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Klaravich Stables holds formidable pair for Riskaverse

by Najja Thompson

Currently leading the Saratoga Race Course owner standings with 11 victories through the first six weeks of the meet, Klaravich Stables will look to bolster its edge by entering a pair of talented runners for meet-leading trainer Chad Brown in the $100,000 Riskaverse for 3-year-old fillies on Thursday on the inner turf.

Catch a Bid, a 3-year-old filly sired by Real Solution, graduated in her debut at the one-mile Riskaverse distance on June 6 at Belmont Park by an impressive 4 ½ lengths. Making her second start stretching out to 1 1/16 miles on July 14 at the Spa, she raced four-wide into the stretch to finish second by a neck to multiple graded-stakes placed Varenka in the allowance optional-claiming event.

"I think the mile distance suits her better," said Brown. "I'm looking forward to running her off that effort. She really fought on and has come out of the race well, so we're excited to get her this opportunity."

Purchased for $320,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, New and Improved, sired by multiple graded-stakes winner Cairo Prince, won her debut on July 28 at the Spa besting a field of 10 to win by one length. She will make her second start, and stakes debut, in the Riskaverse.

"She showed she's a talented filly in her debut," said Brown. "She brushed the gate at the start and was able to overcome that and run a very good race. She's doing well, so she earned the opportunity to step up into stakes competition."

Catch a Bid will depart from post 6 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard; New and Improved will leave from post 8 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano in the irons.

Looking to rebound off a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Hatoof on July 13 at Arlington Park is Dalika for trainer Al Stall and owners Bal Mar Equine. Bred in Germany, she made her first three career starts in Europe, including an allowance victory in Dresden Germany.

Making her North American debut for Stall in May of 2018, she finished sixth in an allowance race at Churchill Downs. In her next start, she bested a nine-horse field at Churchill capturing an allowance event ahead of the Hatoof.

"We don't know what happened in the Hatoof," said Stall. "We were very bullish on her chances. We shipped into Chicago the day before the race and it was scalding hot. We made sure to get her here to Saratoga early so she could acclimate and that's the only excuse we could possibly give her. We're giving her another chance here and eight to nine furlongs should suit her fine. She's been doing well and we'll see how she runs."

Dalika will leave from post 7 with Jose Ortiz aboard.

Set to make her first start in North America for trainer Christophe Clement and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing is Hotsy Totsy. The Irish-bred filly made her first four career starts in England including a pair of seven-furlong allowance victories at Salisbury and Kempton. In her last start, she finished third in the Sandringham on June 21 at Ascot.

Hotsy Totsy will depart from post 10 with Joel Rosario.

Also entered is Peaceful (post 2, Manny Franco); Ionic (post 3, Ricardo Santana, Jr.); All Quality (post 5, John Velazquez); Xanthique (post 9, Junior Alvarado); and Varenka (post 1, Jose Vargas, Jr.), who is also entered in Saturday's Grade 2 Lake Placid. Queen of Beas is entered for the main track only.

The Riskaverse is slated as Race 9 on Thursday's 10-race card, which also features the Grade 1, $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.