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Maracuja could look for repeat Saratoga success in G1 Alabama following upset win in G1 CCA Oaks

by NYRA Press Office

The flower blanket outside of trainer Rob Atras’ barn Sunday morning served as a welcome reminder of what Maracuja accomplished a day prior, when the sophomore filly outdueled 1-5 favorite Malathaat in deep stretch to win the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds’ Maracuja earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for her first stakes win, which came when she was the longest shot on the board in the four-horse field at 14-1. It also marked the first career Grade 1 win for Atras, who has been on his own as a trainer since 2009.

Atras said the races earlier on Saturday’s card kept him from thinking too much about the CCA Oaks.

“I was busy the first couple of races; we were looking at a couple of horses to claim, so it kind of kept my mind off it,” Atras said. “I didn’t get too much time to get worked up. But it’s unbelievable; in Saratoga to win a Grade 1, I had so many messages from friends and well-wishers after the race. It felt like everyone was watching.”

Since running second in her debut in December at Aqueduct, Maracuja has finished on the board in four of her five starts in her 3-year-old campaign, including a maiden-breaking win at third asking in February at the Big A and a second-place effort going 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 3 Gazelle in April at the Ozone Park-based track.

After taking the step up in class in a seventh-place Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks finish, Maracuja handled the competition that included Kentucky Oaks-winner Malathaat in a race that traditionally attracts the top talent in the division.

“She’s just developed and every race, it seems like she’s moving forward,” Atras said. “Her first couple of races, she was a bit green. After she got her wind, she really just blossomed. She’s come a long way in a short time. I was really proud of her and really impressed how she bore down and got up like that in the end. To run against a filly as accomplished as Malathaat, it was incredible, really.”

Maracuja could make another summer-meet appearance at the Spa in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on August 21 in a 1 1/4-mile contest.

“If she continues to come out of the race good then I definitely would like to consider that race,” Atras said. “She ate everything up and cooled out good after the race and she was good this morning. It’s always a concern when they put in a big effort like that, but so far, we look good.”

The red-and-white floral arrangement, which saw a few petals hit the Saratoga main track on the way to the winner’s circle from jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr.’s jubilant celebration, reinforced to the connections that the CCA Oaks was indeed a milestone for the daughter of Honor Code.

“You come in the barn and you realize it wasn’t a dream,” Atras said with a laugh. “It was pretty cool to see because everyone was celebrating and it’s a team thing. To celebrate with everyone and to see the grooms and hot walkers and exercise riders so happy, it meant a lot.”

G1 CCA Oaks runner-up Malathaat to target G1 Alabama

 Shadwell Stable's Malathaat garnered a career-best 96 Beyer for her game runner-up effort to Maracuja in Saturday's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and piloted by fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the regally bred Curlin bay was pressured throughout the nine-furlong journey, first by Maracuja and later by Clairiere, after exiting the inside post in a compact field of four.

Malathaat, out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia, maintained a precarious advantage at the stretch call but could not repel the rallying Maracuja, who prevailed by a head.

Pletcher said he concurred with the Daily Racing Form running line comment, which read, in part, "hounded."

"Hounded is an accurate description," Pletcher said. "We had a difficult time analyzing the race beforehand and how we thought it might unfold. There wasn't a lot of speed on paper and we were in the one post with a target on our backs, so our strategy was to let her run away from the gate and try to establish a position into the first turn or if someone was to clear us, hopefully move out into the clear.

"Everyone left there with the same intention and by the time we got to the first quarter we'd gone 23 and 1, which is fine if we could have a little breather along the way," Pletcher continued. "But as soon as we got on the backside, Irad [Ortiz, Jr. aboard Clairiere] made a move and put pressure on her. She kind of had to fight off the whole field. When you're a heavy favorite in a race like that with a short field, those things can happen. I'm not disappointed with the filly at all. I thought she ran bravely considering everything that was thrown at her off the layoff. If she comes back well, we'll point towards the Alabama."

The 10-furlong Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama is slated for August 21.

Pletcher said Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro and Troy Johnson's multiple graded-stakes winner Con Lima is training well into the 1 3/16-mile Grade 3, $700,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, second leg of the Turf Triple series for fillies on August 8.

