Elsa Lorieul Photo

Paris Lights, Crystal Ball give WinStar Stablemates a thrill in CCA Oaks (G1)

by NYRA Press Office

• Paris Lights, Crystal Ball give WinStar Stablemates a thrill in CCA Oaks (G1)
• Decorated Invader on course for $500K Saratoga Derby
• Bodexpress in consideration for Whitney (G1); Caracaro could target Runhappy Travers (G1)
• Firenze Fire puts in final work before Vanderbilt (G1)
• Starship Jubilee, Canada's Horse of the Year, planning Ballston Spa (G2) return
• Mind Control looks to go 3-for-3 at Spa in Vanderbilt (G1); 2019 Belmont Stakes-third place finisher Joevia likely to be retired
• Code of Honor breezes for Whitney (G1); Creed likely for Jim Dandy (G2)
• Getmotherarose pointed to $200K Caress; Get Smokin possible for Saranac (G3)
• Carrera Cat breezes toward Union Avenue title defense
• All graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5 handles $194K
• Saratoga Week 2 stakes probables

When entering a low-risk, low-cost ownership group, partners could only dream of having two of their horses engage in a stretch duel in a Grade 1 at Saratoga Race Course. But such was the case for the roughly 35 members of WinStar Stablemates who saw Paris Lights and Crystal Ball hit the wire in unison in Saturday's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.

 At the top of the stretch, Crystal Ball was confronted by fellow color-bearer Paris Lights, and the two fillies remained nip-and-tuck throughout the stretch run, but Paris Lights came out on top by a head for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Both fillies earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

 Both fillies were making their stakes debut in the CCA Oaks with Paris Lights arriving at the event off a triumph against winners going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. Crystal Ball, trained by fellow Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, made her prior start with a maiden triumph at Santa Anita.

 "I did have a fleeting thought it could possibly be a dead heat but we were a few inches short of that," said WinStar Farm President and CEO Elliott Walden. "It's a good feeling. You can take a deep breath when no one was coming, but you don't root for one over the other."

 A total of 19 horses are included in the WinStar Stablemates syndication, which was modeled after a concept that farms in Japan have adopted. Members are able to enjoy the perks and positive experiences of thoroughbred ownership without any of the lucrative costs and expenses.

 "Some farms over in Japan will take their fillies that they want to keep as broodmares and lease the racing rights out," Walden said. "I thought the model looked attractive for the fans, because they don't have the expense of buying well-bred fillies. It gets them involved in the game and gives them the chance to race a filly of that caliber. For the farm, it gives us the chance to try and get a few fillies to come home to the farm to eventually become broodmares."

 Walden has received quite a bit of positive feedback regarding the syndication, especially this past week.

 "We have an email thread that averaged about 30 inputs an hour. Seems like for the last 72 hours it's going crazy," Walden said. "We try to give a weekly report on the horses to the partners. One of the other purposes of this is to educate. We post conformation videos and does conformation analysis so the members get a good education in that department."

 Paris Lights and Crystal Ball could renew their in-house rivalry in the Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama on August 15 at the Spa. Both fillies earned a respective 100 and 40 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on September 4 at Churchill Downs.

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Decorated Invader on course for $500K Saratoga Derby

West Point Thoroughbreds, William T. Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning's Grade 1-winner Decorated Invader earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure with his 1 ¼-length win in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame at nine furlongs on Saratoga's inner turf.

The Declaration of War bay tracked pacesetter Get Smokin in the two-turn test before putting a head in front at the stretch call and pulling away from his rivals.

Clement said he came out of the race in good order and is on target for the 1 3/16-mile $500,000 Saratoga Derby, first leg of the Turf Triple Series for 3-year-olds slated for August 15, which is expected to feature the first matchup with stablemate Gufo, a fellow Declaration of War progeny and Grade 3-winner who scratched out of yesterday's event.

"So far, so good," said Clement. "He finished his race well and won going away. As of now, the distance seems to be okay. Gufo will train into the Saratoga Derby."

Clement opened Saturday's card with a sharp debut maiden win from Ironhorse Racing Stable and Secure Investments' Momos.

