sisterson’s care in 2019, won his first graded race as a sophomore when capturing the 2019 Grade 3 Chick Lang that marked his lone graded stakes score before yesterday. Sisterson said the late-blooming success is reminiscent of his sire Speightstown, who did not win a graded stakes until his 6-year-old campaign in 2004 when he won four of them, including that year’s Alfred G. Vanderbilt and Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“We always felt, even when we originally got him, that he had talent but could get better with age,” Sisterson said. “Dan Pride from Godolphin stopped by the barn this morning because he has horses with Brendan Walsh, as we share the same barn. Dan told me that Speightstown didn’t win his first Grade 1 until 6 and had an 18-month layoff, so I can understand now why Lexitonian is doing what he’s doing at the age of 5.”

Lexitonian, a Calumet Farm homebred, won for the first time in his last seven starts overall and posted his first victory since May 2020. Sisterson said it’s a possibility the Kentucky homebred could make a return engagement in the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego at seven furlongs on Travers Day August 28.

“Right after the race, I like to set a plan and obviously we’re here in Saratoga and he handled the track well yesterday, so the next stop could potentially be the Forego,” Sisterson said. “We’ll see how he comes out of the race and goes from there. But you’re looking at the race at Belmont [Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh on October 9] or bringing back home for the [Grade 2] Phoenix [October 8 at Keeneland]. The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at the end of the year.”

In last year’s Forego, Lexitonian ran fifth in an 11-horse field over a sloppy and sealed track in heavy rain. Sisterson said potential improved conditions could facilitate a better start this time should he choose to run him there.

“I know I’m a little biased, but I didn’t think he ran badly in the Forego last year,” Sisterson said. “It was in a downpour and probably not his ideal conditions. He paid $70 yesterday, so no one respected him. But I understand why the public felt that way, because he threw in a clunker there, but when he’s on his form, he has a chance.”

Fellow Calumet Farm homebred Channel Cat set the pace in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green on Saturday before finishing fourth in the eight-horse field in the 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for older horses. Channel Cat, who was ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez for the third straight race, registered a 97 Beyer in his first race since running seventh in the Grade 1 Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day.

“He looks in great shape this morning,” Sisterson said. “John gave him a great ride. We felt he’d be the speed early and it was, but it just wasn’t his day. He’s doing well.”

Channel Cat, the winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War in May at Belmont, has already achieved millionaire status, with the 6-year-old English Channel son compiling a 6-3-5 record in 28 starts with earnings of $1,406,022.

Tango Tango Tango, also owned by Calumet Farm, breezed four furlongs in 50.60 seconds on Saturday over the Keeneland main track.

The 3-year-old Tourist colt, who won his stakes debut last out in the 1 1/16-mile American Derby on July 17 at Arlington Park, was a possibility for the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 7. But Sisterson said it’s more likely Tango Tango Tango will return to Arlington to run in the Grade 1, $300,000 Bruce D – a race formerly knowns as the Secretariat – on August 14.

“Probably more than likely, we’ll go back to Arlington with him,” Sisterson said.

***

Cross Border earns 100 BSF in G2 Bowling Green score

Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border continued his dominance on the Saratoga turf with a decisive 1 1/4-length score in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green.

The 7-year-old New York-bred tracked in third position as Channel Maker and Channel Cat - fellow progeny of English Channel - set the early pace over the inner turf. Luis Saez tipped Cross Border out a path for the stretch run and the dark bay ridgling responded with a powerful turn of foot to secure the win and a 100 Beyer.

Trained by Mike Maker, who tops the Spa trainer standings with 12 wins heading into Sunday's card, Cross Border boasts a record of 7-6-1-0 on the Saratoga turf, including four wins on the inner course.

"The race shaped up like it looked on paper," Maker said. "We had a great trip and we were fortunate enough to get the job done. He came back super."

Bred in the Empire State by Berkshire Stud and B.D. Gibbs, Cross Border went 3-for-3 over the local turf in 2019, led by an open allowance score.

Last year, Cross Border stepped things up a notch, winning the state-bred Lubash ahead of a win in the Bowling Green by disqualification. He completed his 2020 Spa campaign with a runner-up effort to Channel Maker in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer.

