Abreu looking for fast finish from Star Devine in Galway Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It’s not often a trainer hopes his horse breaks slowly in a sprint race, but trainer Jorge Abreu wouldn’t mind that scenario Sunday when he runs Star Devine in the $120,000 Galway Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga.

When she debuted on April 8 at Aqueduct, Star Devine broke last of nine, yet circled the field to win a six-furlong maiden at 9-1. She ran next in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly Stakes at seven furlongs, where she pressed a hot pace and had the lead in midstretch only to finish fourth, one length behind winner Bye Bye. In her most recent start, Star Devine finished third in an allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

In the Galway – named for a town in Saratoga County – Abreu turns Star Devine back to 5 1/2 furlongs in search of a slow start and a fast finish.

“I want to see her miss the break and come with a run,” said Abreu, who has Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez aboard for the first time. “She’s built like a horse that wants to run shorter. She doesn’t look like a two-turn horse.”

Trainer Wesley Ward entered two in the Galway including Wink, whom Ward expects to be on the lead under Javier Castellano. Wink has won 3 of 5 turf starts, including the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth last year and the Melody of Colors at Gulfstream Park this year. She is coming off a last-place finish in the Mamzelle Stakes at 2-1 on May 8 at Churchill Downs.

“That filly, she needs fast and firm ground,” Ward said. “If that ground is firm, she’s going to be really, really tough.”

The Saratoga turf has been firm all week. There was some rain in the forecast Friday night into Saturday.

Ward is less concerned about course condition for Illegal Smile, who was beaten only a half-length when fourth in the Mamzelle and was second in an allowance race, both over Churchill’s turf.

Ward would like to see Irad Ortiz Jr. keep Illegal Smile just off the pace.

“She’s been training up there and moving nice and sound on the grass,” Ward said. “I look for her to run a really big race. [Wink] is all speed and goes to the lead, and [Illegal Smile] is going to come from a little bit off of it.”

Bye Bye is turning back in distance off a failed attempt at stretching out to a mile in the Wild Applause Stakes at Belmont Park.

“She won going seven-eighths at Belmont, and I thought the logical step was to try her go a bit farther, and that didn’t work out,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “No problem, we’ll go back sprinting.”

Joel Rosario will ride Bye Bye from post 8.

Goin’ Good won the four-horse off-the-turf Coronation Cup here July 18. She is 3 for 5 on turf, with two of those wins coming at the Galway distance of 5 1/2 furlongs.

The speedy pair of Dr B and Mischiefful are looking to make their turf debuts. Li’l Tootsie, Tuscan Queen, and Alwayz Late complete the field.