Francesca Le Donne Photo

Vino Rosso wraps up major preparations for G2 Jim Dandy

by NYRA Press Office

• Brown takes advantage of good weather on a busy Saturday, readies contingent for upcoming stakes assignments
• Core Beliefs puts in Del Mar breeze as Eurton weighs G2 Jim Dandy start
• Finley’sluckycharm looks for better fortune in G2 Honorable Miss repeat

Vino Rosso, fourth to Justify in the Belmont Stakes last time out, and 2017 Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit went the first quarter-mile in 25 seconds and completed the four-furlong move in 48.50 seconds. NYRA clockers caught the pair galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.

Saturday’s breeze was Vino Rosso’s second since moving to Saratoga from Pletcher’s barn at Belmont and third overall since the 1 ½-mile Test of the Champion on June 9, where he crossed the wire 3 ¾ lengths behind the Triple Crown winner under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. 

“We’re just looking to sharpen him up a little bit,” said Pletcher. “He’s coming off a mile and a half race, we just wanted see how he was doing, see what his enthusiasm level and energy level look like and I thought both were very good. It was a good breeze for him with a Belmont winner. I was happy with him.”

Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, the 3-year-old chestnut colt by Curlin will be cutting back to the Jim Dandy’s 1 1/8-mile distance for the first time since posting a three-length victory in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in April. That win secured his spot in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, where he rallied late to finish ninth on May 5.

“I think the Wood Memorial is still his best win, so he’s shown he can be effective at a mile and an eighth,” said Pletcher. “In the Belmont, Johnny said at the half-mile pole, he had to make a decision and put some pressure on Justify and moved sooner than he wanted to, which might’ve cost him a position.”

Tapwrit, putting in his first breeze since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 7, is expected to make his third start of the year in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney on August 4 at the Spa, where last year he closed out his 3-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Travers.

“I felt like I was looking for a similar work from both horses, just wanted to get a line on where they are and I thought they’d make good companions,” Pletcher said of pairing. “In both horses’ cases, they’re backing up [in distance], one from a mile and a half to a mile and an eighth, and the other from a mile and a quarter to a mile and an eighth. I kind of wanted a little bit of a sharp half-mile breeze from both of them. I wasn’t concerned about fitness or stamina with either one, just sharpen them up a little bit. 

“I thought they both finished up nicely and galloped out well,” he added. “[It was a] good progressive breeze from both of them.”

La Providencia’s homebred millionaire Hi Happy also turned in his final breeze for Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green with a half-mile maintenance work in 49.66 in company with Master Plan. The 6-year-old Argentinian-bred by Pure Prize is exiting a a solid effort in the Grade 1 Manhattan, where he finished third by a half-length in a blanket finish on June 9. Hi Happy hasn’t finished worse than third in four starts since moving to the Pletcher barn, including victories in the Grade 2 Pan American and the Grade 1 Man o’ War this spring.

“It was kind of a steady breeze for him on the dirt, which is what we’ve come to expect from him,” said Pletcher. “He’s a very consistent horse. Were just trying to keep him ticking until the Bowling Green and hopefully the [Grade 1, $1 million] Sword Dancer [August 25] after that.”

Ivy Bell earned the five-furlong bullet on the Oklahoma track as she wrapped up her major preparations for her two-turn debut in the Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee on July 29. The 5-year-old Archarcharch mare covered the distance in 1:00.18. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.

Ivy Bell finished second to Abel Tasman last time out in the one-turn Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at 1 1/16 miles on Belmont Stakes Day, her first career start beyond seven furlongs.

“[It was] another strong breeze from her, which is what we’ve come to expect,” Pletcher said. “We’re still confident that she’ll handle two turns, so we’re getting her ready to find out. We tried stretching her out in the Phipps, where I thought she ran pretty well, but this will be a little different dynamic around two turns, so we’re anxious to see how she handles that.”

Also on Saturday, Zayat Stable’s multiple stakes winner Gidu arrived from Belmont, where he will continue preparations for the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the turf on August 3. Gidu, an Irish-bred son of Frankel, won the seven-furlong Paradise Creek on May 26 before shipping to England for Royal Ascot, where he finished sixth, beaten 2 ½ lengths in a field of 22, in the Group 1 Commonwealth at six furlongs on June 22.

“I thought he ran well [at Royal Ascot],” Pletcher said. “He’s won at a mile and it’s kind of that time of year where there’s not a ton of options for 3-year-olds on the turf going six to seven furlongs, so we’re going to try to stretch him out to a mile and a sixteenth and see how he handles that.”

Pletcher said that Unbridled Mo came out of her fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap in good order and will remain at Belmont for the time being, adding that a possible rematch with impressive Delaware ‘Cap winner Elate in the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign on Travers Day has not been ruled out.

“We’ll give her a couple weeks to decide what we’re going to do,” he said of the 5-year-old Uncle Mo mare. “I suppose she’s some form of possible for the Personal Ensign.”