The Distorted Humor juvenile broke sharply for Manny Franco, opened up a four-length advantage at the head of the lane and sprinted clear to a 6 ¼-length score that earned a 75 Beyer.

The Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite on August 7 marks the first stakes event for juvenile colts on the Spa calendar, but Clement said he will keep his options open.

"He trained very forwardly with us and he ran very fast yesterday," said Clement. "It's fun to win at 5 1/2-furlongs on dirt and then at 8 1/2-furlongs on turf on the same day."

R Unicorn Stable's Call Me Love breezed a half-mile in 48.70 Saturday on the Oklahoma training turf in preparation for Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa at 1 1/16-miles.

The 4-year-old Sea the Stars chestnut was a good second in her North American debut in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Beaugay won by Rushing Fall, but weakened late last out in the Grade 2 New York at 10 furlongs, both efforts at Belmont Park.

"The work was good and she came out of it in good shape. The plan is to aim for the Ballston Spa," said Clement. "I thought her race in the Beaugay was better than the New York Handicap, so we will shorten up. I know the race will be very tough."

Clement will saddle a pair of promising 2-year-olds in Thursday's third race with Mo Normal and Plum Ali debuting at 1 1/16-miles on the turf.
 Robert S. Evans' Mo Normal, by Uncle Mo, is out of the graded-stakes winning Forestry mare New Normal.

"The further the better for her," said Clement.

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali, a chestnut daughter of First Samurai, was a $65,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

 "It may be a touch long for her, but she has trained forwardly," said Clement. "I don't like the idea of going five and a half first out and mentally that is not the message I want to give her. So, we will go a mile and a sixteenth, try to restrain her, and have her finish.

 "She's a very lightly-framed filly," he added. "She's good mentally, so we will see how she runs."

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Bodexpress in consideration for G1 Whitney; Caracaro could target G1 Runhappy Travers

Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred and GDS Racing Stable's Bodexpress was a late scratch before the start of Saturday's Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at Monmouth Park and is now under consideration for the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney on August 1 at Saratoga, assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr. said. Delgado, Jr. said Bodexpress had a small abrasion on his nose incurred while travelling to Monmouth Park.

"When he was warming up for the race, they said he was bleeding and the state vet scratched him," said Delgado, Jr., the 31-year-old son of trainer Gustavo Delgado who is overseeing a stable of three horses at Saratoga that includes Bodexpress, Grade 3 Peter Pan runner-up Caracaro and maiden winner Summer Kid.

Bodexpress, a 4-year-old Bodemeister colt, became an internet sensation after unseating Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in last year's Grade 1 Preakness before completing the course on his own accord.

"This horse is full of stories, but this one is not because of him," said Delgado, Jr. "He behaved well and he was doing everything that he had to do. He came back good, scoped fine, and he's already home and walked this morning." 

Deadline for nominations to the nine-furlong Whitney, which offers an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, closed Saturday. 

"I was watching the race and I nominated him as soon as we realized he wasn't running yesterday," said Delgado, Jr. 

A runner-up as a maiden in the 2019 Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, Bodexpress was placed thirteenth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, ultimately graduating in October in a mile and seventy yard maiden tilt at Gulfstream Park West. He completed his eventful sophomore season with a third in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream. 

Bodexpress has made three starts this season at Gulfstream, including a fifth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and a last-out third in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope at nine furlongs. 

 "He's ready. And he always runs better when he's fresh," said Delgado, Jr.

Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing's Caracaro followed up his January 11 maiden win at Gulfstream with a strong second in Thursday's Grade 3 Peter Pan, earning 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Delgado, Jr. said Caracaro is under consideration for the 151st renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on August 8, which offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

"We definitely want to try and get more points and qualify for the Derby. That's our main goal," said Delgado, Jr. "He had a huge effort off a six-month layoff going a mile and an eighth. So far he's come out of the race really well. 

Delgado, Jr. said a start in the Runhappy Travers is likely if Caracaro continues to move forward.

 "We had a conversation with the owners about it and we want to give him the next 10 days and let him tell us if he's on the right path for the Travers," said Delgado, Jr. "He's already here and if he can move forward from that effort, we think he can improve enough to belong in the race."

