NYRA Photo

Iron Mane takes step up in class in Skidmore

by Brian Bohl

Iron Mane will make his stakes debut in headlining a field of six 2-year-olds in Friday's $100,000 Skidmore on the Mellon turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Iron Mane, trained by Wesley Ward, won by 6 ¾ lengths in breaking his maiden on July 23 at Indiana Grand Race Course. The Calumet Farm homebred stayed just off the pace to the three-eighths mark before taking the lead in the stretch and outlasting an eight-horse field to win at five furlongs, setting him up for the 5 ½-furlong Skidmore, which was previously run as the Schenectady.

"He's been doing well and doing everything right," Ward said. "He's a big, nice colt and I think he has a good chance."

Iron Mane, who was purchased for $120,000 at the 2015 Keeneland Yearling Sale, is the son of multiple Grade 1 stakes winner The Factor. He will leave from the outside post with jockey David Flores aboard.

"He's kind of green and got a little lucky in his first race that the horse on the lead kind of bolted, so he shot right through on the rail," Ward said. "I expect him to break well and be in contention and hopefully he improves off of that race. He has the means to do so.

"He's a nice, easy-going colt," Ward added. "He's a big dude and nothing really bothers him, so he won't get nervous in a race, which is a big advantage, especially here at Saratoga. He's growing and as time goes on, he's going to get faster."

Wellabled, who also won his first career start with a 7 ½-length score in a maiden special weight on July 9 at Arlington International Racecourse, boasts the highest Beyer Speed Figure of any entry in the field with a 78 over the synthetic track.

Trained by Larry Rivelli, the Carolyn Wilson-owned bay colt will make his first turf start departing from the rail with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.

Harlan's Harmony, trained by John Terranova, broke his maiden by one length on July 14 at Belmont Park, overtaking Harlan's Hunch in the stretch. He will exit post 3 with Angel Arroyo aboard.

The Charlton Baker-trained Freud's Friend won his debut on turf over 5 ½ furlongs last out on July 19, besting a field of 10 by a nose in a maiden special weight at the Spa. Freud's Friend will leave from post 5 with Manny Franco on the saddle.

Rounding out the field is a pair of entries for trainer and owner Jamie Mejia: Gemologister, a bay colt looking to break his maiden in his first stakes start, who will have the services of jockey John Castillo out of post 2; and Mbrace Grace, who will make his first career start out of post 4. Luis Saez has the mount.