Global Access headlines talented field in G3 Saranac
by Keith McCalmont
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Live Oak Plantation's graded-stakes winning homebred Global Access headlines a compact, but talented, field of six in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac at Saratoga Race Course.
The Saranac, a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf route for sophomores, is one of four stakes on the lucrative Woodford Racing Festival card including the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward; the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls; and the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress.
The Woodward will be the centerpiece of Saturday's Saratoga Live broadcast airing on FS2 from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, and regionally on MSG+ from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern.
Global Access, a chestnut son of Giant's Causeway, is out of the multiple graded-stakes winning dam Daveron. A winner at second asking on the Woodbine Tapeta when routing for the first time, Global Access has shown versatility in his 10-race career winning the Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 3 Marine on the Woodbine main track in May.
Global Access, trained by Michael Trombetta, arrives at the Saranac from a wide-rallying third in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame, won by Casa Creed on August 2 on the Saratoga turf.
"It was a good race. It wasn't a perfect trip, but it wasn't a bad trip. I think it was one of those where he had to steady a bit and wait for things to happen, but other than that it was pretty uneventful. Hopefully, he can have some good racing luck this weekend," said Trombetta. "I hope he can continue going in the right direction. He's had a good season and I'm hoping to get a couple more productive races out of him this year."
Global Access posted a strong breeze of four furlongs in 49.63 seconds on August 23, second best of 51 workouts that day on the Oklahoma training turf.
"He worked real good here the other day and I've been pleased with his progress. He comes from a good family," said Trombetta.
Global Access rated close to the pace in his graded stakes score at Woodbine, but has shown a stalking style of late. Trombetta said the versatile colt is easy to ride.
"He can run pretty forwardly placed and he can work off of whatever pace is dealt to him. If it's fast enough, he'll settle and if it's not, you can let him run on a bit," said Trombetta.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez retains the mount from post 4.