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The Queens M G earns 73 BSF in 44-1 Schuylerville upset, Skippylongstocking points to G1 Whitney

by NYRA Press Office

• The Queens M G earns 73 BSF in 44-1 Schuylerville upset, Skippylongstocking points to G1 Whitney
• G1 Preakness winner Seize the Grey targets G2 Jim Dandy pres. by Mohegan Sun
• Cogburn posts easy work over Saratoga training turf
• Sherbini points to G1 Spinaway; Pounce probable for G3 Lake George; Fev Rover to skip Spa
• Strong State gets win Number Two for freshman sire Tom’s d’Etat

C Two Racing Stable and Mathis Stable’s The Queens M G stalked and pounced to a 44-1 upset in Thursday’s Listed $175,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies, to kick off stakes action at Saratoga Race Course meet.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., the Thousand Words dark bay traveled in third position for an opening quarter-mile in 21.89 seconds, before improving at each point of call through splits of 45.19, 57.85 and finishing 2 3/4 lengths the best in a final time of 1:11.31 over the fast main track.

In victory, The Queens M G rebounded from a last-of-7 finish as the favorite in the Astoria on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at the Spa. She earned a career-best 73 Beyer Speed Figure, improving off a last-out 25 in the Astoria.

“It was a big surprise. Coming off that last race, it was hard to have a ton of confidence, especially in a race that tough from top to bottom,” said Joseph, Jr. “The team did a great job with her and we were glad to get the win.”

Joseph, Jr. has regained his confidence in the now stakes-winning filly, and said a graded attempt in the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack on August 4 here is very much in the cards.

“I still need to talk it over with the owners, but I think the Adirondack is well in play,” Joseph, Jr. said. “Obviously, we need to discuss it, and we will come up with a decision in a few days, but I wouldn’t see any reason not to go there.”

Both Whatintheliteral, who unseated Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano at the break of the Schuylerville, and Slang, who got loose after being pulled up by jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., completed the course and were collared by the outrider. Whatintheliteral walked home under her own power, while Slang was vanned off. Castellano attended first aid and was cleared to ride.

Trainer Jena Antonucci reported Whatintheliteral came out of the Schuylerville in good order and will likely point to the Grade 2 Adirondack.

Trainer Norm Casse reported that Slang was also in good order this morning.

“It just looked like she lost her action behind for a second and Ricardo pulled her up quickly. She's 100 percent sound this morning, so everything is good,” Casse said.

Daniel Alonso’s multiple graded stakes-winner Skippylongstocking, who finished third in the 2022 Belmont Stakes, earned more show-honors at the top-level in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 29 at Churchill Downs for Joseph, Jr.

The 5-year-old Exaggerator horse attended the pace set by First Mission before Kingsbarns came with a wide bid to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Pyrenees was a head better than Skippylongstocking for second.

Joseph, Jr. said the focus is now on the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, at the same distance on August 3 here.

“There’s a strong possibility that he runs in the Whitney,” Joseph, Jr. said. “I thought it was a very good effort, Kingsbarns made an early bid at the quarter-pole and he got a little intimidated there. He lost his position and then ran back on. He had the fastest final eighth in the race. It is very rare you see a horse drop back and still run the fastest final eighth.

“Overall, he probably should’ve been second. At the end of the day he got beat, but I’m not scared of facing any of those horses again,” Joseph, Jr. added.

Joseph, Jr. provided an update on Grade 1 Breeders Cup Classic-winner White Abarrio, who last was a distant fifth in the one-mile Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 8 Belmont Stakes Day for conditioner Rick Dutrow, Jr. The 5-year-old Race Day multimillionaire is back in the barn of previous conditioner Joseph, Jr. but hasn’t been 100 percent after coming away from his last effort sick.

“We’ve been taking it easy with him. No plan on what race we are going to go to yet,” said Joseph, Jr. “He’s been in light training, but as far as what we are going to do with him, we haven’t decided just yet. Probably will have two easy weeks and then we will set everything in stone and come up with a game plan.

“His blood work still hasn’t come back right. We are waiting on his bloodwork to come back around, it hasn’t got to the point where we want it yet,” Joseph, Jr. added.

Mathis Stables’ maiden-winner Cap Ferrat [post 5, Manny Franco] is entered for a turf attempt in Wednesday’s $150,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a one-mile inner turf test for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies.

The New York-bred Destin bay earned a 72 Beyer for a pacesetting debut score over next-out winner Vincey Girl traveling seven furlongs on the Gulfstream Park dirt on May 16. Her second dam is graded stakes-winning turfer Bright Abundance.