 Gelfenstein Farm's Summer Kid, a Kentucky-bred son of Lemon Drop Kid, breezed five-eighths in 1:01.44 seconds on the Saratoga main track on Sunday.
 "He breezed easy this morning," said Delgado, Jr. "We're planning an allowance race with him."

 Summer Kid earned an 86 Beyer for his second-out maiden score in a one-mile event held June 21 at Gulfstream Park.

"He came back well out of a fast race and is moving forward," said Delgado, Jr. "We'll see how he does in his next race but we believe he's a stakes quality horse."

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Firenze Fire puts in final work before G1 Vanderbilt

Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire put in his final work before Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, going four furlongs in 49.49 seconds on Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Saturday.

Firenze Fire registered his first work since winning the 6 ½-furlong Grade 2 True North on June 27 at Belmont. The 5-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior was making his second start in three weeks after returning from a near four-month layoff to run fourth in the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter earlier in the month.

With four wins in his last five starts dating to November, trainer Kelly Breen said Firenze Fire has continued to train forwardly heading into the six-furlong Vanderbilt.

"He's doing as well as he was into his last race, so if he moves forward again, he should be ready to move forward one more time," Breen said.

Breen took over the training duties for Firenze Fire before the Runhappy Carter.  In 26 career starts, Firenze Fire has an 11-3-2 ledger and earnings of $1.93 million.

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Starship Jubilee, Canada's Horse of the Year, planning G2 Ballston Spa return

Blue Heaven Farm's Starship Jubilee, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, is working on a return to Saratoga for Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older fillies and mares.

Trained by Kevin Attard, the Florida-bred breezed a bullet half-mile in 47.40 seconds on Woodbine's dirt training track Saturday.

"We're just working on the logistics part of it but she breezed well yesterday," said Attard. "I'm happy with the way she's come along. Obviously, it's going to be a tough race, but I think she'll be up to the challenge."

The 7-year-old Indy Wind mare posted a record of 7-3-3-1 last year with purse earnings of $604,929 led by scores in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor and Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine Racetrack.

The two graded wins at her home course in Toronto, Ontario came on the heels of a good third in last year's Ballston Spa won by Significant Form.

Claimed for $16,000 in May 2017 at Gulfstream Park by Tino Attard, Kevin's father, the bay mare has since won 14 starts, half of them in graded events, including scores this year in the Grade 3 Suwanee River at Gulfstream and the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs.

Attard said Starship Jubilee is a special mare. "She's a very special horse and loves to compete. She's as honest as they come and shows up each and every time," said Attard. "Winning the E.P. Taylor was the icing on the cake from a racing standpoint, but then hearing her name called for Horse of the Year capped off a great season and I'm delighted she got the respect she deserved."

Last year, Starship Jubilee battled with rider Jose Lezcano before settling down and making a strong run for third.

"I thought she ran well," said Attard. "She was a little bit rank so hopefully she won't be as rank this time around and conserve some of that energy, but apart from that I thought she ran her race. She wasn't beaten far at all and it was a tight finish. She came closing. She's had a run over the course now. Hopefully, she remembers that and runs even better this time."

Attard has saddled just two starts at Saratoga, including a fifth in the 2016 Troy with Calgary Cat and said a win at the Spa would be a highlight.

"It would be very special. It's not easy to win any race at Saratoga, let alone a graded race," said Attard. " We're obviously hoping we can add that to her ledger. I think we're bringing the right horse down." 

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Mind Control looks to go 3-for-3 at Spa in G1 Vanderbilt; 2019 G1 Belmont Stakes-third place finisher Joevia likely to be retired 

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stable's Mind Control will return to the site of his two career Grade 1 victories when he competes in Saturday's Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.

The five-time graded stakes winner put in his last breeze before shipping to the Spa, working five furlongs in 1:01.00 yesterday over Monmouth Park's main track. Trainer Gregg Sacco, who is based at the Oceanport, New Jersey track, said the 4-year-old Stay Thirsty colt came out of the work in great shape and will van up to the Spa on Thursday.

"Everything's going really well. Coming into the Vanderbilt, his weight is fantastic, and his coat looks great," Sacco said. "Yesterday, his work was picture-perfect. He went 1:01 and galloped out three-quarters in 1:13 and came out of the work great. I was heartened by that this morning."

