Chelsea Durand Photo

Fierceness registers 103 BSF for G2 Jim Dandy pres. by Mohegan Sun triumph, G1 DraftKings Travers undecided

by NYRA Press Ofiice

• Fierceness registers 103 BSF for G2 Jim Dandy pres. by Mohegan Sun triumph, G1 DraftKings Travers undecided
• Sierra Leone earns career-best 102 BSF as G2 Jim Dandy runner-up
• Batten Down to point to G1 DraftKings Travers, Arthur’s Ride ready for G1 Whitney
• Nakatomi gets his G1 in Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.
• Aidan O’Brien shippers Greenfinch, Diego Velazquez arrive for Spa stakes

Repole Stable’s Kentucky homebred Fierceness returned to the winner’s circle in style Saturday when annexing the nine-furlong Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt stalked and pounced to the lead at the top of the stretch under Hall of Famer John Velazquez and dug in gamely in the lane as Sierra Leone charged up the inside from last early. Fierceness drifted out to the center of the course as the Grade 1-winning Sierra Leone made a final rush, but the Champion would not be denied and crossed the wire one length ahead in a final time of 1:49.15. The effort was awarded a 103 Beyer Speed Figure, the third triple-digit number of his career.

Pletcher said he was pleased to see the colt bounce back well in his first start since finishing off-the-board as the favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4.

“I think he’s been a little harshly criticized at times when not running his very best, but I think if you look at some of the excuses he’s had, they’re legitimate,” said Pletcher. “Yesterday, he showed he can run with the best of them and has the fight in him. I was happy to see it.”

While the Jim Dandy serves at the local major prep for the 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 24, Pletcher did not immediately commit his colt to the “Mid-Summer Derby.”

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables campaign the Pletcher-trained Grade 1 Haskell and Belmont Stakes runner-up Mindframe – who may also point for the Travers – but a pragmatic Pletcher said it is not realistic to expect to always keep two of the division’s top dirt routers separate.

“Right now, we just want to give it a few days and see how he comes out of it,” Pletcher said of Fierceness’ Travers status. “So far, he looks good this morning, so we’ll play it by ear. As much as we want to always keep them separate, if it comes up where we feel it’s the right thing for each horse, then we’ll let them sort it out on the track.”

Fierceness adds to a strong resume that includes the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Santa Anita Park and a 13 1/2-length trouncing of the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March at Gulfstream Park. He now boasts a lifetime record of 7-4-0-1 with $1,978,850.

Pletcher also celebrated a win yesterday at the Spa with Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Speak Easy, who remained perfect through two starts when capturing Race 4, a six-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds and up.

The talented son of Constitution had not been seen since the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in March at Gulfstream where he got loose before the race and was scratched. He made his much anticipated return Saturday to make his first start since a January 27 graduation in a key race that included subsequent Grade 3-winner and Jim Dandy third Batten Down and stakes-winner Corporate Power.

Speak Easy pounced from 5 1/2 lengths off the pace under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Saturday, showing a strong turn of foot in the final eighth to sweep past his rivals and post the 2 1/4-length victory. He was awarded a 97 Beyer for the effort.

“I thought that was a very good comeback,” said Pletcher. “Six [furlongs] might be a little short for him, but he seemed to handle it very well – put himself in a good spot and finished up nicely.”

Speak Easy is out of the dual graded stakes-placed Harlan’s Holiday mare Fun, a half-sister to stakes-winner Home Run Maker.

***

Sierra Leone earns career-best 102 BSF as G2 Jim Dandy runner-up

Grade 1-winner Sierra Leone rallied from last-of-6 and 10 lengths off the pace under Flavien Prat to finish a strong second to the victorious Fierceness in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the Gun Runner colt showed good energy through the final turn but was forced to make an inside run down the lane as Hall of Famer John Velazquez kept Fierceness in the middle of the track.

“He ended up down on the inside and I do think it was deeper down there, but I don't want to make excuses,” Brown said. “It might have watered down his kick a bit going down in there, but it was a smart race John Velazquez rode to stay outside - we didn't have any choice, but to go inside. It looked like he was winding up pretty good, but the winner kicked on too from where he was. There were two good horses at the wire and Fierceness was able to find more.”

Brown said Sierra Leone will now set his sights on the 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 24 here.

“I thought he ran great. He put in a really good performance,” Brown said. “He's come out of it well, so we'll move forward and point to the Travers. We're looking forward to getting back out to a mile and a quarter.”

Campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing and Peter Brant, Sierra Leone captured the Grade 2 Risen Star in February at Fair Grounds and the Grade 1 Blue Grass in April at Keeneland. He entered the Jim Dandy from deep-closing efforts in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs where he was bested a nose by Mystik Dan and a good third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in June here when 1 1/2-lengths back of the more prominent eventual Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell-winner Dornoch.

Sierra Leone, a $2.3 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase, has banked in excess of $2.2 million through a 7-3-3-1 record.

Earlier on the Saturday card, Brown enjoyed a sparkling debut from Flanagan Racing’s juvenile colt Chancer McPatrick, who rallied from last-of-10 under Prat with a seven-wide stretch run to score by one length in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight.

“I was a bit uneasy down the backside when he got shuffled back and he was way out of position,” Brown said. “He's faster than that and I didn't think he had much of a chance from there, but he showed his ability to get up in time. He ended up on a good part of the track out in the center. He was probably helped by being on a better part of the track, but he showed a lot of ability. I was really pleased with him.”

Brown said the McKinzie colt is likely to target the seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful on September 2 here.

“I think stretching him out to seven [furlongs] is a minimum of what he really wants and down the road longer than that,” Brown said.

A $725,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, Chancer McPatrick is out of the winning Bernardini mare Bernadreamy. His second dam is Grade 1-winner Dream Empress.

Chancer McPatrick marked Brown’s third 2-year-old debut winner of the meet, joining Resolute Racing’s More Than Ready filly Virgin Colada, who is pointing to the $150,000 P.G. Johnson at 1 1/16-miles on turf on August 28; and Klaravich Stables’ Incentive Pay, a Volatile colt under consideration for the Grade 1 Hopeful.

Brown worked a pair of promising juveniles on the Oklahoma training turf Sunday as Miss Beethoven, a French-bred daughter of Van Beethoven, and Zulu Kingdom, a Ten Sovereigns colt, breezed in company.

Both private purchases, Miss Beethoven won a five-furlong allowance in April over soft going at La Test De Buch for trainer Alonso Roldan, while Zulu Kingdom captured a seven-furlong maiden over soft footing in June at Saint-Cloud for Andre Fabre.

Brown indicated Miss Beethoven could point to the P.G. Johnson, while Zulu Kingdom is possible for the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3, $175,000 With Anticipation on August 28.

“They looked pretty good,” Brown said of the breeze. “I know they sprinted overseas, but I like these type of horses stretching out.”

***

Batten Down to point to G1 DraftKings Travers, Arthur’s Ride ready for G1 Whitney

Juddmonte’s Grade 3-winning Kentucky homebred Batten Down finished third in Saturday’s nine-furlong Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun, at Saratoga Race Course. In the stretch, the Tapit gray was in second position on the chase of an outwardly-drifting Fierceness, forcing him to dive inside where he was passed by Sierra Leone for place-honors.

The Jim Dandy serves as the local major prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 24, and Hall of Famer Bill Mott said Batten Down will stay on that path.

“Absolutely,” Mott said of a potential next start in the Travers. “I’ll put it this way, we are surely going to nominate him.”

Batten Down matched his career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure in the 6 3/4-length defeat. He earned that same number in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 22 at Thistledown and before that when winning by 8 3/4 lengths to graduate fourth-out going 10 furlongs against elders on April 30 at Churchill.

Mott said Fierceness’ wide stretch run might’ve intimidated Batten Down, but it was still a strong showing.

“It didn’t help us. It maybe intimidated our horse a little bit,” said Mott. “Got beat by two awfully good horses. It was a good effort. It was a pretty good effort.”

Out of the multiple Grade 1-winner and 2014 Champion Older Mare Close Hatches, Batten Down is a full-brother to the Mott-trained multiple graded stakes-winner Tacitus. He is also a full-brother to multiple graded stakes-winner Scylla, who is still active for Mott.

On Saturday, Glassman Racing’s Arthur’s Ride completed his preparations towards the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, a nine-furlong event on the main track, on August 3 at the Spa. The historic race is a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old Tapit gray breezed a half-mile in 48.21 seconds over the Oklahoma to the outside of Classic Legacy.

Mott said the last-out 12 3/4-length optional-claiming winner will be entered in the Whitney, while looking elsewhere for multiple graded/group-placed Bendoog who was also nominated.

“The plan is for Arthur’s Ride,” said Mott of entering both.

Mott added that Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and R.T Racing Stable’s stakes-winner Sosua Summer worked solo this morning over the Oklahoma training turf towards Saturday’s Grade 2 Troy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older horses.

Last Sunday, the 5-year-old Summer Front horse covered the same course in a bullet 47.20, fastest-of-64 workers at the distance.