“She is by Destin. If you go back in the family, there’s Giant’s Causeway, that’s turf pedigree if you dig back,” Joseph, Jr. explained regarding the surface switch. “Obviously, Destin was a dirt horse, but it is a Stallion Series race. If she likes grass, it is worth it. Numbers wise she looks good if she can move her form from dirt to turf.”

Cap Ferrat breezed three furlongs over the Oklahoma training turf in 39.59 seconds Friday.

Joseph, Jr. also has nominated Kenneth Ramsey’s Who’s the King and Michael Ryan’s Dilger to Friday’s nine-furlong $135,000 Curlin, restricted for 3-year-olds which have not won a graded sweepstakes at one mile or over in 2024, adding that the former is under stronger consideration right now.

Who’s the King, a Not This Time bay who was claimed for $35,000 out of a third in February at Gulfstream Park, earned a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure last out when second in a nine-furlong optional claimer on June 30 at Churchill.

He was previously a distant sixth in a starter allowance there at 1 1/16 miles on May 31 on the heels of a 7 1/4-length victory at one-mile at Gulfstream in his first effort for Joseph, Jr.

“We were very disappointed with that starter allowance, but he got very rank before the race and in the first turn,” Joseph, Jr. “The Curlin is a step up, but we think he is that kind of horse.”

***

G1 Preakness winner Seize the Grey targets G2 Jim Dandy pres. by Mohegan Sun

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been training thoroughbreds for nearly 50 years and this year marks his 46th summer bringing horses to Saratoga. Since 2020, he has seen a revitalization to his career winning the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks with Secret Oath in 2022 and this year he won a record seventh Grade 1 Preakness Stakes with MyRacehorse’s son of Arrogate, Seize the Grey, out of the winning stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Smart Shopping.

Seize the Grey was purchased by MyRacehorse out of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale for $300,000 from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment. He broke his maiden here last July and looks to return to the Spa winner’s circle in the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun, a nine-furlong test for sophomores on July 27.

Lukas said he hopes to use the race as a prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers presented by DK Horse on August 24.

“I think we will go Jim Dandy to the Travers. He was recently syndicated to stud to Gainesway, so the Travers is a real big deal for us a lot of incentive to win that,” Lukas said.

Most recently seventh in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8 here, Seize the Grey has been training steadily over the Oklahoma training track. He worked a bullet five-furlongs in 59 seconds flat on July 9 in his first work since the Belmont Stakes.

Following his recent success, Lukas has been filling the barn with 2-year-olds and looks to debut a few over the summer here.

Innovator, a $900,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase for BC Stables, is a son of 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic and is out of the multiple stakes-winning Unbridled Song mare Inspired. He is entered for his second start in Race 7 Saturday at the Spa, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over the main track. Hall of Famer Joel Rosario has the call from post 9 [4-1ML].

Others in the juvenile pool include Going Steady, a homebred for Lukas and his wife, Laurie, who co-own with Robert and Ann Ghent. The daughter of top sire Constitution and the unraced Ghostzapper mare Bluejeans will make her first start on Sunday in Race 1 under Luis Saez [post 3, 12-1ML].

Other promising 2-year-olds in the barn include Perfect Force, a $625,000 Gun Runner colt and half-brother to multiple graded stakes-winner Scuba; American Promise, a $750,000 son of Justify and half-brother to Grade 2-winner Hoosier Philly; Code of Justice, an $850,000 son of Into Mischief out of graded stakes-winner Meal Ticket; and Ripped, a City of Light colt bought for $650,000.

“I really like our 2-year-olds. I think this is the strongest group of them I have had in a long time,” Lukas said. “You know, we have always shopped the yearling markets and I think after 60 years I have honed my eye for them. The Hopeful and the Spinaway are on our radar. 2025 could be a hell of a year!”

Other horses in the barn include Lady Moscato, entered today in Race 8, the restricted $135,000 Wilton, for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the main track.

Owned by BC Stables, the daughter of Quality Road and the Dixie Union mare Theycallmeladyluck was an $800,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase. She comes back on two weeks’ rest from her last start, a third-place effort over 6 1/2 furlongs on the Churchill Downs dirt.

“I just took a shot in the Wilton today. On a given day if she brings her ‘A’ game, she gets a piece of it,” Lukas explained. “It was time for her to step into some kind of stake. I like the distance for her a lot.”

Lukas recalled some of his favorite memories at the Spa, and said the great filly Winning Colors was among his most treasured.

