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Maple Leaf Mel a sentimental winner for Englehart in Wednesday’s sixth race

by NYRA Press Office

·    Maple Leaf Mel a sentimental winner for Englehart in Wednesday’s sixth race

·    Classic Causeway possible for G3 Caesars Jockey Club Derby; Crazy Beautiful on track for G1 Personal Ensign

·    Front Run the Fed in fine fettle for G1 Fourstardave

·    Saratoga Week 6 stakes probables 

When two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells was mulling over names for a 2-year-old New York-bred Cross Traffic filly that he had just purchased for $150,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in May, he suggested to trainer Jeremiah Englehart that the filly be named for his longtime assistant Melanie Giddings. Three months later, Maple Leaf Mel, named for Giddings’ Canadian roots, graduated on debut in Race 6, a six-furlong maiden special weight for state-bred fillies, on Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course. 

“Mel and I have been together a long time up here and in Florida,” said Englehart. “When we bought [the filly], on the drive back Coach said, ‘What if we named her after Mel?’ And he came up with Maple Leaf Mel. When he mentioned it, it just sounded right. Mel is such a big part of our operation here and I thought it was a pretty good way to honor her. I’m so glad she ran the way she did.” 

Ridden to victory by Joel Rosario, Maple Leaf Mel was sent to the lead from post 7 and opened up a two-length lead on her nine rivals through the first quarter-mile. She continued to lead throughout, opening her margins at the top of the lane and crossing the wire five-lengths the best in a final time of 1:11.48. The sharp score garnered an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It seemed like she came out well,” said Englehart. “We’re really happy with the way she ran and we were kind of hoping that’s what she would do. She was one that always kind of gave off an impression that she likes to race.”

Bred in the Empire State by Joe Fafone, Maple Leaf Mel is out of the City Place mare City Gift, and is a half-sister to stakes-placed New York-bred Eddie's Gift.

Englehart said the filly mirrors her namesake’s strong work ethic and professionalism. 

“With Mel, you know where you stand,” said Englehart. “What she puts into it, she expects it from the team. She’s my safety blanket.” 

Giddings said it is both an honor and a relief to see Maple Leaf Mel give such a strong performance. 

“It’s definitely different,” Giddings said, with a laugh. “Coach picked her out himself and I’ve known him for a few years. I don’t know if he named her after me because I kept telling him how much I love her. It means a lot.” 

As for what’s next for Maple Leaf Mel, Englehart said she may be pointed to the $200,000 Seeking the Ante on August 26 at the Spa for juvenile state-bred fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs. 

“We want to make sure she came out of the race OK, and I might look to the New York-bred race back in 16 days,” Englehart said. “I’ll give her a nice little easy work nine days from now and see how she comes out of it and maybe plan for that race.”

***

Classic Causeway possible for G3 Caesars Jockey Club Derby; Crazy Beautiful on track for G1 Personal Ensign  

Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway exited his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational in good order and is possible for the Grade 3, $1 million Caesars Jockey Club Derby on September 17 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. 

Classic Causeway entered the Caesars Saratoga Derby from a gate-to-wire upset in the Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby July 9 at Belmont Park. Sent to the lead under returning rider Julien Leparoux, Classic Causeway was bested this time by the Charlie Appleby-trained Belmont Derby runner-up Nations Pride and the Todd Pletcher-trained Annapolis. 

“He ran a great race. The winner had a brilliant trip around and reversed the form with us,” said Jake McEntee, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek. “He’s come out of the race great and we’re very proud of the way he ran. It’s very hard to lead the whole way and he stuck his neck out for us.” 

The son of Giant’s Causeway has competed in the first two legs of the Caesars Turf Triple series and the last leg, the 1 1/2-mile Caesars Jockey Club Derby, is also in play. 

“He’s by Giant’s Causeway and there’s stamina there in the pedigree. It could be a possibility that the further he goes, the better he goes,” said McEntee. “I think Aqueduct is the way we’re going to go and that will be his next start.” 

