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Fetching looks to parlay turf success to the dirt in Thursday's Saratoga Dew

by Brian Bohl

Fetching will look to step up in class in her first main track start, building on wins in two of her first three career starts entering her stakes debut in Thursday's 16th running of the $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Tina Casse, Bonnycastle and Sharleen and Linda McMartin, Fetching was unraced as a juvenile before winning her debut at seven furlongs on May 25 over the Belmont Park turf. After running third against allowance company at Belmont at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the Afleet Alex filly bested an 11-horse field by a nose stretching out to 1 1/8 miles on July 14 on Saratoga's firm turf.

Trainer Mark Casse will now switch Fetching to the dirt for the first time, competing at 1 1/8 miles as part of a six-horse field.

Jockey Manny Franco picks up the mount from post 2.

Cartwheel will also be making her stakes debut after going 3-1-2 through her first 14 starts, including a 10 ½-length score last out in a one-mile contest over a sloppy track that was moved off the turf. Owned by William Parsons, Jr. and David Howe, Cartwheel has one win in two starts at Saratoga, including an off-the-turf victory at seven furlongs last August.

The Mark Hennig trainee drew post 3 with Jose Lezcano aboard.

"She ran with some of these horses before with allowance conditions, and she's done well since that win, so we're taking a chance," Hennig said. "She seems to like it here in Saratoga."

Ten Strike Racing's Lucky Move is coming off a win by three-quarters of a length against optional claiming company on July 25 at the Saratoga Dew distance at the Spa. Off a quick turnaround, the 5-year-old Lookin At Lucky mare will look to thrive again at the distance for trainer Bentley Combs, drawing post 6 with Joel Rosario in the irons.

Chester and Mary Broman's Turn and Bern broke his maiden at third asking in January at Aqueduct Racetrack and returned to the winner's circle for the first time in four starts last out with a four-length win at one-mile on May 26 over Belmont's Big Sandy. A daughter of Bernardini and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Turn and Bern will break from post 4 with Dylan Davis set to ride.

Held Accountable, also owned by the Bromans, will face stakes company for the first time since running seventh in the Bay Ridge to cap her sophomore campaign on December 30 at the Big A. Trained by Phil Serpe, the 4-year-old Exchange Rate filly ran third in her 2019 bow, finishing behind Indy Union and the winner Queen of Beas on July 26 at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga. She will compete at the same distance and track, drawing post 5 with Eric Cancel on the call.

Her stablemate, Out of Orbit, will make her first stakes appearance in her 21st career start. Luis Saez will ride from post 1.

The Saratoga Dew is slated for Race 8 on Thursday's 10-race card that will start with a 1 p.m. Eastern first post.