Mind Control won the 2018 Grade 1 Hopeful in just his third career start and last year won the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Runhappy Travers Day, capturing the seven-furlong sprint by a nose over Hog Creek Hustle to cap his sophomore campaign. 

Making his 4-year-old bow, he followed with another victory by a nose, edging Nicodemus in the Grade 3 Toboggan in January at Aqueduct Racetrack. Mind Control racked up his third consecutive win in the Grade 3 Tom Fool in March at the Big A. When racing in New York resumed in June, Mind Control returned to action in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap, running fourth in the seven-furlong sprint contested on a sloppy track at Belmont on June 4 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

"Like everyone else, we were all in limbo with the COVID situation. In New York, we were all in the same boat," Sacco said. "It was nice to get back to some sense of normalcy. The only other time before the Carter he had run on a wet track was at Aqueduct [in winning the 2019 Jerome]. We had the downpour before the Carter and the track was a mess. Some horses handle it and some don't, and it wasn't like he was out-run. But Johnny said at the last eighth of a mile, he was just spinning his wheels and going through the motions. So, we look forward to bringing him back at Saratoga."

Mind Control is 7-2-1 in 13 career starts with earnings exceeding $1 million. He is 2-for-2 at the Vanderbilt's six-furlong distance, breaking his maiden at that length in August 2018 at Monmouth and adding the Tom Fool four months ago.

Michael and Jeff Fazio's Joevia, the third-place finisher in the 2019 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, suffered an injury in his sixth-place finish in yesterday's Grade 3 Monmouth Cup and will likely be retired, Sacco said.

"Unfortunately, he came out of the race with an injury and I'll take to the Fazio brothers and we'll determine it," Sacco said. "I don't know if he can come back and race at the high level he's been running out. We're leaning towards him being retired, unfortunately. It's nothing life-threatening."

Joevia, a 4-year-old son of Shanghai Bobby, won the 2019 Long Branch at Monmouth. In his next start, making his graded stakes debut, Joevia took the big step up in class and earned Sacco his first career blacktype in an American Classic, finishing only behind Tacitus and winner Sir Winston the Belmont Stakes at its famed 1 ½-mile distance.

"He gave us a lot of nice memories," Sacco said. "He ran well in the Belmont; it was a dynamite race. He's a very neat horse and he'll be missed. Maybe he'll stand somewhere. I don't know yet; we'll look into it. He's a beautiful, well-made horse so maybe he'll have a second career as a stallion."

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Code of Honor breezes for G1 Whitney; Creed likely for G2 Jim Dandy

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey breezed two-time Grade 1 winner Code of Honor over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday morning in his first work since running third in the Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile on July 4 at Belmont Park. 

Owned by William S. Farish, the 4-year-old chestnut son of Noble Mission went five furlongs in company with stable mate and first-level allowance winner Creed, with both horses completing their moves in 1:01.93.

McGaughey plans on running Code of Honor in the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney on August 1.

"They both worked excellent," McGaughey said. "Code of Honor worked really, really well, I was really pleased. I was just looking to do a little something with Creed."

McGaughey said that the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy on September 5 would be a target for Creed. Owned by Edward J. Hudson, Jr. and Lynne Hudson, the son of second-crop stallion Honor Code broke his maiden by 7 ¾ lengths on June 11 at Belmont Park before defeating winners over Big Sandy on July 2. Creed was purchased for $650,000 from the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.In the Met Mile, Code of Honor was a late-closing third, finishing a 1 ½ lengths to Vekoma.

McGaughey believes that Code of Honor, winner of last year's Grade 1 Runhappy Travers and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, is more suited for the Whitney's 1 1/8-mile distance.

"He didn't get the best trip," McGaughey said of the Met Mile. "Two turns is better for him, especially now that he's older, but I thought ran really well. They went really fast, he had a wide trip. The winner had a dream trip over a speed-favoring track, so I thought it was all good."

Code of Honor will attempt to become the first horse to win the Travers and the Whitney since Medaglia d'Oro did so respectively in 2002 and 2003. McGaughey will go for his fourth Whitney triumph having saddled Honor Code (2015), Easy Goer (1989) and Personal Ensign (1988) to victory.