“Any time you win one of these big stakes it’s a good memory. I think maybe it was Winning Colors breaking her maiden up here and going on to win the Kentucky Derby,” Lukas said. “I also remember one year up here I flew up and my son was running the barn and we had 13 individual Grade 1-winners in the barn. That was special. I think I have won almost every stake up here but anyhow, it’s been fun and the job’s not done yet!”

***

Cogburn posts easy work over Saratoga training turf

Clark Brewster, William Heiligbrodt and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Grade 1-winner Cogburn returned to the work tab Friday for the second time since his record-setting victory in the Grade 1 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

NYRA Clockers caught the son of Not This Time covering three furlongs in 38 seconds flat over Saratoga’s Oklahoma turf training track, building upon a similar effort in 37.85 last week.

Scott Blasi, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, said Friday’s work went to plan.

“He’s doing really well up here and he just had a maintenance work,” said Blasi. We’re just keeping him happy and fit. He’s pretty straightforward.”

Cogburn dazzled last out in the 5 1/2-furlong Jaipur when leading at every point of call and drawing clear to a three-length score over Arzak in a final time of 59.80 seconds, both a new Mellon turf and North American record for the distance. Cogburn has remained at Saratoga since the Jaipur after co-owner Clark Brewster indicated after the race that the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy on August 3 here could be the bay’s next target.

“It’s nice to have a little break in the weather and he’s doing well here,” Blasi said. “The main thing with him is don’t overdo it, and we already know he’s fast, so we don’t need to prove it every week.”

Cogburn announced his presence in the turf sprint division last year with a strong victory in the Troy – then a Grade 3 – and followed with a game fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Ainsworth Turf Sprint in September at Kentucky Downs where the top seven finishers were all separated by a head or neck. He returned in May with an eye-catching win in the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs ahead of his Jaipur coup.

Blasi said Cogburn seemed to benefit greatly from his time away from the track this winter.

“He’s a good guy. He’s really matured and the break did him really well,” said Blasi. “He just filled out a lot from last year. I think he’s a bigger, stronger horse.”

Cogburn initially sold for $52,000 as a weanling and $310,000 as a yearling before Brewster purchased him for $150,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He is out of the stakes-winning Saintly Look mare In a Jif, a half-sister stakes-placed Son of a Nut and Nuttin’ Faster.

***

Sherbini points to G1 Spinaway; Pounce probable for G3 Lake George; Fev Rover to skip Spa

The Hall of Famer Mark Casse-conditioned Sherbini rallied from last to finish second in Thursday’s Listed $175,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies, on Opening Day of the Saratoga Race Course meet.

After a start that saw Complexion fractious at the gate and Whatintheliteral unseat rider Javier Castellano, it was Sherbini who broke slowest of all, traveling 8 3/4 lengths back in last through an opening quarter-mile in 21.89 seconds over the fast main track. The Cairo Prince gray improved at every call under Florent Geroux, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind 44-1 longshot The Queens M G.

Casse said he will point Sherbini, who entered off a 5 1/2-furlong debut score on June 16 at Churchill Downs over Opening Day maiden-winner Strong State, to the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway, a seven-furlong test for juvenile fillies here on August 31.

“I was proud of her. I think she is a pretty good horse, and I think she will get better with more ground,” said Casse. “We may come back in the Spinaway. I do want to try her on the grass, but right now we will look at the Spinaway. We will aim for it.”

Sherbini, out of the Violence mare Shady Violence, was a $40,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. She is campaigned by Tina Casse, Gerald Hunsicker, Rocky Top Stable and James Ventura.

Casse added that Peter Deutsch’s Dare to Breeze, who finished third behind Sherbini and Strong State in her lone start, is entered here tomorrow in Race 1, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies. The Daredevil chestnut out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Enhanced is tabbed as a 4-5 morning line favorite.

“She ran third in that group and is in tomorrow, I think that bodes well for her,” said Casse.

Tyler Gaffalione has the call aboard the $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase from post 4.

Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ stakes-winner Set is entered Sunday in the Grade 3, $175,000 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomores in Race 9.

The Oscar Performance chestnut cuts back in distance after off-the-board graded tries in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf on May 4 at Churchill and the Grade 3 Penn Mile last-out on May 31 at Penn National.

“We will see, we are cutting him back. He’s fast and looks like a turf sprinter if you ask me,” said Casse regarding the 7 1/2-furlong Cutler Bay-winner in March at Gulfstream Park. “Tough race, competitive race, but I think they’ll know he’s there.”

Set is tabbed at 15-1 on the morning line with Kendrick Carmouche set to ride from post 8.