Maker said Cross Border will now target a return engagement in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 28. The 1 1/2-mile turf contest for 4-year-olds and up is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar.

Maker said he is hoping to send out another New York-bred for a stakes win this summer when he saddles multiple graded stakes winner Somelikeithotbrown in the $150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank, a 1 1/16-mile test for state-breds 3-years-old and up on August 27.

"We have another New York-bred, Somelikeithotbrown, who will show up in the West Point and Cross Border will come back in the Sword Dancer," Maker said.

Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's Somelikeithotbrown has made three starts on the Saratoga turf, including a maiden win ahead of a runner-up effort in the 2018 Grade 3 With Anticipation. Last year, the talented bay, bred in the Empire State by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables, won the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch in gate-to-wire fashion.

Maker will also look to secure a Grade 1 win later in the meet with Three Diamonds Farm's Kentucky-bred Army Wife in the $600,000 Alabama, a 10-furlong test for sophomore fillies on August 21.

By Declaration of War, Army Wife will be in search of a graded-stakes hat trick following scores in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan in May at Pimlico and the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks on July 2 at Prairie Meadows.

Maker, who is four wins clear of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher heading into Day 14 of the summer meet, credited his staff for the strong start to the meet.

"We have a lot of horses that fit the book well and we're fortunate enough to get some wins," Maker said. "I know we're on top but we've got a long way to go. It would be great for the staff [to win the meet] and they deserve it."

***

Swiss Skydiver breezes for G1 Whitney

Peter Callahan’s three-time Grade 1 winner Swiss Skydiver put in her final piece of serious preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga.

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, the Kenny McPeek-trained 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil went five-eighths in 1:01.21 Sunday over a Saratoga main track rated fast.

A winner over six different ovals, including Saratoga when capturing last year’s Grade 1 Alabama, Swiss Skydiver has won with five different jockeys aboard.

Ortiz, Jr. will look to increase that number when he pilots the chestnut filly in the Whitney.

“He loved her and said she felt great,” McPeek said. “We’re excited, we should be ready. She’s adaptable to racetracks and jockeys, it doesn’t really matter.”

Swiss Skydiver has posted six graded stakes wins over five different ovals with her biggest claim to fame taking place against males in last year’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes. The last female to capture the Whitney was undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign in 1988.

McPeek breezed graded stakes winner King Fury over the Oklahoma training turf Sunday in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational going 1 3/16 miles over the Mellon turf course.

The son of Curlin, out of Grade 1-winner Taris, worked with Jose Ortiz aboard in company with Fighting Seabee, winner of the 2019 Grade 3 With Anticipation, and finished off his five furlong move in 1:01.25.

Owned by Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm, King Fury scored in the Grade 3 Lexington on April 10 over a sloppy and sealed track at Keeneland two starts back. He arrives at his turf debut off a close second to Masqueparade in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 26 at Thistledown.

McPeek said he would like to run King Fury in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers.

“Jose seemed to think that he can handle the turf,” McPeek said. “We’ll learn a little something about him and it’s a big purse. That’s been our goal all summer is to get him to the Travers. The turf race is looking deep but it shouldn’t hurt him.

“It’s a very good group of 3-year-olds and Essential Quality had another workmanlike win yesterday, but it’s hard to separate the 3-year-olds until the Breeders’ Cup,” McPeek continued. “That’s the race that really separates everybody.”

***

Caramel Swirl under consideration for G2 Prioress

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said recent allowance winner Caramel Swirl is under consideration for the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies on September 4 at Saratoga.

The Godolphin homebred, a daughter of Union Rags, notched a career best 94 Beyer against winners on July 24 going seven furlongs over the Spa main track.

A fifth-out maiden winner at Keeneland on April 9 by 10 ¼ lengths, Caramel Swirl had squared off against subsequent stakes winners prior to graduating. On debut, she was second to Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks-winner Malathaat and was runner-up next out to stakes-winner Miss Brazil.

“She’s possible for the Prioress,” Mott said. “She’s been back on the track and looking good.”

A Kentucky homebred, Caramel Swirl is out of the unraced Smart Strike mare Caramel Snap – a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winner and second-crop sire Frosted, who won the Met Mile and Whitney in 2016.