A Kentucky homebred, Code of Honor is out of the graded stakes-winning Dixie Union broodmare Reunited.

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Getmotherarose pointed to $200K Caress; Get Smokin possible for G3 Saranac

Getmotherarose, trained by Tom Bush for the Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust, breezed five-eighths in 1:03.90 Saturday on the Oklahoma turf training track.

"I thought she would finish a little stronger but the turf must have a little bit of give to it. She worked fine. She didn't need much," said Bush.

Bush said he was considering both the Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa on July 25 at 1 1/16-miles of the $200,000 Caress on August 1 at 5 1/2-furlongs for Getmotherarose, but landed on the sprint race. "We'll go in the Caress," said Bush. "I'm not a fan of either distance but I prefer the Caress over the Ballston Spa."

Getmotherarose, a bay daughter of Get Stormy, enjoyed a solid sophomore season with a record of 9-4-0-1, while racing mostly in allowance company. This year, the talented bay has raced exclusively in stakes company including a breakthrough score in the Grade 3 Honey Fox in February when travelling one mile on the Gulfstream Park turf.

Two starts back, in the Grade 3 Intercontinental at Belmont, Getmotherarose never got untracked when ninth but she returned in the six-furlong License Fee last out on July 3 at Belmont with a deceptively good fourth. "Her last race was good, but the one previous was a disaster. We're not sure what happened there," said Bush. "Last time, she got away poorly and that got her back and trapped on the inside the whole way and she never got out." Bush is off to a good start at the Saratoga meet, winning on Opening Day with Pecatonica and added a solid second from Get Smokin, who opened up a 7 ½-length advantage and stayed on gamely in Saturday's Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. "He ran his heart out," said Bush regarding Get Smokin's game effort to earn place money by a nose over Domestic Spending. "You can't ask for much more than that. It would have been really disheartening if he had got beat for second, so that made it sweeter."

The sophomore Get Stormy chestnut used a pacesetting approach in three stakes events at Gulfstream Park over the winter when second in the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy in January; second in the Dania Beach in February; and third in the Cutler Bay in March.

Bush said he could point Get Smokin to the Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac at one mile for sophomores on the Spa turf on August 29.

"It's a possibility," said Bush. "I won the Saranac with a New York-bred a few years ago with Unbridled Command. He went on and won five in a row including the Hollywood Derby."

Unbridled Command, who was owned at the time by Lewis G. Lakin, nailed the frontrunning Skyring to win the 2012 Saranac and followed up with a last-of-11 charge to win the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park. When asked if it was more stressful to train a frontrunner or a closer, Bush didn't choose. "Both. We like all the suspense."

Berkshire Stud's Pecatonica, a New York homebred, picked up her third career with with a nose score in a 1 1/16-mile New York-bred turf allowance on Opening Day.

Bush said the 4-year-old Temple City bay could target the Yaddo Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile test for state-bred fillies and mares on September 4.

"I wouldn't rule that out," said Bush. "She's come out of the race with a ton of energy. I'm very happy with her. And the owner is a breeder so black type is very important to them."

Bush, who owns a perfect in-the-money record of 3-1-1-1 to start the Saratoga meet, said he hopes the run of form continues.

"Everything ran good this week, let's hope they run good next week," said Bush.

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Carrera Cat breezes toward Union Avenue title defense

Stone Bridge Farm and Very Un Stable's Carerra Cat worked a half-mile in 49.24 on the Belmont Park dirt training track on Saturday.

Trained by John Morrison, the 5-year-old Courageous Cat mare won 4-of-8 starts last season, including a first stakes score in the 6 1/2-furlong Union Avenue in August at the Spa.

Morrison said the speedy mare breezed well and will look to defend her Union Avenue title on August 13.

"She worked by herself and went very comfortably," said Morrison. "We've had a few setbacks with her but she's back on track and we're pointing for the Union Avenue. She'll be shipping up to Saratoga on Monday."

Very Un Stable's Hunnybunnerdini, a maiden winner at first asking on the Belmont turf in June, will make her stakes debut in Thursday's $100,000 NYSSS Statue of Liberty at 1 1/16-miles on the inner turf.

