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Undefeated Break Even tries turf in Coronation Cup

by Ryan Martin

Klein Racing's Break Even has been unblemished in her five career outings, all of which were victories over main tracks rated fast, good and sloppy. But on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course, she will change tactics and race over turf for the first time as a part of a nine-horse field in the $100,000 Coronation Cup.

The 3-year-old dark bay daughter of Country Day enters the 5 1/2-furlong test for sophomore fillies over the Mellon turf course off a three-quarter length win in the Jersey Girl on June 9 at Belmont Park where she recorded a career best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. That effort followed a winning graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Eight Belles over the main track at Churchill Downs one month prior.

A victory in the Coronation Cup would give Break Even a fourth stakes victory. Prior to the Jersey Girl and Eight Belles, she made a successful stakes debut, capturing the Purple Martin on March 30 at Oaklawn Park.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan has guided Break Even to four of her five victories and will ship to Saratoga, leaving from post 4.

Carl Moore Management's three-time stakes winner Midnight Fantasy also will make her turf debut for trainer Joe Sharp. The Louisiana-bred daughter of Midnight Lute won her first three career starts, all of which took place over the main track at Fair Grounds. After waltzing home by 9 1/2 lengths in her November 15 debut, she scored victories against her Louisiana-bred counterparts in the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie on December 9 and won the Louisiana Futurity fillies division by 10 lengths.

"She's doing well. She worked well on the grass the other day. We're taking a shot. She likes the off track," Sharp said. "Pedigree suggests she can handle the grass. We're kind of limited with three-year-olds so we taking a shot on the grass. We figured we'd capitalize on straight three-year-olds. She's shown she can compete with open company."

Three starts back, Midnight Fantasy defeated open company in the Austintown Filly Sprint on April 13 at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

Breaking from post 7, Midnight Fantasy will be guided by Luis Saez.

Entering the Coronation Cup off four straight wins is A Bit of Both, who won her turf debut last out in the Honey Bee at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Jason Servis, the bay Paynter filly is a two-time stakes winner. Prior to the Honey Bee, she was a three-length winner of the Game Face on April 20 over the Gulfstream Park main track.

A Bit of Both is owned by defending Saratoga leading owner Michael Dubb in partnership with Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables, Darsan Inc., Bethlehem Stables and David Simon. She will break from post 5 under defending Saratoga leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.

My Galina acquired black type last out with a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly at Belmont Park, but will seek a stakes victory when she emerges from post 8 with Hall of Famer and two-time Saratoga leading rider Javier Castellano in the irons.

The Jorge Abreu-trained Medaglia d'Oro gray or roan filly set the pace in the seven-furlong event over Belmont's Widener turf course and won her career debut over the lawn at Aqueduct in the same fashion.

Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, the well-bred My Galina is out of the A.P. Indy broodmare So Far, whose dam was three-time Grade 1-winning millionaire Stellar Jayne. She was purchased by owners Kingsport Farm at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2017 for $250,000.

Completing the field are I'llhandalthecash [post 1, Dylan Davis], Lyrical Lady [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], Bohemian Bourbon [post 3, Julien Leparoux] and Eyeinthesky [post 6, Joel Rosario].

Abyssinian [post 9, John Velazquez] was entered for the Coronation Cup but will contest the Grade 3, $100,000 Quick Call Thursday Opening Day.

The Coronation Cup is slated as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race card. First post is 1 p.m.