Chelsea Durand Photo

The Big Torpedo improves again with 89 BSF

by NYRA Press Ofiice

• The Big Torpedo improves again with 89 BSF
• Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike works at Saratoga
• Appleby-trained Godolphin stars on the turf work tab
• Solider Rising and Avenue Niel work towards stakes assignments
• New York-bred My Mane Squeeze aims for G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster

Thomas Albrecht, Vincent Fusaro and James Klein’s The Big Torpedo went wire-to-wire to win Thursday’s $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a one-mile inner turf test for eligible state-sired sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Tom Morley and piloted by Eric Cancel, the Big Brown chestnut added another NYSSS score to his ledger after capturing the six-furlong NYSSS Spectacular Bid in June at Belmont at the Big A.

The victory earned a career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure, one point higher than his rail-rallying last-out Spectacular Bid coup.

“I think he is a colt that is getting better with every race. That was enormously impressive yesterday,” said Morley. “We will find out how good he is when he faces better horses. He towers over this group. He tries hard every time and Eric has a huge amount of confidence in him.”

Morley confirmed The Big Torpedo exited the race in good order and will head back to train at Belmont Park.

“Great, ate up last night,” said Morley. “He had a nice little cuddle with Cancel this morning, and he seems to be in good shape.”

Morley said the options are open for The Big Torpedo’s next race, including the local state-bred 1 1/16-mile $125,000 Rick Violette on August 15 and the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3, $175,000 Saranac on August 30. He also mentioned the nine-furlong Grade 3, $500,000 Virginia Derby on September 7 at Colonial Downs as a possibility.

“The Rick Violette, the Saranac, the Virginia Derby, he could run for a huge pot down there,” said Morley. “We will let him tell us.”

The Big Torpedo, out of the winning Empire Maker mare U. S. S. O’ Brien, debuted in November with a runner-up effort over the Big A turf. He made his next four starts on dirt at the Big A, beginning in the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way in December where he was elevated to third after being bumped and checked hard at the quarter-pole.

The Big Torpedo graduated at third asking, taking a state-bred one-turn mile by 10 lengths in January ahead of an off-the-board effort in the state-bred Gander in February and a second in a state-bred optional-claimer in March.

The talented chestnut returned to turf in April at Aqueduct with a close second to the well-regarded Good Lord Lorrie in the one-mile Woodhaven against open company ahead of the Spectacular Bid.

Morley was also pleased to saddle sophomore colt Itza Mirrakle to a second-out graduation on Sunday in a salty nine-furlong maiden that featured the multiple graded stakes placed Protective, also a Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets contestant, and the well-regarded Military Road.

The two-length stalking score over Protective in a final time of 1:50.72 earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Morley said he doesn’t think he’s tapped the lightly-raced colt’s full potential yet.

“I was pleased. He is a colt with a big future in front of him. He beat a good yardstick the other day and beat him pretty comprehensively,” said Morley. “He is also still very immature physically. We won’t be rushed to throw him into deep waters.”

In victory, the Arrogate dark bay avenged a 1 3/4-length runner-up finish to Illuminare going seven furlongs on June 7 here during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Illuminare exited to win a local seven-furlong allowance by 4 3/4 lengths on Saturday versus elders.

Out of the graded stakes placed More Than Ready mare Justa Lady, Itza Mirrakle was a $575,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is campaigned by RAM-ZANOTTI Stables, West Paces Racing and Curtis Green.

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Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike works at Saratoga

RED TR-Racing’s 2022 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner Rich Strike posted his second work back off an extended layoff Friday when breezing over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma training track. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he caught the 5-year-old son of Keen Ice – with Neil Poznansky in the irons – covering three furlongs solo in 38 seconds flat.

Rich Strike stepped onto the fast track from the first turn in the company of a pony immediately after the second renovation break and was brought up to the top of the stretch to stand watch for a short time before commencing his work. He kept to task to complete the exercise willingly and galloped out well through the first turn.

“He went good,” said Mott. “We’re just getting him started again and back to the work tab.”