Sosua Summer was a distant off-the-board finisher last-out in the Grade 1 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing won by Cogburn in North American record time. He tracked that foe in second position before fading after a blistering half-mile in 43.07 on the firm turf.

“He was probably too close to the pace,” Mott concluded.

Mott said that fan-favorite Baby Yoda, owned by Wachtel and Barber in addition to Pantofel Stable and Jerold Zaro, didn’t run his best yesterday in the six-furlong Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap won by Nakatomi.

“He didn’t get away real well. It just wasn’t his day,” Mott said of the Grade 2 True North-winner who boasts a 4-for-7 record at the Spa.

***

Nakatomi gets his G1 in Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.

Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Nakatomi returned to the races in dominant fashion Saturday, annexing the Grade 1, $500,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a six-furlong handicap for three-year-olds and up at Saratoga Race Course.

Nakatomi, away from the races since a third-place effort in the Grade 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse in March, was able to land his first graded/group stakes victory in his 11th attempt under a well-timed ride by Tyler Gaffalione.

Stalking the pacesetting Skelly, the Wesley Ward-trained Nakatomi saved ground along the rail before angling out at the top of the stretch, accelerating past his rival to go onto a 1 1/2-length win.

“I kind of imagined him being a little bit further back,” Ward said. “Everyone was kind of expecting him to the be one horse to sit back. On paper, the race was loaded with speed, but he was fresh and he hadn’t raced in some time, so he was eager. When he bounced out of there that first jump Tyler kind of went with it.”

Ward said the 5-year-old Firing Line gelding exited the event in good order.

“Jogged up perfectly sound this morning. We are excited for the horse. He earned this one,” Ward said. “With these type of sprint races, you don’t know which ones are going to pop up and run big that day and we were lucky that was us this time.

“I am very excited to get a Grade 1 win at Saratoga, those seem to be elusive not only for me, but for everybody,” Ward added.

In victory, Nakatomi matched his lifetime best 105 Beyer Speed Figure as well as becoming racing’s newest millionaire bumping his earnings to $1,153,776 in 18 starts with an overall record of 6-2-6.

When asked about the long layoff and getting Nakatomi to fire his best race yesterday Ward explained his training mantra when it comes to running in Dubai.

“I go in with the mindset that we are going to do our best over there [Dubai] and when they get back just give them time,” Ward said. “He came back to Keeneland and was at the farm for a little bit just kind of relaxing, eating grass. We put him back in training after 60 days off and he just trained forwardly. He didn’t miss a beat and worked every week, every week getting better.”

Ward was quick to dismiss the possibility of seeing Nakatomi come back in the August 24 Grade 1, $500,000 Forego here, opting to give the horse more time and run out of his home base of Keeneland in the Grade 2 Phoenix in October.

***

Aidan O’Brien shippers Greenfinch, Diego Velazquez arrive for Spa stakes

Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be represented by a pair of promising sophomore stakes stars here next week with Greenfinch in Friday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational and Diego Velazquez in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,00 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

Both horses arrived at the Saratoga quarantine barn in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Greenfinch, who will exit post 5 under Ryan Moore in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks, arrives off short rest from her win in the Listed Cairn Rouge on July 17 at Killarney.

With Wayne Lordan up in the one-mile Cairn Rouge, Greenfinch, who sports a distinctive wide, white blaze, broke a step slow from her inside draw, but easily made the front to set the tempo en route to a comfortable 2 1/4-length score.

“She’s in good form and we think that the step up in trip will be good for her,” O’Brien said. “She has good pace, and she travels very well. We think the track and trip and everything will be good for her and we’re hoping she will run a nice race.”

Greenfinch graduated at third asking in November over the Dundalk synthetic ahead of a pair of fourth-place efforts on turf in Group 3 company in the seven-furlong Priory Belle in April at Leopardstown and the 12-furlong Munster Oaks in June at Cork.

She arrived at the Cairn Rouge from a close third under Moore in the 10-furlong Naas Oaks on June 26 where she raced from the back of the pack next to eventual winner Hanalia.

Greenfinch, out of the multiple Group 1-winning Galileo mare Misty For Me, is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winners U S Navy Flag and Roly Poly as well as graded stakes-winner Cover Song. She is owned by Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.

The regally-bred Diego Velazquez enters from a victory in the Group 3 Meld over nine furlongs of Leopardstown’s left-handed course on July 18. A Group 2-winner as a juvenile, the Frankel colt is a half-sibling to multiple Group 1-winning multimillionaire Broome.

Entries for the Saratoga Derby are being taken today.