Classic Causeway has been under the care of Ken McPeek since being transferred from former conditioner Brian Lynch in May. He has amassed a 3-1-0-2 record for McPeek, including the coveted Grade 1 at Belmont. A lifetime winner of over $1.2 million, Classic Causeway boasts a ledger of 10-4-1-3. 

Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Crazy Beautiful, last seen finishing third behind Clairiere and Malathaat in the Grade 2 Shuvee on July 24 at Saratoga Race Course, is preparing for a rematch against her familiar foes in the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign August 27 at the Spa. 

“She’s training great. She’s eating great and came out of the race better than what she went into it,” said McEntee. “She’s having a buck and a squeal and a kick and is a happy horse. 

“She’s been put up against a couple monsters recently,” added McEntee. “But she’s a monster in her own right and hopefully one day she can reverse the form with those two.” 

Crazy Beautiful has banked $1,062,240 through 19 starts going 7-5-2. 

McEntee also provided an update on Magdalena Racing’s Tiz the Bomb, who was believed to have suffered a tendon injury in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trainer Ken McPeek via Twitter and assistant Jake McEntee confirmed that the son of Hit It a Bomb’s scans came back clean and that he avoided serious injury. 

“We scanned him the other day and his scan came back good,” said McEntee. “Any injury that we thought was there, isn’t the case.”

Tiz the Bomb will be given about 6-to-8 weeks off at McPeek’s Magdalena Farm in Kentucky before returning to the races. 

“The plan is to hopefully get him out before the end of the season,” said McEntee. 

5-1-0 in 11 lifetime starts, Tiz the Bomb has banked $1,056,401.

***

Front Run the Fed in fine fettle for G1 Fourstardave  

George Sharp's Front Run the Fed may be listed as the 10-1 longest shot on the board in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave, but trainer Caio Caramori is excited about his chances in the "Win and You're In" event which offers a berth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile in November at Keeneland. 

Front Run the Fed, a 6-year-old son of Fed Biz, enters from a rallying head score in the Van Clief on July 18 at Colonial Downs. With returning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, the talented bay closed from sixth to secure the win while racing from a nine-month layoff. 

"He'd had a long layoff, but we were expecting the horse to go over there and take care of business. We were expecting him to run a big race," said Caramori, son of trainer Eduardo Caramori. 

Front Run the Fed, previously trained by Chad Brown, topped last year's Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale at $440,000. He made three starts last year for his current connections, finishing sixth in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Troy in August at Saratoga, seventh in the six-furlong Grade 3 Turf Sprint in September at Kentucky Downs, and a close sixth in October in the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile. 

"He ran well last time at Keeneland and it seemed like he handled the distance and galloped out really well that day. I expect him to be able to get a mile," Caramori said. "He's a tricky horse. It's difficult to find the right distance for him. Five-and-a-half [furlongs] is too short and a mile might be a hair too long. You have to find that sweet spot with him. They don't write many races at six or seven furlongs on the grass." 

Caramori said he was looking at a number of horses at the July sale, including Stilleto Boy, who sold for $420,000 and recently captured the Grade 2 Californian at Santa Anita; and Fearless [$205,000], who has since won a trio of graded events for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. But Caramori ultimately decided on Front Run the Fed, who had garnered a career-best 101 Beyer with a runner-up effort in the 2020 Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs and had finished a close third in the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont ahead of the July sale. 

"I liked him physically. He's a beautiful horse," said Caramori. "He had been running some big numbers and I thought he was the best horse in the sale. Fearless was in there and Stilleto Boy was another we looked at, but we ended up falling for this horse." 

Front Run the Fed will leave post 2 Saturday under Ortiz, Jr. and will have to topple a five-horse field led by the Brown-trained duo of Regal Glory, a multiple Grade 1-winning mare; and Masen, who has won four of his last five starts, including the last-out Grade 3 Poker at Belmont. A talented field also includes multiple Grade 1-winner Casa Creed and multiple graded-stakes winner Get Smokin. 

