Fierceness, Mindframe work on Spa main track
Saratoga Race Course Notes
- Multiple Grade 1-winners Fierceness, Mindframe work on Spa main track
- Sierra Leone and Contrary Thinking work for G1 Whitney
- Highland Falls drills for G1 Whitney; Good Cheer and Margie’s Intention tune up for G1 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales
- Magnitude works for G1 DraftKings Travers; Zeitlos possible for G1 Resorts World Casino Ballerina
- Skippylongstocking works, no decision yet on G1 Whitney
- Outfielder targets G1 Prix Morny
Multiple Grade 1-winners Fierceness, Mindframe work on Spa main track
Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher sent out his top two older horses for breezes over the Saratoga Race Course main track Saturday, with 2023 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness completing his work after the first renovation break and dual Grade 1-winner Mindframe heading out after the second break. Both horses are under consideration for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.
Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier’s Fierceness completed his exercise to the outside of Grade 1-placed Dreamlike, with NYRA clockers catching the pair covering a half-mile in 49 and 2/5 seconds before Fierceness edged clear at the wire and galloped out strongly.
“It was good,” Pletcher said. “With Fierceness, he had a really good work last week with a strong gallop-out, so we were looking to do a little less with a maintenance work. I thought he was moving really well and looked good, so we’re happy with that.”
Later in the morning, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables’ Mindframe was among the first horses on the track following the 8:15 renovation break, and worked a half-mile in 49 1/5 per NYRA clockers to the outside of impressive maiden-winner Classicist.
“It was also a maintenance type of work, but the same thing – moving really well and looked good,” Pletcher said.
With Fierceness expected to run in the nine-furlong Whitney and Mindframe on the fence, Pletcher confirmed both horses will be entered on Sunday with the intent to run one horse.
“I think we will enter both with the idea that if all is well, we will probably just run Fierceness,” Pletcher said. “Six days is a long time in this business, so I want to keep all our options open. I wouldn’t think post position would weigh into it, we just want to make sure everyone is doing well all week, and as we know, things can happen. We wouldn’t want to not have the option to run Mindframe.”
Fierceness enters the Whitney off a runner-up effort to Raging Torrent in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 7 over a sloppy and sealed Spa main track. He kicked off his year with a track-record-setting victory in the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs, and returns to Saratoga where he is 3-for-4, including last year’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 DraftKings Travers.
Mindframe has shown versatility in his three starts this year, beginning with a win in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile in March and following with Grade 1 triumphs in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs and nine-furlong Stephen Foster last out on June 28, both at the Louisville oval. He has raced once at Saratoga, finishing a game half-length second to Dornoch in last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.
Pletcher also provided an update on Whisper Hill Farm’s Leslie’s Rose, who won the Spa’s Grade 2 Shuvee on July 18 in her first win since taking the Grade 1 Ashland last April at Keeneland.
The daughter of Into Mischief was eased over sloppy and sealed footing in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford on June 6 here, but rebounded with aplomb to post a 3 3/4-length win over Dazzling Move in the Shuvee.
Pletcher said a return to Grade 1 company next is likely for Leslie’s Rose, looking to the $500,000 Personal Ensign on August 23 here. The Personal Ensign offer a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar.
“She came back well, and she ran well, so I think that’s a logical target,” Pletcher said of the Personal Ensign. “It was a big win for her. It’s been a little frustrating because unfortunately, she just doesn’t care for a sloppy track. Both the Kentucky Oaks and the Phipps we caught storms on the way to the paddock, so hopefully we’ll get lucky and catch a fast racetrack.”
The $1.15 million purchase from the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale owns a consistent 10-4-1-2 record with $743,800 in total purse earnings.
Sierra Leone and Contrary Thinking work for G1 Whitney
Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown has lifted the trophy for many of the major races at Saratoga Race Course, but he will likely have two chances with Sierra Leone and Contrary Thinking to capture one race that has eluded him thus far in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney. The Whitney offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.
Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith’s reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Sierra Leone, second last out in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 28 at Churchill Downs, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Saturday to the inside of Secured Lender over the Spa main track.
“He worked super. It was just maintenance,” Brown said. “He's bounced out of the Stephen Foster race in good order, and he was moving great through the lane.”
Last year, the Gun Runner colt banked in excess of $5.9 million via a 7-3-2-2 ledger that included stakes wins in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic versus elders at Del Mar.
Along the way, he hit the board in two-thirds of the Triple Crown with a nose second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and a 1 1/2-length third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets – the latter effort preceding a close second in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and rallying third in the Grade 1 Travers here at the Spa.
Sierra Leone has raced twice this year in compact fields when third in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic in March at Fair Grounds and a one-length second to Mindframe last out in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster.
