Walter Wlodarczyk Photo

Mullikin streaks into G1 Forego

by Christian Abdo

Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s graded stakes-winner Mullikin brings a three-race win streak into Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Forego, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, the Violence dark bay has yet to meet his match as a 4-year-old, entering the Forego 3-for-3 on the year with a last-out triumph in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A.

In the seven-furlong Nerud, Mullikin tracked the early pacesetter before taking over at the top of the lane and fending off a hard-trying Coastal Mission to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The performance earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The time between races was the plan all along. We like the seven weeks between races for him. He ran pretty fast on a hot day at Aqueduct when he won the Nerud,” said Brisset. “We gave him three weeks of galloping to give him a little bit of a refresher. Since then, he has been working very steadily.”

Mullikin’s most recent move was a half-mile in 47.20 seconds on August 17 over the Keeneland dirt. He posted a faster time than workmate and last-out local Grade 2 Amsterdam-winning sophomore World Record [47.60].

“Mullikin broke off a half length behind at the hip of World Record. They were very good together on the bridle,” said Brisset.

Flavien Prat will be aboard from post 6.

Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber and Jerold Zaro’s graded stakes-winner Baby Yoda [post 4, Tyler Gaffalione] looks to rebound after a well-beaten fourth in the six-furlong Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 27 here.

Trained by Bill Mott, the 6-year-old Prospective gelding showed he still more than holds his own as a top sprinter with a six-length romp of the Grade 2 True North presented by F.W. Webb on June 8 Belmont Stakes Day at the Spa.

Baby Yoda brings Grade 1 Forego experience, finishing fourth in 2022’s edition won by next-out Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-winner Cody’s Wish. Baby Yoda also holds a field-best 114 Beyer, earned as a sophomore in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance score in September 2021 here.

Three Chimneys Farm’s Grade 1-winner Gun Pilot [post 1, Cristian Torres] was a well-beaten third as the favorite in the True North won by Baby Yoda. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old Gun Runner bay entered that try from a comfortable 2 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Churchill Downs on May 4 Kentucky Derby Day.

His sire, the Three Chimneys co-owned and Asmussen-trained Hall of Famer Gun Runner, won four Grade 1s at age 4. Gun Pilot looks to add a second top-level score to his name on the year.

Asmussen took this event last year with Gunite, in addition to past scores with Yaupon [2021] and Mitole [2019], that year’s Champion Male Sprinter.

Wathnan’s Racing Cagliostro [post 8, Jose Ortiz] has not run at less than one-mile since an off-the-board racing debut 11 starts ago in September 2022 here. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the 4-year-old Upstart bay placed in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Blame in June at Churchill, in addition to a pair of 1 1/16-mile Grade 3-placings last year, including the Smarty Jones [2nd] at Parx Racing and Indiana Derby [3rd] at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Cagliostro won the one-mile Listed Hanshin last-out on June 30 at Churchill, but will shorten up one furlong.

“It is a cutback in distance, but he ran so well at one mile that it should be in his wheelhouse,” said DeVaux. “He seems a little distance-limited with the way he is running, which isn’t a problem. He has shown a lot of speed and versatility. I think one mile is his best distance, but you have to find the best fit given the options.”

Rigney Racing’s Angkor [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] has made his last two outings in stakes company, most recently finishing second to the next-out Grade 1-placed Closethegame Sugar in the Listed Kelly’s Landing on June 29 at Churchill. Trained by Phil Bauer, the 6-year-old Anchor Down gelding will likely need to improve from a figures standpoint but he picks up the services of meet-leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“He’s doing good. The horse really hasn’t missed a beat since we came up here and everything is pointing in the right direction,” said Bauer. “Irad is going to ride him and he worked him the past couple of weeks and really likes him. He’s familiar with the horse because he’s run against him. I think he’s a good fit.”

Entering Sunday, August 18th, Bauer boasts an impressive 5-for-10 record at the Saratoga-meet.

Bauer said that by excusing Angkor’s misfire in the Listed Aristides in June at Churchill, he becomes yet another win candidate in the barn.

“He brings his race every time and the Aristides is a race you can put a line through. It was nice to see him return to form last out,” said Bauer. “We gave him plenty of time coming into this one. Hopefully he runs his race. The horse to me seems to have gotten better the older he’s gotten.”

Tom Durant’s graded stakes-placed Run Classic [post 5, Javier Castellano] traveled to Dubai for the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in March at Meydan Racecourse for trainer Jose D’Angelo. The Runhappy dark bay finished 7th-of-14 and returned to the states with a runner-up finish in the Listed Smile Sprint in July at Gulfstream Park.

Run Classic won his first start for D’Angelo in the Listed Gulfstream Park Sprint in February. He was previously conditioned by Bret Calhoun, posting an impressive 105 Beyer in an optional-claiming sprint win in October 2022 at Keeneland.

Rounding out the field are Grade 1-placed Twisted Ride [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Michael Moore and dual stakes-winner Full Screen [post 3, Dylan Davis] for Hall of Famer Mark Casse.

The Forego is slated as Race 11, on Saturday’s 14-race card that features the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers [Race 13]; the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer [Race 9]; the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap [Race 10]; and the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial [Race 12]. First post is 11:20 a.m. Eastern. Gates open at 9 a.m.

An expanded edition of Saratoga Live will begin at 11:30 a.m. Eastern on FS2 with continuing coverage on FS1 at 1:30 p.m. FOX Saratoga Saturday will present live coverage of the DraftKings Travers Day stakes action plus analysis in a special broadcast on FOX beginning at 3 p.m.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.