Resolute Racing’s Grade 3-winner Pounce is also approaching a race here in next Saturday’s Grade 3 Lake George, a one-mile turf test for sophomore fillies. The Lookin At Lucky bay was a pacesetting third last-out in the one-mile Penn Oaks on May 31 at Penn National.

“She is going to run in the Lake George,” said Casse. “I think her best race is when she’s settled. We let her go to the lead and we are not going to do that again. We are going to get her to settle and see if it helps her.”

Casse said that Tracy Farmer’s 2023 Canadian Horse of the Year Fev Rover, a last-out second as the favorite in the Grade 2 Nassau at Woodbine Racetrack after an off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 New York presented by Rivers Casino here, will not return to the Spa.

Despite a strong third in last year’s Grade 1 Diana under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, Casse said the 6-year-old Gutaifan doesn’t respond well to the lively Saratoga crowd.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with her, but she is not coming back to Saratoga. She does not like Saratoga,” said Casse. “She ran good in the Diana, but she threw Javier in the gate. She can’t take the walk from here [the barn] to the paddock, she lost it the other day [in the New York]. We know there is always going to be a crowd, and she can’t take walking between all of those people, so I will keep her far, far away.”

Casse said a possible next spot is a title defense-attempt in the Grade 2 Beverly D. on August 10 at Colonial Downs. She won the race last year, then a Grade 1-event, over next-out Grade 1 First Lady-winner Gina Romantica.

***

Strong State gets win Number Two for freshman sire Tom’s d’Etat

Trainer Al Stall, Jr. started off his 2024 Saratoga Race Course meet with a winner on Opening Day as Strong State, a two-year-old daughter of Stall Jr.’s old charge Tom’s d’Etat, graduated in Race 6, a restricted maiden auction race going 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

Breaking from the one-hole under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Strong State showed her speed when breaking on top and never looking back to lead through fractions of 22.58 seconds, 46.31 over the firm footing and completing the course in 1:04.53. She had to show her class when challenged by the Flavien Prat-piloted Will Not Be Swayed at the top of the stretch, but dug deep and found more to prevail by a neck.

Strong State was the second winner for her freshman sire, who broke his maiden for owners G M B Racing back on August 5, 2016, here at the Spa in a nine-furlong maiden on the main track. Tom’s d’Etat went on to post two more wins at the Spa in a third-level allowance in 2017 and the Listed Alydar in 2019 ahead of a fourth in that year’s Grade 1 Woodward and a third in the 2020 Grade 1 Whitney.

Stall, Jr. trained the son of Smart Strike to over $1.7 million in earnings before he began his stud career at WinStar Farm in 2021. Now with his first crop of 2-year-olds on the track, Tom’s d’Etat saw his record boosted to two winners with Strong State, who has her eyes set on becoming his first stakes winner later in the meet.

“It feels good to get Tom another winner. He has no reason not to be a decent stud with his talent and his pedigree,” said Stall, Jr.

Stall, Jr. said it is special to win a race at Saratoga with a daughter of Tom’s d’Etat.

“Tom loved it up here,” Stall, Jr. said, with a laugh. “He broke his maiden and was ultra-impressive in his ‘3x’ up here and genetics are a strong thing in our game. Just a good feeling; really happy for Tom.”

In Strong State’s first start, she ran second to next-out Listed Schuylerville runner-up Sherbini, earning a 66 Beyer Speed Figure. She improved that figure by 11 points yesterday in her win with a new lifetime best 77 Beyer. The third-place runner in that race, Dare to Breeze, comes back tomorrow here at the Spa as the 4-5 favorite in Race 1 for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Stall, Jr. said he will take his time in deciding which stakes race is next for Strong State.

“We will hang out here for sure and figure out what we want to do,” said Stall, Jr. “It will be a stake next, no doubt about that.”

Stall, Jr. brought a few older horses up from Kentucky with him, including Bal Mar Equine’s 3-year-old Gleneagles filly Gavea. She breezed a half-mile in company with Unhidden Gem in 48.48 seconds this morning over the Oklahoma turf course under jockey Julien Leparoux in preparation for a start in the Grade 3, $175,000 Lake George, a one-mile inner turf test for 3-year-old fillies on July 20.

Third last out on in Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Regret on June 1, Gavea looks to go two better next Friday. Bred in Germany by Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof, Gavea boasts a 4-2-0-1 record that includes a win on debut in France before coming to America for Stall, Jr.

In her first race for Stall, Jr., she won a one-mile second-level allowance over the Churchill turf. Put on the shelf for the winter, she made her seasonal debut as well as her graded stakes debut in the Regret where she traveled close to the lead before getting caught and having to settle for third.