"He's a tough horse because he needs the right trip," Caramori said. "I like the five-horse field because he should be able to get a clean run at them and we get Irad, who won on him at Colonial and loved him that day. Getting Irad back on is a big plus." 

Caramori admitted that despite the compact field, winning will be a tall order with Brown saddling two top contenders in search of his first Fourstardave coup. 

"The filly is probably the best turf filly in the country and maybe the best turf horse in the country. The other horse, Masen, is no slouch either," Caramori said. "We have our work cut out for us, but I think our horse is a better horse than he was last year." 

Caramori, in search of his first win at Saratoga, will send out Sharp's Curly Larry and Mo, a New York-bred juvenile son of Mo Town, in Race 6 today sprinting six furlongs over the main track. 

"He's a goofy horse and real playful, so it's a good name for him. He was second first time out, and he's doing well. So, maybe that will get the monkey off my back today," said Caramori, with a laugh. "It's a dream to be here and to be stabled up here." 

And while a maiden score would be welcome, Caramori can't help but look ahead to Saturday's Grade 1 affair. 

"I'm going into the biggest weekend of my training career, so I'm nervous and excited all at the same time," Caramori said. "We've got a good horse and he's going to run well. If he runs third, we'll be happy." 

***

Saratoga Week 6 stakes probables 

Wednesday, August 17 

G1 Jonathan Sheppard

Probable: Belfast Banter (Cyril Murphy), Chief Justice (C. Murphy), Down Royal (Kate Dalton), Going Country (Keri Brion), Historic Heart (Brion), Redicean (Leslie Young), Snap Decision (Jack Fisher), Song for Someone (Young)

NYSSS Cab Calloway

Probable: Born Dancer (Michelle Nevin), Dakota Gold (Danny Gargan), Marinara Sauced (Chad Brown), Shinsun (Barclay Tagg), Silent Running (H. James Bond), Surprise Boss (Rafael Jose Rohena)

Thursday, August 18 

NYSSS Statue of Liberty

Probable: Busy Morning (Jorge Abreu), Dream Central (Gary Sciacca), Eros’s Girl (Anthony Ferraro), Robyn and Eli (Chad Brown), Silent Invasion (A. Ferraro), Silken Dollar (Rick Schosberg), Tara Dancer (Horacio De Paz)

Friday, August 19 

$150K Skidmore

Probable: Appraise (C. Brown), Bourbon Therapy (Mike Maker), Cadillac Candy (Rusty Arnold), Fadethenoise (Maker), No Nay Hudson (Wesley Ward), Prove Right (James Chapman), Sweet Harmony (John Terranova)

$135K Summer Colony

Probable: Army Wife (Mike Maker), Battle Bling (Rob Atras), Bonny South (Brad Cox), Leader of the Band (John Servis), Misty Veil (Tom Amoss)

Saturday, August 20

G1 Alabama

Probable: Gerrymander (C. Brown), Nest (Todd Pletcher), Nostalgic (Bill Mott), Secret Oath (D. Wayne Lukas)

Possible: Goddess of Fire (Pletcher), Skratch Kat (Philip Bauer)

G2 Lake Placid

Probable: Canisy (Christophe Clement), Customer List (C. Brown), Eminent Victor (C. Brown), Koala Princess (Arnaud Delacour), Sparkle Blue (Graham Motion), Spirit and Glory (Robert Falcone, Jr.)

$150K Smart N Fancy

Probable: Caravel (Brad Cox), Change of Control (Michelle Lovell), Illegal Smile (Wesley Ward), Lady Edith (Clement), Miss J McKay (Clement), Robin Sparkles (Bruce Brown)

Sunday, August 21

$150K Bolton Landing

Probable: Grand Oak (Motion), Motown Mischief (Timothy Hamm), No Kay Never (Wesley Ward), Recinto Rompere (Delacour), Sicilian Grandma (Tom Morley), Sweet Harmony (John Terranova)