The Texas-bred daughter of Commissioner, who captured the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Herecomesthebride by disqualification in February at Gulfstream and the nine-furlong Grade 3 Wonder Again in June at Belmont, worked a half-mile in 51.66 Saturday on the Saratoga main track.

"She worked fine. She's a high energy filly that seems to take her races well," Pletcher said. "She'll have one more breeze and it seems like everything is in order."

Last out, in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, Con Lima stretched her speed to 10 furlongs over good going, but was collared in the final stride by highly regarded Santa Barbara.

Pletcher was full of praise for the ultra-consistent dark bay, who boasts a record of six wins and five seconds from 12 starts with purse earnings of $509,865.

"She just continues to step up. She's been super consistent and gives a good effort every time," Pletcher said.

Pletcher said the tighter turns of the Saratoga turf may prove favorable for the handy Con Lima.

"This will be a little more favorable although she did win the Wonder Again at Belmont," Pletcher said. "She seemed to really like Gulfstream, which is a tighter course, so maybe that will work in her favor here."

CHC and WinStar Farm's undefeated Life Is Good, recently transferred to Pletcher's care, worked a half-mile in 48.88 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track. 

Pletcher said the Into Mischief Bay, who bested Kentucky Derby-winner Medina Spirit in the Grade 3 Sham and Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita, will target either the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Allen H. Jerkens Memorial on August 28 at the Spa, or the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones on August 24 at Parx.

"He breezed in in 48 and change. He's a very impressive horse to watch train. He did that well in hand throughout," Pletcher said. "We'll play it by ear, but we have a couple of options with the Allen Jerkens here and the Smarty Jones at Parx would be a possibility if we needed more time. He's a super talented horse and we're fortunate to have him."

Repole Stable's Midnight Worker, a 2-year-old bay colt by Outwork, earned a 59 Beyer for a hard-fought win by a head in a six-furlong maiden special weight Saturday at Saratoga. A $60,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Midnight Worker was piloted to victory by Luis Saez.

"It was a good effort," Pletcher said. "He was under pressure from the one hole, but worked out a trip and fought off a couple challenges. I was proud of his effort and he was very solid on debut. "

 Caravel impressive in G3 Caress score

Caravel, the reigning Pennsylvania-bred Horse of the Year, made the grade with a sweeping stretch-run move to capture Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Caress, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares.

Bred, trained and co-owned by Elizabeth Merryman in partnership with Bobby Flay, the 4-year-old Mizzen Mast gray provided her conditioner with her first win at Saratoga and first graded stakes win.

Flay purchased a majority stake in the filly following her impressive score in the five-furlong Goldwood in June at Monmouth. Caravel will be conditioned by Graham Motion going forward.

"It was pretty great. A really fun, memorable day and a great way to wrap up my stint as her trainer. It was a lot of fun," Merryman said. "She seems like she came out of the race very well. She's a little tired after shipping up and running but I'm pleased with how she came out of it."

Caravel, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up for the first time, settled in third position as Robin Sparkles set a swift pace. Angled into the clear for the stretch run, Caravel rallied by her rivals with a powerful turn-of-foot to secure the 2 1/2-length win and a 97 Beyer.

"Irad rode a picture-perfect race as he is known to do," Merryman said. "She's pretty fast when she gets the cue to go. She's learned that she needs to settle and wait for the cue and that's really helped her running style."

The year-end goal for Caravel is the five-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. Merryman said the abbreviated distance shouldn't be an issue.

"She just ran at Monmouth going five furlongs in 54 and 4, so I think it shouldn't be a problem," Merryman said. "The main problem at Del Mar will be that many horses and traffic. She certainly will go through a hole that doesn't exist. If you're going to be a really good turf sprinter, you have to have the courage and moxie to be willing to go through spots where you have to make your own room."

First Captain posts final breeze for Curlin

In a final preparation for Friday’s $120,000 Curlin for 3-year-olds, West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing’s First Captain breezed four furlongs in 52.85 seconds Saturday over the Oklahoma training track.

It was the second workout for the $1.5 million purchase and son of Curlin since winning the Grade 3 Dwyer on July 5 at Belmont to remain perfect at 3-for-3.