The $2.3 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase will face a Whitney field expected to include some of the top older horses in the country with Fierceness, Mindframe, White Abarrio, Skippylongstocking, Post Time, Highland Falls, Gould’s Gold and Mama’s Gold all possible.
Brown said he is not too concerned just yet about where his horse ranks in terms of year-end honors, but feels Sierra Leone is in good order as he looks for his first win at the Spa.
“It's early in the season still and a lot of racing to go,” Brown said. “The horse is the reigning 3-Year-Old Champion and he's coming off a very nice race. I'm happy with how he's training and that's all that really matters to me at the moment.”
Contrary Thinking, by Into Mischief, was trained by Brown through his first five starts for Klaravich Stables, but was purchased privately by Peter Brant out of his last-out 3 3/4-length score in a one-turn mile allowance on June 29 at Belmont at the Big A. That effort, accomplished in frontrunning fashion, earned the 5-year-old gelding a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure when stretched out beyond 6 1/2-furlongs for the first time.
The lightly-raced bay worked a half-mile in 50 seconds flat Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.
“As of right now, we're planning on going with him. He's working down at Belmont today and we'll see how it goes,” Brown said.
Contrary Thinking, initially purchased for $280,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the graded stakes-winning Curlin mare Valadorna – a half-sister to the Brown-trained Complexity, who captured the 2018 Grade 1 Champagne and 2020 Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park.
“His first time going long was encouraging and he's a well-bred horse, particularly out of this good mare Valadorna which gives him a lot of stamina. I think this horse can get a piece of this race,” Brown said.
Contrary Thinking, who graduated at first asking last April at Aqueduct Racetrack, has banked $102,540 via a 5-2-0-0 ledger.
Highland Falls drills for G1 Whitney
Godolphin’s Grade 1-winning Kentucky homebred Highland Falls turned in his final work for next weekend’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney when covering five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 solo over the Saratoga Race Course main track on Saturday.
Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the 5-year-old son of Curlin worked in his usual blinkers with Luis Saez up. He enters from his lone start this year when taking a one-turn mile optional claimer by 5 1/2-lengths on June 27 at Belmont at the Big A.
The work was supervised by Blake Cox, the son of and assistant to Brad who said the team was pleased with what they saw from Highland Falls.
“He was good. He went five-eighths from the half and went nice and smooth, letting him quicken down the lane,” Cox said. “He looked very happy and it was a good work. He’s a good enough work horse on his own, so we just figured we’d go solo this week.”
Highland Falls returns to the scene of his best performance to date, a four-length romp in last year’s 10-furlong Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup that equaled a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s doing great and obviously, he had a good year here last year, so I think he likes this place,” Cox said. “I think he’s very similar to last year – we liked him a lot going into the Jockey Club and he’s a more seasoned horse now. There’s some very good horses in there, but hopefully he can get a piece of it.”
Good Cheer and Margie’s Intention tune up for G1 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales
Cox also sent out Grade 1 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales contenders Good Cheer [47 3/5] and Margie’s Intention to work on Saturday over the Spa main.
Good Cheer, another Godolphin homebred, was last seen finishing a flat fifth in the Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn on June 6 here, her first loss in her eighth outing. Her impressive win streak was topped by the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 2 at Churchill Downs where she scored by 2 1/4 lengths over Drexel Hill.
“Luis was on her as well and she went nice and smooth, out in a minute and two,” Cox said. “She was really good – Luis never moved and she came back to the barn hardly blowing. For right now, solo seems like it’s working out. We went a month without breezing her and I think it’s really helped. She’s put on a couple pounds and her coat is looking good. Hopefully, we’ll get her back in the win column.”
Baron Stable and WinStar Farm’s Margie’s Intention had her second work since finishing a closing second to Fondly in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on June 14. The Honor A.P. dark bay made her first five starts for trainer Brendan Walsh before moving to the Cox barn and winning the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at first asking in May at Pimlico Race Course.
Cox said he liked what he saw from Margie’s Intention on Saturday, and that her and Good Cheer should compliment each other in the 10-furlong Alabama.
“It was another maintenance work pointing for the Alabama,” Cox said. “I don’t think they’ll really get in each other’s way. They’re two quality fillies, and they both seem like a mile and a quarter won’t hurt them.”
Cox is in search of his first win in the Alabama after finishing second in 2020 with Bonny South and in 2023 with Wet Paint.
Magnitude works for G1 DraftKings Travers
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude worked five-eighths in 1:01.70 Saturday over the Saratoga Race Course main track for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen as he prepares for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 23.
“He went nice and smooth,” Asmussen said. “He's got several works before the Travers, and we will steadily pick it up with him. I'm extremely happy with how he's doing today.”