Rich Strike has not raced since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Alysheba last May at Churchill Downs when trained by Eric Reed. He was subsequently announced as retired late last year by owner Rick Dawson and was entered in the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale as a stallion prospect but was withdrawn and returned to training this year with Mott after receiving treatment for a suspensory ligament issue.

The chestnut horse is winless in six starts since his shocking 80-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby, but finished a hard-fought second to Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic in October 2022 at Churchill and was a game fourth in that year’s Grade 1 Travers won by Epicenter here.

Bred by Calumet Farm, Rich Strike owns a 14-2-1-3 record with $2,526,809 in earnings.

Mott also noted that last-out Grade 2 True North presented by F.W. Webb-winner Baby Yoda remains on track for a start in the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 27 here, while Grade 3 Ohio Derby-winner Batten Down is on schedule for the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun the same day.

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Appleby-trained Godolphin stars on the turf work tab

Five Charlie Appleby-trained stakes horses from the Godolphin barn breezed over the Oklahoma training turf Friday, including Beautiful Love, Eternal Hope, Legend of Time, Ottoman Fleet and Cinderella's Dream.

Eternal Hope, a 4-year-old Teofilo chestnut, made her last two outings at Belmont at the Big A with scores in the Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Jockey Oaks Club Invitational in September and the Grade 2 Sands Point on October 14.

Beautiful Love, a sophomore Siyouni filly, was last seen taking a conditions race in February at Meydan Racecourse.

Beautiful Love commenced the five-furlong breeze in front with Eternal Hope tracking to the outside. Eternal Hope advanced alongside down the lane to finish up together at the wire with Eternal Hope drawing clear through the gallop out. The pair covered five-furlongs in 1:05.65.

"It was all routine straight forward stuff," said Appleby's traveling assistant Alex Merriam. "Beautiful Love led and Eternal Hope joined up there. They finished up together nicely. We'll see how they come forward."

Merriam said a target race will be picked out in the near future for both fillies.

Legend of Time, a sophomore son of Sea The Stars, was last seen finishing third in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A. He worked a half-mile solo in 53.22 this morning and remains on target for the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 3 here.

Ottoman Fleet worked a solo half-mile in 54.66 in his first breeze back since taking the Grade 2 Wise Dan on June 29 at Churchill Downs in an effort that was preceded by a score in the Grade 3 Arlington at the Louisville oval.

The 5-year-old Sea The Stars gelding, who captured the Grade 2 Fort Marcy last year at Belmont Park, could point to the Grade 1, $500,000 FanDuel Fourstardave on August 10 here which offers a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile in November at Del Mar. An additional option would be the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on September 14 which also offers a 'Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

"He's come out of the Wise Dan well and is possible for the Fourstardave or the Woodbine Mile," Merriam said.

Cinderella's Dream, a sophomore Shamardal filly, worked a solo half-mile in 56.50 in preparation for the Grade 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 2. The talented bay was last seen rallying to a three-quarter length score in the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A.

"She's in good form," Merriam said. "They all look to be in good order. It was pretty straightforward."

Merriam also reported that Star of Mystery is in good order after her impressive win against the boys in the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation here on Sunday.

The Kodiac bay, who entered from a third in the Grade 1 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing on June 8 here, has bested males on three occasions this year after taking the Al Wasl in her seasonal debut and the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint versus elders, both in January at Meydan Racecourse.

Merriam said Star of Mystery will target the Listed $150,000 Galway, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for sophomore fillies on August 10 at the Spa.

"She's a pretty straightforward little thing. There's a listed race for her in the middle of August," Merriam said. "She might have a spell from there and look at Keeneland in the fall."

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Solider Rising and Avenue Niel work towards stakes assignments

Soldier Rising, a 6-year-old multiple graded stakes-placed gelding and earner of $1.3 million, worked over the Oklahoma training turf this morning in preparation for an anticipated start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green on July 28 here, a 1 3/8-mile turf test for older horses.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Soldier Rising has yet to find the winner’s circle in stakes company. He boasts a record of 4-10-3 from 21 starts, all on grass.

