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State-bred sophomore fillies look for first stakes glory in NYSSS Statue of Liberty

by Brian Bohl

Oak Bluff Stables' Fresco will make her stakes debut in Thursday's $100,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series Statue of Liberty at Saratoga Race Course.

Contested for state-bred 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf, the 18th running of the Statue of Liberty will feature seven contenders seeking their first respective stakes win. Among them is Fresco, a maiden who posted her best career finish last out, running second, a nose behind Silky Blue, in a seven-furlong sprint on June 25 over Belmont Park's firm turf.

A daughter of Freud, Fresco made her first two career starts at 1 1/16 miles running third on debut in January at Gulfstream Park and fourth over the same track in May, where she endured a wide trip and was outkicked in the stretch.

"I like her but she's still a maiden," Clement said. "She's always run well; just hasn't managed to win so far. I'm not sure about the distance, but I thought it'd be a good spot to get her blacktype. She's trained really well. She's been in Saratoga for awhile and done well."

Irad Ortiz, Jr., aboard for her last two starts, will have the return call from post 1.

Nicky Scissors is one of two entries with previous stakes experience, running fifth last out in the one-mile Maddie May on February 23 over Aqueduct Racetrack's main track. After making her first three starts on dirt, all at the Big A, trainer Brad Cox will transition the Mission Impazible filly to turf for the first time.

Owned by Michael Dubb and The Elkstone Group, Nicky Scissors was purchased for $110,000 at the 2018 Saratoga Sale. She broke her maiden at second asking in her sophomore debut, winning a 6 ½-furlong sprint by 10 ½ lengths.

She will pick up Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano's services for the first time, drawing post 6.

Green Polka Farm's Officer Hutchy is 2-2-0 in five career starts on dirt and is the field's lone contender with stakes blacktype, running second in the NYSSS Fifth Avenue on December 15 at Aqueduct.

Trained by Linda Rice, Officer Hutchy bested optional claimers in February at Aqueduct before returning off a nearly four-month layoff to run 10th on June 13 at Belmont. She will try turf for the first time, drawing post 3 with Jose Lezcano set to ride.

Karmac Stable's Dixie Cannon won two in a row before a last-out misfire at Laurel, returning of an eight-month layoff to run 11th at the Statue of Liberty Distance on June 12. Previously, the Kelly Rubley trainee won in September at Delaware Park and closed her juvenile year with a five-length score at 1 1/16 miles in October at Laurel.

Jose Ortiz will be the irons, breaking from post 2.

Very Un Stable's Hunnybunnerdini will be making her third career start for trainer John Morrison. The Alpha filly won her debut on June 4 at Belmont, registering a three-quarter length victory at six furlongs. She ran 11th last out stretching out to seven furlongs on July 12, also contested over Belmont's firm turf, and will make her first stakes appearance. Dylan Davis will exit from post 7.

Heart and Fire Racing's Apollo's Abraxas, the field's most experienced entrant with eight career starts, is coming off a maiden-breaking effort for trainer Kim Laudati last out, winning by 1 ¾ lengths in a 1 1/8 mile turf route on July 2 at Belmont.

A daughter of Big Brown, Apollo's Abraxas ran twice last summer at the Spa, finishing sixth and eighth in respective maiden special weights. Eric Cancel will have the call from post 4.

Holmdel Park, owned by WellSpring Stables, drew post 5 with Tyler Gaffalione set to ride. Trained by James Ryerson, Holmdel Park ran fourth in the Maddie May in her last stakes appearance.

The NYSSS Statue of Liberty is slated as Race 4 on Thursday's 10-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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