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Skims leads loaded field of 11 in $135K Riskaverse

by Keith McCalmont

Andrew Rosen’s multiple graded stakes placed British homebred Skims will look to return to winning form in Thursday’s $135,000 Riskaverse, a one-mile inner turf test restricted to sophomore fillies yet to win a stakes other than state-bred at a mile or over, at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the Frankel bay graduated in November at Aqueduct Racetrack and followed with an optional-claiming score in February at Tampa Bay Downs in her seasonal debut. 

She has made her last three starts in graded company, finishing third in both the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland and Grade 2 Wonder Again at Belmont Park. Last out, the Joel Rosario-piloted Skims exited post 7 in the one-mile Grade 3 Lake George on July 22 at the Spa and traveled three-wide throughout before launching a five-wide bid that resulted in a fifth-place finish. Dolce Zel, winner of the Lake George, came back to finish a close second in the Grade 2 Lake Placid here on Saturday. 

Skims has breezed back twice over the Oklahoma training turf, including a sharp half-mile in 48.72 seconds on August 12. 

“She’s been training really well. I was going to run her in the Lake Placid,” McGaughey said. “Joel didn’t feel like he rode her the best the other day, so we’re going to try again.” 

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 3. 

Blue Devil Racing Stable’s Canisy scratched out of the Lake Placid in favor of the Riskaverse. Trained by Christophe Clement, the dark bay daughter of Point of Entry bested next-out winner Contemporary Art by a neck in her May debut over firm Belmont turf. She followed with a close second to Riskaverse rival Spirit And Glory in June at Belmont ahead of a frontrunning three-quarter length score last out traveling nine-furlongs on July 14 at the Spa.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano has the call from post 5.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle a trio of contenders in the Klaravich Stables-owned duo of Customer List [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Faith in Humanity [post 9, Manny Franco] along with Peter Brant’s Gina Romantica [post 7, Flavien Prat]. 

Customer List, by Wootton Bassett, won on debut in September at Monmouth Park ahead of off-the-board efforts in the Penn Oaks in June at Penn National and an optional-claimer in July at the Spa. 

Faith in Humanity, by Lope de Vega, drew off to a 1 1/4-length score in her July 24 debut over firm going at Monmouth and will make her stakes debut at second asking. 

Gina Romantica, by Into Mischief, is the most experienced of the Brown-trained trio with two wins from four starts, including an off-the-turf optional-claiming score in May at Belmont. She will make her turf debut from a fourth-place finish in the Wilton contested on Opening Day here out of the Wilson Chute. 

LNJ Foxwoods’ Wonka, a dark bay daughter of Twirling Candy purchased for $140,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, bested Riskaverse rival Linda’s Gift to graduate at second asking in March at Gulfstream Park. She followed with a closing fourth in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Soaring Softly last out on May 28 at Belmont. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Wonka is out of the unraced Arch mare Monarchia, who is a half-sibling to multiple graded-stakes winner Interactif. 

Junior Alvarado, aboard for the maiden score, has the call from the outermost post 11. 

John Fradkin and Diane Fradkin's Republique won her first two career starts over the Gulfstream Park synthetic, taking a 5 1/2-furlong sprint on debut in April and stretching out to one mile and 70 yards to win an optional-claimer in May. 

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Republique was a non-threatening fourth last out in her dirt debut in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 2 at Delaware Park. 

The Strong Mandate bay, who is a half-sister to last year's Grade 1 Preakness-winner Rombauer, is out of the Cowboy Cal mare Cashmere, who is a half-sister to 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag, a multiple graded-stakes winner.

Jose Ortiz has the call from post 2 as Republique makes her turf debut. 

Rounding out the field are Missy Greer [post 1, Kendrick Carmouche], Linda’s Gift [post 4, Tyler Gaffalione], Spirit And Glory [post 8, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] and A Mo Reay [post 10, Luis Saez]. 

The Riskaverse is slated as Race 9 on Thursday’s 10-race program. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.  

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule. 

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