“It was more of a three-quarter work, not fast,” said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. “He went from the five-eighths [pole] to the three-quarter [pole] in 1:12. He is doing really well up here.”

After missing his two-year-old season, First Captain has passed the maiden and allowance ranks while stretching out in distance with a stalking running style within a 10-week period that started at the end of April.

McGaughey said he sees First Captain continuously moving forward off his 1 3/4-legnth victory in the Dwyer.

“He lost his whole 2-year-old year. So, he’s still behind, but he’s trying to catch up,” McGaughey said. “We have been taking it one step at a time.”

McGaughey said Chiefswood Stables’ Third Draft, also by Curlin, is scheduled to make her next start in the $120,000 Riskaverse for 3-year-old fillies running a mile on the turf on August 26.

Third Draft closed from the back of an eight-horse field to win the photo in an allowance race at a mile on July 17 as part of Saratoga’s Opening Weekend.

“That’s probably the logical place to run her,” McGaughey said. “I need to get her stretched out.”

Swiss Skydiver on point for G1 Whitney; Crazy Beautiful likely to target G1 Alabama

Trainer Kenny McPeek said he will look to give his superstar filly Swiss Skydiver a second triumph against males in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 7 at Saratoga.

The historic nine-furlong event offers a “Win And You’re In” berth to the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 6 at Del Mar. 

Owned by Peter Callahan, the 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil bested the boys in last year’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, where she became only the sixth filly to win the American Classic.

Swiss Skydiver has registered two starts this year, shipping to the west coast to capture the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 13 at Santa Anita ahead of a distant third to Letruska in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 17 at Oaklawn Park.

Initially entered in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park, Swiss Skydiver scratched from the race when spiking a temperature. With sights set on the Grade 3 Shuvee on July 25, McPeek had to alter course when NYRA and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) placed Barn 86 at Saratoga under a precautionary quarantine on July 15 due to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in that barn.

McPeek said Swiss Skydiver is ready for a second triumph against males.

“She had some hiccups in the spring,” McPeek said. “She had a hind leg infection which contributed to her uncharacteristic run at Oaklawn, and she had a fever when we shipped to Belmont. We’re hoping to get into a little rhythm with her and I’m looking forward to running her.”

Swiss Skydiver has notched six graded stakes victories, dating back to last March when taking the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in gate-to-wire fashion. From there, she added miles to the tank with triumphs in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park last May and the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks last June.

After making her first start against males with a game second in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland last July, she recorded her first triple-digit Beyer with a 3 ½-length win in the Grade 1 Alabama in August in her lone start at the Spa, where she posted a 102 Beyer.

“Throughout the time I’ve had her, she’s gone from a girl to a woman. She’s as attractive as ever and maybe more so now,” McPeek said. “From two to three to four, you never know how they’re going to evolve but she’s doing everything right. She’s bigger in her shoulder and her hip at this stage. She’ s always been an extremely intelligent filly. She’s a happy horse and still loves her job.”

A Whitney triumph would make Swiss Skydiver the seventh female to strike gold in the prestigious event for older horses. The most recent Whitney victress was Ogden Phipps’ undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign in 1988.

McPeek selected Swiss Skydiver for $35,000 from Select Sales consignment barn at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Through a career of 14-7-3-2, she has amassed $2,125,480.

“We’ll see if she can pull it off. I think she should have a real good second half of the year,” McPeek said. “She’s already got a Grade 1 this year which is good. Good horses ship well. Trainers like Todd [Pletcher] do it a lot, but good horses can and will ship well. We’re blessed to have some quality stock in the barn.”

McPeek said Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Crazy Beautiful is likely to bypass the Grade 3, $700,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 8 in favor of the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on August 21 at the Spa.

The gray or roan daughter of third-crop sire Liam’s Map worked five furlongs in 1:01.87 Saturday over the Oklahoma training track.

“I’m leaning against it today, but I have a couple weeks,” McPeek said of the Saratoga Oaks. “They are inviting her, but we need to make sure she’s on tilt before committing to anything. I thought she’d work better than she did yesterday. I want to give her a few days. She will be nominated to the Alabama, but I just need to make sure she’s 110 percent.”