The Not This Time bay won 2-of-5 starts as a juvenile, taking an optional-claimer in November at Churchill Downs ahead of a distant second in the Listed Gun Runner in December at Fair Grounds.
Magnitude was a 2 3/4-length sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds to kick off his current campaign, but improved markedly when stretched out to nine furlongs at the Louisiana oval for a frontrunning 9 3/4-length romp in the Grade 2 Risen Star on February 15.
He missed the Triple Crown races with an ankle chip but returned victorious last out on July 5 with a 9 1/4-length frontrunning score in the Listed Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows over good going.
Asmussen said both time and added distance have benefitted Magnitude’s improvement.
“He's a horse that always showed a lot of ability but wasn't really living up to how he was training early. He's finally filling out his frame and maturing like we expected him to do. His early form was OK, but his last two races are excellent,” Asmussen said.
Magnitude, out of the Bernardini mare Rockadelic, was a $450,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His second dam is dual Grade 1 winner Octave, who notched top-flight victories on the NYRA circuit in 2007 in the Mother Goose at Belmont Park and Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.
Zeitlos possible for G1 Resorts World Casino Ballerina
Asmussen said Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel’s Zeitlos, a half-length second last out here over turf in the Grade 3 Caress on July 19, could point to the Grade 1, $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina over seven furlongs on the Spa main track on Travers Day August 23.
The versatile Curlin mare has banked in excess of $1.1 million through a 20-9-5-2 ledger that includes a last-to-first score in the six-furlong Grade 2 TCA in October at Keeneland.
Asmussen said he had considered entering Zeitlos in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss here last weekend, but preferred to try and diversify her impressive record with a graded turf win.
“She's unbelievably versatile – she gets it from her daddy,” Asmussen said. “We're going to consider running her back in the Ballerina depending upon how she trains. The Honorable Miss was a solid race but her winning it wouldn't really change her resume with her already winning the TCA and being a graded stakes winner. I like the turf-to-dirt angle possibly for her to find a little more for the Ballerina if that's where we choose to go.”
Asmussen has won four races at the current meet – three of which came in New York-bred races, including optional-claiming winner Get a Job; Iron Dome, who took down a maiden for 3-year-olds and up; and Rock It Rob, a 2-year-old Maxfield colt that captured a state-bred maiden on July 18 here.
“The New York-breds have really carried the day for us so far as far as our winners,” said Asmussen, with a laugh.
CJ Stables’ Rock It Rob made every pole a winning one in his 5 1/2-furlong debut, scoring by 2 3/4-lengths under Jose Ortiz in a strong effort that registered a 54 Beyer Speed Figure.
Asmussen said the $95,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale purchase will point to the $150,000 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, a six-furlong sprint for state-bred juveniles on August 24 here.
“I'm very happy with his race. I really liked how he came out of it and I think the timing back to August 24 will give him a chance to jump forward,” Asmussen said.
Rock It Rob, bred by Joe Fafone, is out of the War Pass mare Miss Vigilance – a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Man From Wicklow and multiple graded stakes-winner Wild Heart Dancing.
Skippylongstocking works, no decision yet on G1 Whitney
Daniel Alonso’s multimillionaire Skippylongstocking breezed a half-mile in 49 1/5 seconds, according to NYRA Clockers, on Saturday over the main track at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said he will wait until entry day [Sunday] to decide whether the 6-year-old Exaggerator bay will run in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, a nine-furlong test for older horses here.
The Whitney offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.
Skippylongstocking worked in company with Walley World while completing his fifth timed move at the Spa since a three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup on May 26 at Santa Anita Park. That was his 11th career victory among his multiple graded stakes-winning and multiple Grade 1-placed 32-start career, which includes 2023-24 victories in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, set to be contested August 22 at its namesake oval.
“He went a half in company with Walley World,” said Joseph, Jr. “The Whitney is in the cards, but we don’t need to decide until we have to, so tomorrow morning we will decide that. We didn’t run in the Stephen Foster this year, so we ran last year in the Whitney, but we do want to try to win three Charles Town Classics with him. That is the main goal, and tomorrow we will decide if we enter the Whitney.”
Skippylongstocking was fifth in last year’s Whitney before a dominant Charles Town Classic score. Joseph, Jr. said taking that path again is undecided with the Whitney appearing to be especially tough, including 2023 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Whitney-winning stablemate White Abarrio.
“The cons are the competition,” Joseph, Jr. said, with a laugh. “That is a tough race. That is the con. The pros are if he were to win it. We want to run in the Whitney, I know we did it last year, but if he runs in the Whitney and has a hard race and you mess up the Charles Town Classic, that is the drawback.”
