Susie Raisher Photo

Ny Traffic sharp in Thursday morning breeze

by NYRA Press Office

• Mutasaabeq targets G1 Runhappy Hopeful; Halladay could set the pace in G1 Fourstardave
• Tobys Heart answers questions and gives Lynch options going forward
• Emmaus to make Saratoga debut in G1 Fourstardave for trainer Conor Murphy
• Rookie Report: Strong pedigrees present in two Saturday turf maiden special weights
• Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Old Friends at Cabin Creek host open house event on Saturday
• Saratoga Week 6 stakes probables

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said he was looking for a little more out of Ny Traffic in his penultimate work towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5 at Churchill Downs, and the conditioner got just what he wanted when the four-time graded stakes placed son of Cross Traffic went a sharp five-eighths in 59.03 on Thursday morning over the Saratoga main track.

"He seems happy and that's the most important thing," Joseph Jr. said. "I think that was our stiff work and it went as well as we could have wanted it to go. We just wanted him to come into a bit of urgency so the work will bring him forward and I think he got something out of it."

Bred in the Empire State by Brian Culnan, Ny Traffic will arrive at the Kentucky Derby off runner-up finishes in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds, the Grade 3 Matt Winn on May 23 at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 18 at Monmouth Park, where he came up a nose shy of victory to wire-to-wire winner Authentic.

Ny Traffic will have one more work at Saratoga before shipping to Churchill Downs either next Sunday or Monday.

"We're ahead of schedule. We planned it that way in case we have to change things because of the weather," Joseph Jr. said. "Right now, the weather has rain on Thursday or Friday so he could work next week any day between Thursday or Saturday of next week."

Joseph Jr. is still relishing the opportunity to compete in the historic event for the first time.

"Obviously we are in a strange year, but in 30-40 years when you look back, it doesn't matter what year you're in it," Joseph Jr. said. "It's still the Derby. If we can win it this year, it won't mean any less. It will mean everything."

Ny Traffic is fifth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 110 points, which he garnered from his three runner-up efforts as well as a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Risen Star at Fair Grounds in February.

Joseph, Jr. said he is cautiously optimistic his colt will put in a winning performance against fellow New York-bred and likely race favorite Tiz the Law.

"We definitely feel that we're taking a horse with a chance. He's an outsider, but he has a legit chance," Joseph, Jr. said. "Sometimes you take horses there that you know have no chance, but you still hope. But we feel that we have a horse that on his best day could upset them. Tiz the Law, he's a class above everybody. His record speaks for itself and we respect him, but we hope we can beat him."

Also working for Joseph, Jr. on Thursday morning was Math Wizard, who provided the conditioner with his first Grade 1 victory when taking last year's Pennsylvania Derby. The son of Algorithms went a half-mile in 48.71 seconds and will most likely compete in next Saturday's Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, but is possible for the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward on September 5 at Saratoga.

"Charles Town is in play, but the Woodward is on the backburner," Joseph, Jr. said. "He worked well this morning and it would be his last work if he ends up going to Charles Town. We'll play it by ear and talk to the owner and see what they want to do."

Two-time graded stakes winner Tonalist's Shape went five furlongs in 1:01.22 over the Saratoga main track and is likely for either the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, September 4 or the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs on the same day.

*         *         *

Mutasaabeq targets Runhappy Hopeful (G1); Halladay could set the pace in Fourstardave (G1)

Following a highly impressive debut victory on the Runhappy Travers Day undercard, Shadwell Stables' Mutasaabeq will attempt to make the grade in the Grade 1, $250,000 Runhappy Hopeful on Monday, September 7.

The Todd Pletcher trained son of Into Mischief, out of the Scat Daddy broodmare Downside Scenario, arrived at his career debut off two sharp bullet works from the gate, where he went five furlongs in 59.03 and a half-mile in 46.53.

Since his maiden win, he worked a half-mile in 48.88 seconds on Monday over the Saratoga main track.

In his career debut traveling 5 ½-furlongs, Mutasaabeq broke a step slow out of the gate, was four wide in pursuit and powered away to a 4 ½-length score that garnered an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

"He had been touting himself in the morning, so we were hoping for a good debut out of him. His first step isn't that quick, we knew that going in. But once he gets going, he gets to be pretty fast," Pletcher said. "He seemed to emerge from his race well and so right now we're pointing towards the Hopeful. We're very pleased with him. He definitely has trained as though the stretch out won't bother him, so we're excited about the way he's doing and we're looking forward to it."

Bred in Kentucky by BlackRidge Stables, Mutasaabeq was purchased for $425,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Pletcher is a three-time winner of the Runhappy Hopeful, scoring with Circular Quay (2006), Shanghai Bobby (2012), and Competitive Edge (2014).