Crazy Beautiful has already taken down three graded stakes events this season, capturing the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 27 before running tenth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. She returned to action with style when taking the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on May 30 at Santa Anita before a six-length romp over a good and sealed track at Delaware Park in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 3.

While Crazy Beautiful appears unlikely for the Saratoga Oaks, McPeek plans on running King Fury in its male counterpart race – the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 6.

Owned by Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm, King Fury was a last out second beaten a half-length in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 26 at Thistledown after an 18-1 upset win in the Grade 3 Lexington on April 10 at Keeneland.

King Fury blitzed through five furlongs Saturday over the Oklahoma training track in 59.86 seconds, the fastest of 19 recorded works at the distance.

King Fury has yet to race on turf, but McPeek said he should handle it well.

“His work was awesome yesterday. He was really impressive,” McPeek said. “He definitely will run in the Saratoga Derby. I think he can handle the turf. We’ll give him a work over the grass next week and that ought to have him ready.”

King Fury boasts a royal pedigree being by multiple champion-producing sire Curlin out of Grade 1-winner Taris.

McPeek selected Curlin as a yearling for $57,000 and the talented chestnut went on to be named two-time Horse of the Year.

“They’re a little different bodied horses, but he certainly his father’s son,” McPeek said. “Curlin was a little heavier; this one is a little more finesse which is why I think he’ll handle the grass.”

McPeek said graded stakes winner and dual Grade 1-placed Envoutante, a last out third to Letruska in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on June 26 at Churchill Downs has been given a break with sights set on the Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster on October 10 at Keeneland.

Sisterson ready for exciting fortnight with Saratoga stakes contenders

Trainer Jack Sisterson will see a trio of Calumet Farm-owned stakes contenders look to make an impact at Saratoga in the next two weeks, with Tango Tango Tango, Channel Cat and Lexitonian each slated for respective graded stakes contests through August 7.

This coming Saturday will see Channel Cat look to win the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green for the second time in three editions after his 2019 victory in the 1 3/8-mile turf contest for 4-year-olds and up.

The now 6-year-old son of English Channel ran second in the 1 1/2-mile Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 17 at Keeneland before returning three weeks later to edge Gufo by a nose in a thrilling finish to win the Grade 1 Man o’ War on May 8 at Belmont going 1 1/8 miles. That marked Channel Cat’s first win since Sisterson took over the training duties – and first victory in 10 starts overall – with his first winner’s circle trip since the 2019 Bowling Green.

Buoyed by the Man o’ War effort in which he earned a 98 Beyer, Sisterson ran Channel Cat back on Belmont Stakes Day June 5 in the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Manhattan, where he tired and finished seventh. The Chad Brown-trained duo of Domestic Spending and Tribhuvan comprised the Manhattan exacta, with Tribhuvan going on to win the Grade 1 United Nations next out at Monmouth Park. 

Sisterson said the extra rest for Channel Cat could put him in a good position to succeed on Saturday.

“I ran him back in three weeks after the Elkhorn because he was doing so well. I probably should have skipped the Manhattan because he had a tough race in the Man o’ War, but we gave him a little break now prior to the Bowling Green,” Sisterson said. “It was good to see Chad Brown’s horse come back and win the United Nations so the form held up well. Channel Cat should run a good race next week.”

Lexitonian ran second in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day May 1, finishing a head back to Flagstaff, before encountering a troubled trip in a sixth-place Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap effort on Belmont Stakes Day the next month going one turn on Big Sandy. Lexitonian will cut back to six furlongs this Saturday in the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.

“He’s 110 percent ready to go. It’s all about which Lexitonian shows up,” Sisterson said with a laugh. “He’s run races that can compete with anyone and then he throws in a clunker now and then. I think a mile is his best distance, so we’re cutting him back a little, but if he runs his best race, he’ll be right there at the wire. He’s shown us training-wise that he’s going into next week’s race in great shape.”

Lexitonian’s previous race at Saratoga was a fifth-place finish in last year’s Grade 1 Forego at seven furlongs over a sloppy track. The 5-year-old son of Speightstown will have jockey Jose Lezcano back in the irons.

Tango Tango Tango, who won his stakes debut last out in the 1 1/16-mile American Derby on July 17 at Arlington Park, could now target the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 7, which marks the second leg of NYRA’s Turf Triple series for 3-year-olds.