Pletcher also noted that Nonna Madeline emerged from Friday’s Grade 3 Schuylerville no worse for wear after she broke slow and was rushed up into early contention to finish second by 4 ¼ lengths to Catherinethegreat.

“I thought she ran a big race considering that she wasn’t standing squarely [in the gate], and because of that, she didn’t get away well and moved up into some very fast fractions,” he said. “I’m sure her internal fractions were pretty fast and, as you would expect in that scenario, she got a little bit tired the last part. But, I thought she showed some courage though, when that filly came up to her on the inside, she dug back in to save second. I like her a lot; I think she’s a very talented filly. We need to work on getting her out of the gate a little smoother, but she fits with everyone in the class in my opinion.”

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Brown takes advantage of good weather on a busy Saturday, readies contingent for upcoming stakes assignments

Kicking off the 2018 Saratoga meet with two victories to sit atop the trainer standings at the end of Opening Day, trainer Chad Brown sent a quartet of graded stakes winners to the Oklahoma turf course on Saturday morning.

With rain in the forecast beginning Saturday night into next week, Brown worked 4-year-old Chilean-bred Robert Bruce in company with 6-year-old British-bred Almanaar, with the duo breezing four furlongs in 49.55 seconds.

“We worked a lot of horses like everyone did ahead of the rain,” said Brown. “I thought we had a really good morning. I was pleased.”

Both Robert Bruce, who won his first start in North America capturing the Grade 3 Fort Marcy and followed with a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan, and Almanaar are targeting the Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 11.

Multiple graded stakes winner Fourstar Crook, who won the Grade 2 New York on June 8 at Belmont worked in tandem with Precieuse, completing four furlongs in 50.22.

“Robert Bruce and Almnaar are still on point for the Arlington Million,” Brown said. “Fourstarcrook, we’re targeting for the [Grade 1] Beverly D. and Precieuse for the De La Rose.”

The $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose for older fillies and mares will be contested over one mile on the turf on Whitney Day, Saturday, August 4.

Engage, who in his last start finished second in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens, breezed four furlongs in 48.55 seconds on the Saratoga main track and will be pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Amsterdam on Saturday, July 28.

Brown also reported multiple graded stakes winner Money Multiplier put in a good work on Belmont Park’s main track this morning, breezing four furlongs in 50.86 seconds with the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green on July 28 his next slated start. 

Lastly, Brown reported he was hoping to send multiple graded stakes winners Rushing Fall and Significant Form to the Grade 2, $300,000 Lake Placid on August 18.

“Rushing Fall is doing good,” Brown said. “She’s not back to the track yet. We’re continuing to watch her blood work, but she’s going in the right direction and we’re hoping to get her back under tack in a couple days and possibly trying to get her to the Lake Placid. We’re also keeping Significant Form in my mind for that race as well.”

Belmont Stakes runner-up Gronkowski logged his first breeze in a month with a half-mile work in 48.09 seconds, according to DRF clocker Mike Welsch. The 3-year-old son of Australian sire Lonhro made his first start for Brown in the final leg of the Triple Crown, where he closed late to cross the wire 1 ¾ lengths behind Justify. 

Following the Belmont, Gronkowski returned to the worktab on June 23 with a 49.24-second half-mile breeze before being sidelined by a minor issue, Brown said.

Owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and previously trained by Jeremy Noseda, Gronkowski had raced exclusively in Europe, where he earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby after capturing the 32red Burradon at Newcastle on March 30. He was forced to skip the Run for Roses due to illness before being transferred to Brown.

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Core Beliefs puts in Del Mar breeze as Eurton weighs G2 Jim Dandy start

Gary Broad’s Core Beliefs put in his last work before heading to the East Coast, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Del Mar’s main track Saturday morning. Trainer Peter Eurton said he was encouraged with the work as he mulls whether to run the Quality Road colt in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 28 at Saratoga or possibly the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 29 at Monmouth Park.

“I’m not 100 percent sure the Jim Dandy is the final destiny, it could be the Haskell,” Eurton said by phone. “We’ll make our mind up probably next week.”

Unraced as a 2-year-old, Core Beliefs broke his maiden at third asking on March 8 at Santa Anita before registering Beyer Speed Figures of at least 88 in his last three starts against graded stakes competition. After running third to Bolt d’Oro and eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 7, Core Beliefs shipped to New York from California and ran second to Blended Citizen in the Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 12 at Belmont Park. He proved his adaptability in his last race, edging Lone Sailor by a neck to win the Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 23 at Thistledown.

“His physicality has been about the same; he’s just learning how to run,” Eurton said. “I think he was a little green when he went to New York. He’s just picking things up as he goes. He’s a lightly raced horse, but he’s very competitive and he’s doing things much easier these days.”

Core Beliefs’ last three races have come at the Jim Dandy distance of 1 1/8 miles, which Eurton said can be beneficial with the upcoming races against high-caliber competition. He also said Core Beliefs’ ability to ship and be successful can be helpful should he target the Spa.