On Saturday, Pletcher will be sending out Harrell Ventures' Halladay in the Grade 1, $400,000 Fourstardave Handicap at one mile over the inner turf at Saratoga.

 The consistent 4-year-old son of War Front arrives at the Fourstardave after finishing fourth beaten 1 ¼ lengths in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch, where he tracked a slow pace in second behind gate-to-wire winner Somelikeithotbrown. 

A two-time stakes winner going 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream Park turf, Halladay has only finished off the board twice in 13 starts.

Halladay has posted two half-mile breezes over the Saratoga main track since his last effort going 48.55 seconds in his most recent move.

"We'll play it on the break, but if he's the main speed we won't take that away from him," Pletcher said. "He's been doing well. I liked his two breezes since the race. It's a very tough race, but hopefully he's able to step up."

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Farm and Winchell Thoroughbreds, Halladay is out of two-time graded stakes winning Tapit broodmare Hightap.

*         *         *

Tobys Heart answers questions and gives Lynch options going forward

For the second consecutive race, Tobys Heart overcame a slow start and showed great late speed to pick up a win, improving to 2-for-2 in her career with a 1 ¼-length score in Wednesday's $85,000 Bolton Landing for juvenile fillies at Saratoga.

After winning at 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in her debut on June 4 at Churchill Downs, trainer Brian Lynch sent Tobys Heart to the Bolton Landing looking to see if she could handle a step up in class and to gauge how she handles the shipping. The Jack Milton filly answered both questions in the affirmative, winning at the same distance over the Mellon turf course labeled good after earlier rainfall to best an eight-horse field.

After earning an 86 Beyer for her 6 ¾-length maiden-breaking effort, Tobys Heart garnered a 78 for yesterday's effort.

"I've had a lot of speedballs in my careers that always have a bullseye on their back with Heart to Heart and Oscar Performance, but it's good to have one that can just settle and come from off the pace," Lynch said. "In sprints, it's still important to break good, but with her, I think it's just inexperience and with more starts, she'll keep getting better at leaving the gate. But it was nice seeing her win as wide as she came from and going around the turn."

Lynch, who co-owns Tobys Heart with Terry Hamilton, said he will look at longer races going forward to open more options.

"Keeping her 2-for-2 and seeing her winning form, it was good," Lynch said. "I thought the way she did it, from where she came from and to finish up like she did, it just sets up to stretch her out a little bit further. It opens up things in a lot of ways."

Off as the 1-2 favorite, jockey Jose Ortiz was patient with Tobys Heart, tracking in sixth position through the opening half mile before being angled out and eventually overtaking Joy's Rocket in the final furlong and hitting the wire in 1:02.31 to give Lynch his first win of the Saratoga meet.

"She was never hit by a stick before, so to see Jose give her a little wakeup call, she really responded," Lynch said. "Once he got by the other horse, it was a hand-ride to make her gallop by."

A $45,000 purchase in March at the Ocala Breeders' Sale, she nearly doubled her career earnings to $83,650. Tobys Heart was Lynch's first stakes winner at Saratoga since Heart to Heart won the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch on September 4, 2017.

"Time flies," Lynch said with a laugh. "At least we broke the drought." 

*         *         *

Emmaus to make Saratoga debut in Fourstardave (G1) for trainer Conor Murphy

Irish-bred Emmaus, trained and co-owned by Conor Murphy with M and J Thoroughbreds, will make his Saratoga debut in Saturday's loaded Grade 1, $400,000 Fourstardave.

The 6-year-old Invincible Spirit gelding was purchased for more than $650,000 by China Horse Club at the 2015 Goffs Orby Yearling sale and won his debut in September 2016 by a neck at Leicester for then trainer Roger Varian. His lone sophomore start was a nose score in the Wreake Handicap again at Leicester.

Emmaus made the first three starts of his 4-year-old season in group company, including a fourth in the Group 3 Prix Quincey Barriere in Deauville before completing the campaign with a narrow nose loss in the Racing UK EBF Stallions Guisborough at Redcar, where he dwelt at the start.

Murphy traveled overseas for the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale and spent $253,505 to bring Emmaus to the U.S. as a racing prospect.

"They'd paid a nice price for him as a yearling and he won impressively first time out, so I knew the horse but I never really considered him for the states," said Murphy. "I went over to the sale in Newmarket and even though he was one of the highest rated horses in the sale, I didn't have him high on my list as his best form was over soft going."

Soft turf is often hard to find in North America, but Murphy said he felt the horse could prove his worth on Woodbine's expansive turf course, where he'd had similar luck with European purchase Dimension, who captured three graded races at the Rexdale oval.