Sisterson said the Tourist colt could also return to Arlington to run in the Grade 1, $600,000 Bruce D – a race formerly knowns as the Secretariat – on August 14.

Tango Tango Tango, unraced as a juvenile, started his career running third in a race moved off the turf in April at Keeneland. After running sixth on the Churchill main track on May 23, Sisterson put him on the turf for the first time on June 27 at Ellis Park, where he ran second in the 1 1/16-mile contest. For his stakes debut last out, Sisterson added blinkers, and the equipment change netted a personal-best 86 Beyer as he won by two lengths.

“The addition of blinkers really helped him out, as well as putting him on the grass. We thought he’d break his maiden the first time on the grass at Ellis but we ran into a good horse of [trainer] Michael McCarthy [There Goes Harvard]. We thought the blinkers would put him over the edge. It was a 3-year-old stakes, so we figured ‘why not take a shot?’ He was doing well, and it worked out in his favor.

“He’s moved forward in the right direction and we’ll obviously keep the blinkers on him. It seemed to be the missing link for him,” he added.

Weyburn posts bullet breeze for G2 Jim Dandy

Chiefswood Stables homebred Weyburn worked a bullet five-eighths in 59.40 in company Saturday on the Saratoga main track in preparation for next Saturday's Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, a nine-furlong test for sophomores.

"We wanted him to go good. I hope it wasn't too fast, but he seemed to handle it really well," Jerkens said. "He went by the workmate once they passed the quarter pole and galloped out on his own. He had a target in the first part of the work, which is why he probably went so fast."

Saturday's breeze by the Ontario-bred son of Pioneerof the Nile followed a bullet five-eighths in 1:00.60 on July 16 over the Spa main track.

"We weren't planning on doing that, but the weather was creeping up on us. We gave him a work and the track was heavy and he worked good and he was blowing pretty hard," Jerkens said. "That work really tightened him up and the work yesterday was no problem at all."

Centennial Farms' multiple graded stakes winner Rocketry breezed six furlongs in 1:17.70 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the 1 3/4-mile $120,000 Birdstone, a 1 3/4-mile test for older horses on August 5.

"It was a nice long work," Jerkens said. "We're going to come back and work him in company before he runs."

The 7-year-old Hard Spun bay was off-the-board last out in the 12-furlong Grade 1 Brooklyn, which was won by emerging marathon star Lone Rock. 

Jerkens said he is hopeful that the added distance will suit Rocketry, whose last win came three starts back in the 1 5/8-mile Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in November at Keeneland.

"That one horse [Lone Rock] looks like a standout in that category. If ever he's going to beat horses like that, it's going that distance," Jerkens said. "That's what happened in Kentucky. The pace was just too sharp for going that far and they came back to him and he went by them in the very end."

Hard Love possible for G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational

After finishing a distant seventh after setting the pace in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby on July 10, Robert V. LaPenta, Augustin Stable and Madaket Stable’s Hard Love is likely to seek redemption in the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 7 – the second leg of the Turf Triple Series.

The bay sophomore son of Kitten’s Joy previously showed tactical speed, laying in second at every call down the backstretch in his five prior starts before the Belmont Derby.

After a first out maiden win in October at Belmont Park and a second-place finish in the Central Park at Aqueduct the following month, Hard Love returned to action with vigor when taking the Woodhaven on April 17 at the Big A. In capturing the 1 1/16-mile event, he defeated subsequent stakes winners It’s a Gamble and Original as well as Sifting Sands, an impressive allowance winner on Saturday at Saratoga.

Following the Woodhaven, Hard Love defeated a salty group of elders in a nine-furlong allowance event at Belmont Park ahead of the Belmont Derby.

“It’s a goal along with some other things, but we’ll just let the horse dictate in his training what we’re going to do with him, but we’re certainly going to keep an eye on it,” Thomas said.

Thomas said Hard Love, who was piloted by Manny Franco, could have been a little more aggressive earlier in the race. He also added that the Belmont Derby winner and Saratoga Derby invitee Bolshoi Ballet is in a league of his own.

