Saratoga: Spurious Precision points to Champagne

Tom Keyser

Spurious Precision, winner of the Saratoga Special, is being pointed to the Grade 1, $400,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 6.

Trainer Rick Violette said Spurious Precision came out of his five-length victory in Sunday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes “a little tired, deservedly so” but otherwise in good order. After running twice in 22 days, Spurious Precision will now have about eight weeks to his next start, the Grade 1, $400,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 6.

“Waiting for the Champagne gives us a chance to let him chill out a little bit and have a fresh horse for the fall,” Violette said.

Violette said that Carried Interest, who missed the Special due to a tender shin, has been jogging and could make his next start in the Grade 2 Hopeful here Sept. 3.

Shanghai Bobby was forced to scratch from the Saratoga Special due to a temperature that reached as high as 103 degrees. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday morning that since Shanghai Bobby was treated with antibiotics, his temperature has returned to normal and he is under consideration to make the Hopeful.

Pletcher also reported that Adirondack winner Kauai Katie came out of her victory in good shape and will be considered for the Grade 2, $200,000 Matron, a six-furlong race Sept. 30.

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