Last seen finishing second in the Grade 2 Red Smith on November 11 at Aqueduct Racetrack, the Frankel gelding has been steadily progressing towards his 2024 debut.

Solider Rising has now posted five works dating back to June 17 over the Oklahoma training turf and has pleased his conditioner with each move. Today, under his regular afternoon pilot Jose Oritz, and outside of Avenue Niel, the two horses covered a half-mile in 47.80 seconds while finishing up together at the wire and galloping out strongly.

Ortiz after the breeze said, “He worked very good. I was getting on him last year and I felt like he came back this year in great shape. He is getting to where he needs to be. I thought it was a great work and look forward to our run next week.”

In the 2023 renewal of the Grade 2 Bowling Green, Soldier Rising endured a troubled trip when Godolphin stalwart Rebel’s Romance clipped heels and lost his rider. In the ensuing fray, Soldier Rising and Jose Ortiz found themselves having to dodge the fallen Richard Mullen.

This year, the gelding campaigned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables, and Michael J. Caruso will hope to have a cleaner trip to start his 2024 campaign.

Avenue Niel, a 5-year-old Helmet mare, started her racing career in France. She came stateside for her new ownership of Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Michael J. Caruso, and Clement last year and was third on debut for her new owner and trainer in a 1 3/8-mile allowance on the inner turf at Saratoga.

Her next start on September 22 during the Belmont at the Big A meet was a winning one before a third-place effort in allowance optional claiming company on October 13.

Put on the shelf for the winter, Avenue Niel looked to get her season started on Opening Day here until races were moved off the turf. She will now target the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls on August 1 here, a 1 1/2-mile turf marathon for older fillies and mares.

Avenue Niel, with her regular exercise rider Rafaele Sanchez up, worked to the inside of Soldier Rising.

“She was really happy today and I love it when she is like that,” Sanchez said. “She is an older mare, so she needs to play and have fun doing her job.”

Clement, while watching the two horses circle the willow trees back at his barn, said he was pleased with the work.

“Soldier Rising had a nice work this morning. It was his last work before the Bowling Green and he looks well,” Clement said. “He looks fit enough to run, and we are excited to have him back. The filly worked very well but have to decide - there is an allowance race or the Glens Falls, but as of right now we are encouraged to run her in the Glens Falls.”

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New York-bred My Mane Squeeze aims for G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster

William Butler and WinStar Farm’s graded stakes winning New York-bred My Mane Squeeze has been working towards a next start after a last-out fourth in the nine-furlong Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer Mike Maker said the Audible dark bay is pointed towards the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster on August 3 here.

Maker said that My Mane Squeeze’s two-length victory in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Eight Belles on May 3 at Churchill Downs is the reason for the cutback in distance, along with avoiding multiple Grade 1-winner Thorpedo Anna, who is unbeaten in 2024 and entered in Saturday’s nine-furlong Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.

“She won a Grade 2 on Kentucky Oaks day,” said Maker regarding the return to a sprint distance. “She’s been running well around one-turn and we didn’t feel like taking on Thorpedo Anna again.”

My Mane Squeeze went wide in the stretch of the Grade 1 Acorn as Thorpedo Anna drew off to an impressive 5 1/2-length victory over Leslie’s Rose. Maker said that in defeat, the three-time state-bred stakes-winner showed she can compete with the best in the country.

“She ran a great race. Obviously, this horse is at the top of her class,” said Maker. “It just didn’t look like one mile and an eighth was going to be her best distance.”

She has since worked four times at Churchill Downs, including a trio of five-furlong breezes over the past three weeks, most recently in 1:01.20 on July 14.

Out of the three-time winning Speightstown mare In Spite of Mama, My Mane Squeeze is a half-sister to the Maker-trained Butler homebred Rotknee, who is graded stakes-placed. She holds an impressive 9-5-0-2 record with $634,110 in earnings.

Per Maker, Resolute Racing’s Misty Veil will run in Sunday’s Grade 2 Shuvee here after cross-entering in Saturday’s Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park. Ramon Vazquez is set to ride from post 4 in the nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares, tabbed at a morning-line assessment of 4-1.