“Hindsight is always 20-20 and I wish I had asked Manny to be a little more assertive,” Thomas said. “He went 1:17 for three-quarters and slowed it down. He doesn’t possess a massive turn of foot so ideally; we would have gone on a little bit. Another thing is that it was a different group of horses. The winner was exceptional, so not taking anything away from the field. You could even make a case that the filly [Santa Barbara] could have won the Belmont Derby had she run. They were legitimate horses.”

Thomas said Hard Love is likely to appear on the work tab next weekend.

“He just shipped up [Saturday] and possibly will be back on the work tab next week depending on how the weather treats us,” Thomas said.

Beren likely to cross-enter in Curlin and G2 Amsterdam

Susan Quick and Christopher J. Feifarek’s Beren is entered in Friday's nine-furlong $120,000 Curlin, but trainer Butch Reid Jr. said a recent bullet half-mile work in 46.60 on the Spa main track has him considering cross-entering in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam on August 1.

The Weigelia sophomore boasts five wins and two seconds from 10 starts, including a pair of off-the-turf scores in his last two starts by 10 3/4-lengths in the seven-furlong Paradise Creek at Belmont and by 9 1/2-lengths in the 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Crowd Pleaser at Parx.

Reid, Jr. said the latter effort has him interested in stretching out the versatile bay.

"That last one is why I'm tempted to keep him around two turns," Reid, Jr. said. "Both races look like they're coming up equally tough, so it's not going to be easy either way we go."

Reid Jr. said he is considering longer-term options at Parx for the Pennsylvania-bred colt, out of the millionaire multiple graded-stakes winning Diamond mare Silmaril, including the Grade 3 Smarty Jones on August 24 and the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on September 25.

"Being a 'PA' bred, the bonuses are worth a lot," Reid, Jr. "When we won the $100,000 race in that last start, his owners own the stallion and the dam, so they got 110 percent of the purse. If he wins the Pennsylvania Derby, the breeder awards are big."

Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Swilcan Stable’s reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Vequist breezed a half-mile in 47.77 Friday on the Saratoga main track under Jose Lezcano in preparation for a potential comeback at the end of the Saratoga meet.

"Vequist likes this mountain air," Reid, Jr. said. "She's handling it very well. She didn't do well in the Florida heat. She's training very forwardly and we're right on schedule with her."

Reid, Jr. said Swilcan Stable and LC Racing's Mainstay, a 2-year-old half-sister to stablemate Vequist, has come out of her runner-up effort to Pretty Birdie in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Opening Day July 15 in good order and will now point to the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack on August 8.

"Mainstay came back so well, we'll take a shot in the Adirondack with her. I think that race did her a world of good," Reid. Jr said.

Cross Country Pick 5 pays 6K; nets total pool of $106K

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5, featuring action from Saratoga, Woodbine and Monmouth Park, paid $6,061.25 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $106,967.

Woodbine commenced the sequence with graded stakes action, as Jolie Olimpica won the Grade 2, $175,000 Nassau for older fillies and mares going one mile on the turf in Race 6. Trained by Josie Carroll and ridden by Luis Contreras, the Brazilian-bred Jolie Olimpica’s three-quarters of a length victory in a final time of 1:34.83 paid $5.30 on $2 win wager.

The first of three races at the Spa came in the second leg, as Luis Saez piloted 10-1 Midnight Worker to a victory by a head over Bourbon Heist in a six-furlong maiden sprint over the main track in Race 6. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Midnight Worker paid $22.20 in hitting the wire in 1:11.92.

Monmouth also got in on the stakes action, with He’spuregold besting slight favorite Quiberon Bay by one length in the $85,000 Irish War Cry for New Jersey-breds 3-years-old and up going one mile on the turf in Race 9. The Kelly Breen trainee, who posted a final time of 1:35.53, returned $5.40.

Saratoga concluded the last two legs, starting when Sifting Sands topped Never Explain by a head in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming tilt on the turf in Race 7. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Manny Franco, the British-bred Sifting Sands won at 28-1, paying $58.

A Brown-trained horse completed the Cross Country Pick 5 when the Irish-bred Rastafara won a one-mile inner turf contest for maidens 3-years-old and up going one mile on the inner turf in Race 8. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Rastafara paid $7.10 in notching a final time of 1:36.47.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.