Tom Pedulla gives takeaways from opening weekend at Saratoga Race Course and different main developments.
DOMINANT IN DIANA: Chad Brown continued to rule the $500,000 Diana Stakes when Juddmonte homebred Whitebeam led from begin to end beneath Flavien Prat to safe a repeat win within the race. The front-running victory allowed Brown to increase his file together with his ninth win within the Grade 1 race and eighth within the final 9 editions. “It’s outstanding the horses and purchasers I’ve had by the years to ship me and my workforce these horses,” Brown mentioned. “It’s 9 Dianas and there are a number of workforce members who have been there for the primary Diana (Zagora in 2011) they usually’ve been right here for all of them. That’s the consistency of this system, actually.”
PROMISING YOUNGSTER: Mo Plex made an attention-grabbing debut when he managed a 5 ½-furlong race at Belmont on the Large A by 10 lengths in opposition to state-breds on June 20. The query then grew to become how he may deal with a graded stakes race in opposition to open firm. He answered that with a front-running, one-length determination over Studlydoright within the six-furlong, $175,000 Sanford Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was amongst these impressed by the result. “Once we turned for residence, I requested him and he responded properly,” he mentioned. “I needed to hold him busy to maintain his consideration to get the job finished. He’s a very nice horse. He has expertise.”
SITTING ON GO: Thorpedo Anna, convincing winner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks and the DK Horse Acorn Stakes, went by her closing tune-up for subsequent Saturday’s Teaching Membership American Oaks when she drilled 5 furlongs in 1:01.55 in firm with Gould’s Gold Saturday on the Oklahoma coaching observe. Coach Kenny McPeek referred to as it a “good upkeep work” and added, “Possibly they went off slightly gradual early, however they obtained every little thing they wanted.” McPeek has mentioned he would take into account taking up the boys within the Aug. 24 DraftKings Travers Stakes if his star filly dispatches different fillies with ease within the July 20 Teaching Membership American Oaks.
EYEING WHITNEY: Coach Saffie Joseph Jr. mentioned there’s a “sturdy risk” that Skippylongstocking, most not too long ago third within the June 29 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, will run within the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. Joseph preferred what he noticed within the Stephen Foster. “He misplaced his place after which ran again on,” the coach famous. “He had the quickest closing eighth within the race. It is extremely uncommon you see a horse drop again and nonetheless run the quickest closing eighth.” Joseph continues to watch the well being of White Abarrio, who received the Whitney and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic in 2023 whereas beneath the care of Rick Dutrow Jr. He mentioned White Abarrio’s bloodwork “nonetheless hasn’t come again proper.”
MINOR SETBACK: Followers wanting to catch a glimpse of closely favored Mentee within the Sanford Stakes have been upset when the full-brother to 2023 champion 2-year-old male Fierceness spiked a fever Saturday morning, forcing coach Todd Pletcher to scratch him. “It wasn’t the way in which we wished to start out our morning, however welcome to Saratoga and coaching infants,” mentioned Pletcher, including, “It’s irritating as a result of he was coaching properly and doing properly and also you hate to overlook a chance like this. However it could possibly be worse and, hopefully, it’s one thing he will get over rapidly.” If there’s a swift restoration, the $200,000 Saratoga Particular Stakes on Aug. 10 might grow to be his subsequent goal.