"When I saw him, he was a beautiful looking horse. His best form was on soft turf but he's such a good moving horse," said Murphy. "We liked him a lot and I bought him thinking he'd fit Woodbine more than anywhere else."

Emmaus made his North American debut in April 2019 with a strong second in the Elusive Quality at Belmont which led to a trio of starts around one turn at Woodbine including a second over firm going in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, a fourth in the Grade 2 King Edward and a troubled sixth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

Seeking class relief, Emmaus comfortably handled an allowance field at Keeneland traveling 1 1/16-miles in October and ended a lengthy campaign with an off-the-board effort in the Grade 3 River City Handicap in November at Churchill Downs.

Emmaus captured a 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming event at Fair Grounds in February to launch his 6-year-old campaign and has since finished fifth in the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill and fifth again last out in the Grade 1 Makers Mark Mile at Keeneland when defeated a length by War of Will.

Murphy said a chance to try two turns with his well-traveled runner made the Fourstardave enticing, though he will have to topple a field that includes Grade / Group 1-winners Raging Bull, Got Stormy, Uni, Valid Point and Without Parole.

"Unfortunately, when you have nicer horses you have to run against tough opposition but it's nice to have a couple nice ones in the barn," said Murphy. "He ended up proving last year at Woodbine that he can handle firm going. He's a grand horse and a lovely horse to be around but I think the two turns will be important to him."

Murphy said after performing well without winning around one-turn in his Woodbine races, Emmaus will benefit from a chance to settle and pounce around two turns.

"He ran a lot up at Woodbine last year but we always felt he would be more suited to a two-turn mile race," said Murphy. "Even though he's won twice going a mile and a sixteenth, when he gets into that stakes company it stretches him a little bit. I do think the two-turn flat mile will suit him better."

Last out, Emmaus landed fifth at odds of 41-1 in the Maker's Mark Mile in a tight finish that saw Fourstardave rivals Raging Bull in third and Without Parole in fourth.

"It's a very tough race Saturday, but he ran a big race last time and only got beat a length," said Murphy. "I know it was a blanket finish but I think he deserves another shot to see how he fares.

"With Halladay and Got Stormy in there, I think there should be a hot enough pace on Saturday," added Murphy. "I'd imagine our lad will be sitting close behind the leaders. It's as good as the Breeders' Cup Mile with the top horses in there, but our horse has done nothing wrong and he deserves a chance. He doesn't know what price he is."

Emmaus will mark Murphy's first starter at Saratoga, although the Irish-born conditioner did bring maiden Alfons Walde to Saratoga last summer.

"I brought one up last year to run in a maiden and it came off the grass. So, we left him there for the next one and he was an also eligible," said Murphy with a laugh.

Emmaus, listed at 15-1 on the morning line, will exit post 3 under Jose Lezcano in the Fourstardave.

*         *         *

Rookie Report: Strong pedigrees present in two Saturday turf maiden special weights

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschnieder's Foliage, a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Lea, will attempt to show his true colors and live up to his rich pedigree when making his career debut in a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint maiden in the Saturday opener for trainer Al Stall, Jr.

The bay son of Speightstown is out of the Galileo mare Greenery and comes from the same family as Grade 1 turf winner Stroll and multiple stakes winner Patrol, both of whom also sported the all gold colors of Claiborne Farm.

Stall, Jr. trained Lea during the early stages of his career and said that both horses display a similar intelligence level.

"He's a smaller version," Stall, Jr. said. "Lea was a big chestnut and this one is a smaller bay. This little horse is a smart horse, so he does have that quality in common. He's shown some speed in the mornings and does everything right."

A winner of the Grade 1 Donn Handicap over the Gulfstream Park main track in 2014 for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Lea won graded stakes on both dirt and turf and was placed twice against graded stakes company behind two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan on grass.

"We had the notion to try maybe a dirt race, but we know how super tough they are at Saratoga, so we figured we'd have a better chance to possibly win a turf sprint. With Speightstown on top of Galileo, that should be no problem," Stall, Jr. said.

Foliage will be piloted by Junior Alvarado from the rail in his career debut.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and ERJ Racing's Honorable will debut for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The son of leading second crop sire Constitution was bred in Kentucky by Susan Casner and is the first progeny out of the Lonhro broodmare Kayce Lu, whose dam Kayce Ace is a full sister to 2008 Travers winner Colonel John. He was bought for $60,000 from the 2019 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

"We're sprinting on the turf first time out," Pletcher said. "I feel like he'll be better suited for a little longer. This should be a good starting point for him."

Honorable breaks from post 7 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

Four races later, juveniles will take to the inner turf going 1 1/16 miles, where trainer Chad Brown will saddle Sifting Sands for owner Peter Brant.

The bay son of Dubawi is a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Legatissamo, whose dam Yummy Mummy is a full sister to 2009 Irish Derby winner Fame and Glory.