“It gives you a lot of confidence, you just want to make sure you’re keeping him sharp and keeping him fresh,” Eurton said. “It’s not an easy ship in to go to Saratoga. He is a good shipper, but sometimes it can change on you, you just have to keep an eye on it. If that happens, you have to give him a bit of a break, but right now, he seems to be handling it just fine and keeping the weight on.”

Dark Vader will receive a freshening after running fifth in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby on July 14 at Indiana Grand Race Course, Eurton said. The 3-year-old Ohio bred ran third in the Easy Goer on June 9 at Belmont and is 1-0-2 in five starts in the current campaign.

“Physically he’s doing good, he just needs a bit of a break from shipping and racing,” Eurton said. “It’ll be 45-60 days off. We’re not to sure what we’re going to do yet, we’ll let him [decide].”

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Finley’sluckycharm looks for better fortune in G2 Honorable Miss repeat

Multiple graded stakes winner Finley’sluckycharm will be returning to Saratoga Race Course looking to address some unfinished business in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on Wednesday.

The 5-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy will look to atone from a bad beat in last year’s edition when she fought gamely before Paulassilverlining got the edge in the final jumps to win by a neck. Undeterred, Finley’sluckycharm rebounded to win the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America in October at Keeneland before running ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint one month later at Del Mar.

In the current campaign, the Bret Calhoun trainee has again been a consistent contender, running second in the Mardi Gras on February 13 at Fair Grounds before notching her first Grade 1 win in the Madison on April 7 at Keeneland. Calhoun said a break coming out of her fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on May 5 at Churchill Downs could hopefully put her on the track to start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina on Travers Day, August 25.

“She handled the track well last year; that Paulassilverlining sure knows where the wire is,” Calhoun said. “But we’re back trying to hopefully run well enough in the Honorable Miss to hopefully try in the Ballerina.”

Finley’sluckycharm has 10 wins and three runner-up efforts in 16 career starts, and Calhoun said she’s handled a challenging workload. 

“She ran extremely hard at Keeneland winning a Grade 1, and I think that took a toll on her,” Calhoun said. “Four weeks later in the Distaff, we caught the inside on a sloppy track. Nothing went our way that day, but at the end of the day, I think she was a little bit empty coming off that race. So, we gave her plenty of time to recover and I think she’s doing well coming into this race.”

The 123-pound high weight, Finley’sluckycharm drew the outside post with Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard.

“I think she can be in any position she gets put in,” Calhoun said. “She can sit off the speed. She’s very fast, so most times she’ll be forwardly placed, but if something goes wrong at the break, there’s no reason to panic. She can sit off the [pace] too. Whatever the tactics call for, she’s a filly that’s extremely fast [who can] stalk and pounce.”

Faypien, cross-entered in Monday’s $200,000 Caress at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf, ran second by a neck to La Sardane in her first start on grass in the Grade 3 Intercontinental on June 7 at Belmont.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Faypien has also been successful on dirt, winning the Harry Henson Handicap on March 25 at Sunland Park and set the early speed in the Grade 2 Ruffian on May 6 on Belmont’s Big Sandy before finishing out of the money behind Pacific Wind, Highway Star and Tequilita. 

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the Ruffian, will have the return call from post 5.

J. Kirk and Judy Robinson’s Vertical Oak will be running at Saratoga for the first time since capturing the Grade 2 Prioress by 5 ¼ lengths on September 3. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen gave the Giant Oak filly a freshening after she capped her 2017 with a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America in October at Keeneland.

With seven months off, Vertical Oak returned to start her 4-year-old year with a pair of third-place performances in the Carousel on April 7 at Oaklawn Park and the Roxelana Overnight on June 23 at Churchill sandwiched around a winning trip in the Skipat on May 18 at Pimlico.

Ricardo Santana, Jr., who has had her last four mounts, will be in the irons again from post 1.

Chalon has finished in the money in each of her last six starts, including a four-length win in the Regret on June 16 at Monmouth Park. She finished second to fellow Honorable Miss entrant Kirby’s Penny in her last graded stakes appearance, getting outkicked in the stretch in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap on May 12 at Belmont.

Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Chalon is 5-3-1 in 11 career starts and 3-1-1 in five starts at the Honorable Miss distance. Paco Lopez will ride from post 2.

Kirby’s Penny has won four of her last five starts for trainer Wesley Ward, earning a 92 Beyer in her winning stakes debut in the Vagrancy. The 5-year-old Macho Uno mare took the step up in class after defeating optional claiming company by 4 ¼ lengths on April 6 at Keeneland in her first start since October.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez drew the assignment and will exit post 3.

Thirteen Songs, who has three wins in 19 career starts, will make her first stakes appearance. Trained by Dallas Stewart, the Congrats filly will break post 4 in tandem with Luis Saez.