AC Photo

The Big Torpedo right on target for NYSSS Cab Calloway

by Keith McCalmont

The Big Torpedo has direct aim on 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.

Trainer Tom Morley has targeted the Cab Calloway ever since the colt’s impressive rail rush to post a 3 1/2-length score over returning rival Courtly Banker in the six-furlong NYSSS Spectacular Bid on June 16 at Belmont at the Big A. The winning effort earned a field-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I hope you’ll see him at his best in the Cab Calloway in Saratoga,” Morley said following the Spectacular Bid triumph. “This [the Spectacular Bid] was a question mark cutting back to six [furlongs], but he’s always shown plenty of speed – even in his long races.”

Bred by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, The Big Torpedo is campaigned by Thomas Albrecht, Vincent Fusaro and James Klein. The talented chestnut, who has made all seven career starts at Aqueduct Racetrack, romped to a 10-length frontrunning maiden score traveling a one-turn mile over muddy and sealed footing on January 13.

The Big Torpedo followed with a distant fifth in the state-bred Gander in February but returned to form with a close second in a state-bred optional-claiming mile on March 24. Morley returned The Big Torpedo back to turf for the first time since his November debut in the one-mile Woodhaven against open company in April, and the colt responded with a strong effort to finish second, a half-length back of well-regarded Good Lord Lorrie.

The Big Torpedo, out of the winning Empire Maker mare U.S.S. O’Brien, worked back a half-mile in 48.85 seconds Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track and Morley said all is going swimmingly.

“Super star - I love this horse,” Morley said. “I mean he is just a true workman. He has come out of his last race in very good shape. He shipped up here off one work, settled in beautifully and has trained really well since he got up here.”

The Big Torpedo, assigned a field-high 124 pounds, will exit post 5 under returning rider Eric Cancel.

Cable Ready [post 6, Eliseo Ruiz, 120 pounds], trained and co-owned by Linda Dixon with Hector Alejandro, will look to avenge a troubled effort last out as he makes his Saratoga debut.

Dixon, a self-described claiming trainer, has won three stakes at her Finger Lakes base where she currently has 27 horses in training. She has six horses stabled at Saratoga this summer and Cable Ready will mark Dixon's first stakes starter at the Spa.

"I'm a small trainer. I don't have a large barn," Dixon said. "So, if I won the stake it would mean a lot to me. I've never been in this category, and it would be a step up for us."

Cable Ready graduated at fourth asking in the Tin Cup Chalice sprinting six furlongs at Finger Lakes. He returned to action in April at Belmont at the Big A when a distant fifth in the NYSSS Times Square at 6 1/2-furlongs on the main track.

The Redesdale colt, bred by Wasabi Ventures Stables, Michael Slezak, Bruce Wells, Karla Wells, et al., enjoyed a breakthrough performance in his turf debut on May 3 at Aqueduct, closing from last-of-7 to win by a nose over the Morley-trained Sonic Speed in a 1 1/16-mile state-bred allowance for 3-year-olds and up. The winning effort registered a career-best 83 Beyer.

"We were shocked to say the least. I did not expect him to close that hard," Dixon said. "I expected him to run well, but I didn't expect to win that day. He's turned into a better horse than I thought he was."

Dixon turned down a number of lucrative offers for Cable Ready, who exited his impressive win to run a close fourth, defeated 1 1/2-lengths, after attending the pace in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on May 25 at the Big A.

"Everyone is waiting for that one horse, and we thought this could be the one," Dixon said.

Last out, Cable Ready took on elders in a one-mile state-bred turf optional-claimer on June 21 at Aqueduct but was fractious at the gate and bobbled at the start before being pinched by a rival and never factored when last-of-9.

Dixon said she drew a line through the effort and was pleased with Cable Ready's breeze back on Wednesday, covering a half-mile in 48.26 seconds over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

"It was a good work, by himself, and he was never asked,” Dixon said.

Cable Ready will be reunited with jockey Eliseo Ruiz on Thursday and Dixon said she is hopeful he can engineer a stalking trip.

"I don't think we have to fight for the lead. He obviously can close. We'll just let the jockey go with the race," Dixon said. "Once we put the jockey on it's up to him. He's an aggressive rider and the horse needs someone aggressive.

"The further he goes, the better he gets, so I'm not sure if the mile is going to be his thing either but we'll see what happens," Dixon added.

Cable Ready is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed Dynaformer mare Cable, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Exchange Rate.

Robert V. LaPenta’s Six Fortyfive [post 1, Manny Franco, 118 pounds] will look to graduate in style for trainer Rob Atras.

The Laoban bay made his seasonal debut against elder state-breds last out in a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden on June 30 at Belmont at the Big A, exiting the outermost post 10 and stalking in fourth position from just off the pace. He made a four-wide move through the lane to finish one-length back of longshot winner Z Dancer.

The $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase, bred by Sequel Stallions NY and Lakland Farm, is out of the winning Afleet Alex mare Aristra, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Vespers and stakes-winner Database. Both Vespers and Database secured their stakes wins in off-the-turf events.

Rounding out a talented field are the stakes-placed trio of B D Saints [post 7, Ramon Vazquez, 118 pounds] for trainer Mike Maker, Fidelightcayut [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 118 pounds] for conditioner Juan Carlos Avila, and the Barclay Tagg-trained maiden Courtly Banker [post 2, John Velazquez, 118 pounds]; as well as last out state-bred maiden-claiming winner Solo Empire [post 3, Lane Luzzi, 118 pounds] for trainer James Ferraro.

The Cab Calloway is slated as Race 4 on Thursday’s 10-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.