Brant purchased Sifting Sands, who was bred in Great Britain by Newsells Park Stud, from last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale overseas.

"The horse is training well, I think he's ready to run," Brown said. "We'll see what he does. He's been doing everything right so far."

Brown will give a leg up to jockey Jose Ortiz from post 3.

Trainer Graham Motion sends out a well-bred pair of first-time starters in Snow's Island [post 7, Joel Rosario] and Excursion [post 9, Manny Franco].

Owned and bred by Arnmore Thoroughbreds, Snow's Island is by 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and is out of the graded stakes wining mare Tuttipaesi, both of whom were conditioned by Motion.

Excursion, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Valdes and William Freeman, is by two-time Horse of the Year and multiple champion producing stallion Curlin out of the well-bred Cee's Tizzy mare Tizamazing, who is a full sister to champion producing sire and dual Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow.

Bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, Excursion was bought for $325,000 from the Burleson Farms consignment at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"They both are running this weekend because they need two turns and you don't get many opportunities to do that yet anywhere else," Motion said. "Snow's Island was actually entered at Colonial when they canceled. But I'm excited to get them started. I think they'll both benefit from the race and they're both ready to get started, so I think they'll appreciate the two turns."

*         *         *

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Old Friends at Cabin Creek host open house event on Saturday

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation [TRF] and Old Friends at Cabin Creek are hosting an open house and adoption event on Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the farm located at 483 Sand Creek Rd. in Greenfield Center.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about racehorse aftercare as well as meet TRF representatives Uptown Joe and Bold Mon, along with Old Friends retirees Commentator, a two-time Whitney Handicap winner, and Will's Way who captured the Travers and Whitney.

For more information, contact the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation website at www.trfinc.org or the Old Friends at Cabin's Creek website at oldfriendsatcabincreek.com.

*         *         *

Saratoga Week 6 stakes probables

Wednesday, August 26
$85,000 Mahony
Probable: Buy Land and See (Steve Klesaris), Cajun Casanova (Michael Pino), Competitive Saint (George Weaver), Fiya (Tom Albertrani), Island Commish (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), Jack and Noah (Mark Casse), Old Chestnut (Casse)

Thursday, August 27
$85,000 Smart N Fancy
Probable: A Great Time (Mike Trombetta), Getmotherarose (Tom Bush), Introduced (Jorge Duarte, Jr.), Overheated (Ray Handal), Rose Flower (Christophe Clement)
Possible: Mentality (Wesley Ward)

$100,000 NYSSS Times Square 
Probable: Blackjack Davey (Linda Rice), Captain Bombastic (Jeremiah Englehart), Chowda (Gary Sciacca), Dream Bigger (Rudy Rodriguez), Mission Wrapitup (Chad Brown)

Friday, August 28
Grade 3, $100,000 Lake George
Probable: American Giant (Mike Trombetta), Cat's Pajamas (Graham Motion), Selflessly (Chad Brown), Sugar Fix (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), Sweet Melania (Todd Pletcher), Velvet Crush (Rodolphe Brisset), Witez (Ian Wilkes)
Possible: Michelene (Michael Stidham)

Saturday, August 29
Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam 
Probable: Liam's Pride (Doug O'Neill), Long Weekend (Tom Amoss), Premier Star (Mike Trombetta), Tap It to Win (Mark Casse), Wondrwherecraigis (Brittany Russell), Yaupon (Steve Asmussen)

Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac
Probable: Big Dreaming (Wayne Catalano), Don Juan Kitten (Danny Gargan), L'Imperator (Chad Brown), Three Technique (Jeremiah Englehart), Vanzzy (Michael Pino)
Possible: Embolden (Michael Stidham), Irish Mias (Graham Motion)

Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer (BC)
Probable: Channel Maker (Bill Mott), Corelli (Jonathan Thomas), Highland Sky (Barclay Tagg), Pedro Cara (Graham Motion), Sadler's Joy (Tom Albertrani)
Possible: Postulation (Michael Matz)

Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing
Probable: Complexity (Chad Brown), Everfast (Jack Sisterson), Firenze Fire (Kelly Breen), Fortin Hill (Brown), Funny Guy (John Terranova), Lexitonian (Sisterson), Mind Control (Gregg Sacco), True Timber (Sisterson), Whitmore (Ron Moquett), Win Win Win (Mike Trombetta)

Sunday, August 30
Grade 3, $125,000 Shuvee
Probable: Another Broad (Todd Pletcher), Bellera (Pletcher), Golden Award (Bill Mott), Horologist (Mott), Lucky Stride (Trombetta), Nonna Madeline (Pletcher), Royal Flag (Chad Brown)
Possible: Letruska (Fausto Gutierrez)