Recepta / Chelsea Durand Photo

Saratoga Race Course Notes - 8/6/16

by NYRA Press Office

Saratoga Race Course Notes - 8/6/16

Recepta in stable condition day after fracturing pelvis
Grand Arch, Ring Weekend gear up for G1 Fourstardave
New York-bred Runaway Lute pointed to G1 Hopeful

A day after graded stakes winner Recepta suffered a fractured pelvis while galloping at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Jimmy Toner reported that his 5-year-old is in comfortable and stable condition at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Saratoga Springs.

"I just spoke to the hospital and she is doing well," Toner said shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday, outside his Saratoga barn. "She is standing evenly on her hind legs, which is encouraging. She's smart, so she is handling everything really well."

The injury is career-ending for the mare, who finished second in the Grade 1 Diana earlier in the meet. A winner of five races from 17 starts, Recepta won nearly $700,000 in purses for her owners, Phillips Racing Partnership and Pam Gartin. Last year at Saratoga, she captured the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes, which will be run this afternoon.

Toner said Recepta is receiving fluids so she doesn't dehydrate as a result of not drinking enough water, due to inactivity. The fluids, he said, will keep the mare's internal organs functioning properly.

"I'm hoping she stays there for three or four weeks," Toner said. "She wouldn't have to stay there normally but for 10 days or two weeks to make sure she is stable, but the other side of the coin is that I want to make sure she is under 24-hour care.

"The first 30 days are very crucial [to her recovery]," he added. "At that point everything starts to fuse and then basically it is stall rest after that, but we want to monitor her very closely to make sure she doesn't dehydrate and that she is putting weight on her hind legs." 

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After a couple of grass workouts in company with heralded newcomer Brooklyn Bobby in July, Grand Arch went to the main track for a six-furlong workout Thursday.

Gearing up for a defense of his title in next Saturday's $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, the durable 7-year-old gelding turned in a bullet move in 1:14.55 seconds, the fastest of four at the distance. 

"We lost a bit of time with him with the rain we had," said trainer Brian Lynch. "He went a nice three-quarters on the dirt, got the work into him that we needed, and his energy level is very good."

A horse for the course, Grand Arch finished a close second in the 2014 edition of the Fourstardave at odds of 11-1, and returned to prevail in a blanket finish last year at 8-1. He finished off a terrific season by winning the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile and running third in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The one-mile Fourstardave has been upgraded to Grade 1 status this year.

"We're like a heavyweight fighter defending his title," quipped Lynch. "You've got to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee in the Fourstardave."

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Ring Weekend, who ran a remarkable second in the Dixie after being sidelined for over a year by foot issues, breezed six furlongs on the Tapeta surface at Fair Hill on Friday, going the distance in 1:14.60 in company with Messi, winner of last year's Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont Park.

The 5-year-old gelding remains on target for the Fourstardave, reported trainer Graham Motion.

"He worked three-quarters with Messi and I was very happy with him," said Motion, who was thrilled that Ring Weekend nearly won the Dixie despite being carried wide early by Grand Arch. 

Due to a foot abscess, the Dixie marked Ring Weekend's first appearance since winning the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile in March 2015.

Ring Weekend, who has earned over $1.1 million, will remain in Maryland until later next week. 

"That's the plan," said Motion. "We probably won't bring him until after we enter."

Entries for the Fourstardave will be taken Wednesday.

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Undefeated 2-year-old New York-bred Runaway Lute is nominated to the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special August 14, but will await the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful Stakes on closing day, September 5, trainer Gary Contessa said Saturday morning.

On Friday, Runaway Lute worked for the first time since winning last month's restricted Rockville Centre at Belmont Park. The five-furlong move over the Oklahoma training track was timed in 1:01.20, breezing. Former jockey Nick Santagata was aboard for the work.

"Runaway Lute does everything so easy," Contessa said. "I tell Santagata on the walkie-talkie, 'Nick, sit.' He's got his feet [on the dashboard], and the horse goes 12, 24, 36, and 101, and Nick never turned his head loose. That's how good this horse is right now."

While winning the Rockville Centre by 8 3/4 lengths after stumbling at the gate, the son of Midnight Lute lost a shoe.

"It took me about two weeks to get the tenderness out of that foot," Contessa said. "So, yesterday's work was just supposed to be a maintenance work. It was way more than I expected, but he did it while under a stranglehold."

Runaway Lute is owned by Howard Lerner and Nehoc Stables. Lerner bought the colt last year for $77,000 out of Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale of New York-breds. Contessa said Lerner has been approached about selling Runaway Lute, but is not interested.

"Harold told me not to entertain any [offers]," Contessa said. "I think Harold is enjoying himself with this horse, so no offers, and that is great by me."