***

Moquett eyes G1 Forego for Champion Sprinter Whitmore

Trainer Ron Moquett said he is considering targeting the Grade 1 Forego with 2020 Champion Sprinter Whitmore, following his third-place finish in Saturday’s Grade 1 A.G. Vanderbilt.

Owned by Moquett in partnership with Robert V. LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, the seven-time graded stakes winner rated in between horses down the backstretch while taking some kick back. Whitmore made a menacing move in upper stretch when switching to the outside and gained on frontrunners Lexitonian and Special Reserve, but came up 1 ¾ lengths shy of victory.

The 8-year-old veteran captured the 2018 running of the seven-furlong Forego over eventual Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light.

“We’re looking at the Forego,” Moquett said. “I was very proud of how he came back out of the race. Obviously, we’ll pay attention to him the next week or so and see if he’s up for it, but that’s what we’re hoping for.”

Still in search of his first victory this year, Whitmore has finished in the money in all four starts, which consists of runner-up efforts at Oaklawn Park in the Hot Springs on March 13, which he won from 2017-21, and Grade 3 Count Fleet on April 10, a race he won in 2017-18 and 2020. He arrived at the Vanderbilt off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs.

Moquett said taking dirt down the backstretch didn’t do Whitmore any favors.

“I’m sure it didn’t help. He’s sensitive about his eyes so that may have been why he decided to run outside instead of through the rail, but it looked like a lot of horses were taking kick back,” Moquett said.

Quarantine at Barn 86 lifted

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) today announced that the precautionary quarantine at Barn 86 at Saratoga Race Course, related to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 in that barn, has been lifted.

The unnamed, unraced filly, who is trained by Jorge Abreu, was sent to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on July 11 where she developed a fever. She was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for EHV-1 was returned on July 15. The filly, who began treatment immediately, is continuing to progress in her recovery.

The 46 horses stabled in Barn 86, which is home to stalls for Abreu and trainer Kenny McPeek, have all cleared quarantine without symptoms.

Carlos Martin to appear at fundraiser in Gloversville

Third-generation trainer Carlos Martin is one of the attractions for a fundraising gathering at the Lakeside Tavern and Marina in Gloversville on Tuesday.

Proceeds from this event, which includes a buffet, raffles, silent auction, and spirits tasting from Higher Grounds Distillery, will go to the RERUN Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Pediatric Cancer Research.

Tickets are $40 per person. For more information, contact (518) 879-7051.

Cross Country Pick 5 pays 26K; registers total pool of $125K

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 featuring action from Saratoga, Woodbine and Monmouth Park, paid $26,699 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $125,652.

Four graded stakes comprised the wager, starting with the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks for 3-year-old fillies in Race 10. Leader of the Band, a 10-1 selection for trainer John Servis, posted a two-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile contest, hitting the wire in 1:43.44 under jockey Frankie Pennington. Leader of the Band returned $22.60 on a $2 win wager.

Lexitonian provided an even bigger upset in the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt in Saratoga’s Race 8. The Jack Sisterson trainee, off at 34-1, dueled Special Reserve from the top of the stretch before kicking away under jockey Jose Lezcano for a half-length win, paying $70. Lexitonian, the biggest price in the nine-horse field, completed the six-furlong sprint in 1:09.38.

Woodbine got in on the action when Souper Munnings, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, bested Grey Seal by a neck to win a seven-furlong turf allowance for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in Race 9. Souper Munnings, ridden by Patrick Husbands, won as the favorite, completing the course in 1:23.15 and returning $7.90.

Saratoga completed the final two legs, starting with Essential Quality’s half-length win over Keepmeinmind in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles in Race 9. Essential Quality, who entered off a win in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes last out, set himself up for a potential start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 28 with his Jim Dandy score under jockey Luis Saez. The defending Champion 2-Year-Old paid $2.80 as the favorite, notching a final time of 1:49.92.

Cross Border closed the wager with a 1 1/4-length win in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green for 4-year-olds and up on the inner turf in Race 10. The Mike Maker trainee repeated as the Bowling Green winner, with Saez aboard, as the son of English Channel won the 1 3/8-mile marathon in 2:16.36. Cross Border paid $14.40.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.