Hunnybunnerdini will be making just her third career start for trainer John Morrison. The New York-bred Alpha filly won her June 4 debit at six furlongs on the turf, registering a three-quarter length victory at odds of 47-1.

She ran 11th last out stretching out to seven furlongs on July 12, also contested over Belmont's firm turf.

"I thought she could run a little bit and I wasn't too surprised she ran that way the first time," said Morrison. "Last time, I missed a work with her but I still thought she'd run better. We were using that race as a springboard for this, so we'll find out."

Stone Bridge Farm homebred The Last Ace will be out of action until the fall."He's going to be out until the fall. We had to address some minor issues," said Morrison.

The Last Ace posted a 6 ¼-length debut win on February 29 in a 6 ½-furlong state-bred maiden sprint at the Big A that garnered a 77 Beyer Speed Figure.The 3-year-old son of Honor Code is out of Acey Deucey, who won the Grade 1 Prioress for Morrison in 2005.

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All graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5 handles $194K

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5, encompassing all graded stakes across Saratoga Race Course, Monmouth Park and Woodbine Racetrack, paid $584 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $194,618.

Monmouth, located in Oceanport, New Jersey, hosted the first two legs of the sequence, starting when favorite Global Campaign ran down Bal Harbour in the stretch and outkicked Math Wizard by 1 ½ lengths to win the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup in Race 10. Trained by Stanley Hough, Global Campaign, the winner of the 2019 Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont Park, returned $7 on a $2 win wager. Jorge Vargas, Jr. was the winning jockey.

In the second leg, 10-1 Aquaphobia pulled off the upset, posting a one-length victory in the Grade 1 United Nations going 1 3/8 miles on the turf. The Mike Maker trainee paid $23.40, hitting the wire in 2:12.63 in Race 11 under New Jersey-born rider Joe Bravo.

An international flavor was added to the Cross Country Pick 5 in the third leg, when Lady Grace won the Grade 2 Royal North, contested at six furlongs on the turf, in Woodbine's Race 9. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, an 11-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada's top trainer, Lady Grace, under jockey Kazushi Kimura, was seventh in the eight-horse field at the half-mile mark before making up ground entering the stretch and surging home in a 1:06.90 final time at the Rexdale, Ontario-based track. She returned $14.80.

Monmouth's signature race, the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell, lived up to its billing in an exciting fourth contest of the sequence in Race 12. Authentic, who gained notoriety early this year while on the Triple Crown prep trail, moved himself back into contention for September's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, edging Ny Traffic by a nose to win the 1 1/8-mile race, securing an all-fees paid berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Keeneland in addition to 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. With Hall of Famers Bob Baffert and Mike Smith handing the training and riding responsibilities, respectively, Authentic posted a final time of 1:50.45 as the favorite, paying $3.20.

Historic Saratoga rounded out the loaded Cross Country Pick 5 with the wager's third Grade 1 in the $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for sophomore fillies in Race 10. A pair of contenders owned by WinStar Stablemates finished 1-2, with Paris Lights pulling ahead of Crystal Ball by a head to earn 100 qualifying points to September's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Paris Lights [$6.00] went off as the 2-1 second choice behind favorite Tonalist's Shape, tracked Crystal Ball in second position and finished strong, potentially setting up a next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama on August 15 at the Spa.

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.

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Saratoga Race Course Week 2 stakes probables 

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa

Probable: Bramble Queen (Michael Dini); Call Me Love (Christophe Clement); North Broadway (Chad Brown); Sistercharlie (Chad Brown)
Possible: Feel Glorious (Christophe Clement); Starship Jubilee (Kevin Attard) 

Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt

Probable: Diamond Oops (Patrick Biancone); Firenze Fire (Kelly Breen); Lexitonian (Jack Sisterson); Mind Control (Gregg Sacco); Volatile (Steve Asmussen); Whitmore (Ron Moquett)

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Grade 2, $150,000 Bernard Baruch

Probable: Good Governance (Chad Brown); Gucci Factor (Christophe Clement); Halladay (Todd Pletcher); Olympico (Chad Brown); Therapist (Christophe Clement)
Possible: Argentello (Conor Murphy)