Joseph, Jr. said White Abarrio’s presence will have no bearing on the Skippylongstocking decision. The multimillionaire 6-year-old Race Day gray is owned by C Two Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable.
“They’ve run against each other all the time. The fact is White Abarrio is a better horse than him on paper, he’s beat him [most of] the times they’ve matched up, and you’ve got more than him [targeting the Whitney], there’s Fierceness and Sierra Leone,” Joseph, Jr. said. “The main thing is the competition.”
White Abarrio was fourth last out in the one-mile Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 7 here.
“He got bumped a couple times into the first turn, jostled for position, after that he was in a good enough spot, but it seems like at that distance, the positions don’t really change. In the majority of the races who is first or second kind of goes around there,” said Joseph, Jr. “He’s coming into this well. He has one more work, he will go three-eighths the last work and hopefully he comes out well and has a good week.”
Michael Ryan’s Grade 1-winner Be Your Best scratched from the Grade 1 Dunkin’ Diana on July 12 here due to heavy rain before the race and now targets the Grade 2 Beverly D. on August 9 at Colonial Downs. Joseph, Jr. said the 5-year-old Muhaarar bay is also under consideration for the Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa on August 8 here in search of finding a course with firm turf.
Be Your Best worked a half-mile in 49 3/5 seconds, according to NYRA clockers, over the main track on Saturday.
“She went well. She went a half from the three-eighths pole, 49 and three,” said Joseph, Jr. “Plan A is the Colonial race, the Beverly D., but there is also the Ballston Spa the day before here. Wherever the weather is good. She needs firm turf. If Colonial has rain, she’ll run here. If both are firm, she’ll run at Colonial. We haven’t discussed whether we will cross-enter, but those are the options, basically.”
Be Your Best was a last-out 2 3/4-length gate-to-wire winner of the nine-furlong Grade 1 Gamely in May at Santa Anita. She has won 4-of-6 efforts for Joseph, Jr. since transferring from trainer Horacio De Paz in October 2024, taking the 11-furlong Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct Racetrack, and Gulfstream Park’s one-mile Grade 3 Suwannee River and 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational.
Outfielder targets G1 Prix Morny
Amo Racing USA, Two Eight Racing and trainer Wesley Ward’s impressive debut-winner Outfielder is pointing to the Group 1 Prix Morny on August 24 at Deauville in France.
Ward has won the Prix Morny with No Nay Never [2013], Lady Aurelia [2016] and Campanelle [2020], and hopes the juvenile son of Speightstown can add his name to the list. Outfielder dominated his lone start by 6 1/4 lengths sprinting five furlongs on May 23 at Churchill Downs.
“He’s training very well and I have him scheduled to go to France for the Prix Morny. It’s a race I’ve been highly successful in with four runs, three wins and a second,” said Ward. “We’re really looking forward to it. So far, this guy has given me every indication that he’s going to run a big race there.”
Outfielder, out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Notte d’Oro, was a $850,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. His second dam is multiple graded stakes-placed May Night, who produced Grade 1-placed Red Rifle.
Ward commented on Lael Stables’ multiple stakes-winning New York-bred Landed, who is among 11 fillies and mares entered in Wednesday’s $150,000 Johnstone, a seven-furlong sprint for state-bred females 3-and-up. The 4-year-old Omaha Beach bay was third in an open optional claimer last out on April 23 at Keeneland.
“That race came up kind of contentious. We’ll see how she ships in and she’s doing very well, so we’re looking forward to it,” said Ward.
Bred by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, Landed was a $500,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale and is out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Glory Gold, making her a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed millionaire Venti Valentine and multiple stakes-winner Espresso Shot.
Of horses nominated to upcoming stakes at the Spa, Ward said Resolution Road Stables’ Diblasi is doubtful for next Saturday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles.
“We had pointed him for it [the Saratoga Special] and he had won very nicely. His last work I wanted to see a little bit more from it, so we’re going to end up bypassing it,” Ward said of Diblasi, a 1-for-2 Win Win Win gelding who worked a half-mile in 51 second flat on July 15 at Keeneland.
Lael Stables' 7-year-old millionaire turf sprinter Arrest Me Red is doubtful for next Sunday’s Grade 2 Troy, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older horses.
“We’ll look the race over. It’s doubtful he comes, but as we get a little closer we’ll make a decision,” said Ward. “We give him a lot of time between races and kind of spot him where we don’t overmatch him. He’s a really neat horse to train. He always comes out of his races good. He’s a big, huge, heavy horse, but it’s a lot easier on grass horses over that surface. He’s a very sound, old guy.”
The veteran Pioneerof the Nile bay was a neck second to Joe Shiesty last out in the Listed Mighty Beau on June 7 at Churchill Downs.