Added distance shouldn't be a problem for Pandagate in Albany
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Pandagate will look to keep his unbeaten record against New York-breds intact when he heads a field of six 3-year-olds entered in the $250,000 Albany Stakes, one of six stakes on an 11-race card devoted entirely to New York-breds.
In three starts against New York-breds, Pandagate, a son of 2016 Travers winner Arrogate, has a maiden win, a 5 1/2-length victory in the Gander Stakes and, most recently a three-quarter-length triumph over Doc Sullivan in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.
Doc Sullivan as well as New York Derby third- and fifth-place finishers, Skyler’s Starship and Aggelos the Great, are also in the Albany, run at 1 1/8 miles.
Prior to his victory in the Albany, Pandagate raced in Dubai, finishing third in the U.A.E. Derby going 1 3/16 miles in March. He finished 6 3/4 lengths behind Forever Young, who would go on to finish third, beaten two noses in the Kentucky Derby.
Pandagate, ridden by Dylan Davis, had to rally five wide in the New York Derby and seemed to be doing his best running late, suggesting the 1 1/8 miles of this race is within his scope.
“He stays long on dirt,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “It’s not an easy race. [Doc Sullivan] is there, who is always tough to beat.”
Pandagate has been training at Belmont since the New York Derby.
“I think he trains better at Belmont than here. Same ride, same groom, same everything at Belmont,” said Clement.
Pandagate break from post 4 under Davis.
Doc Sullivan, who was the 4-5 favorite in the New York Derby, chased the pace and fought on to the wire, getting beat less than a length while finishing 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Skyler’s Starship. The Albany will be his first start at 1 1/8 miles.
“I think it’s within his range,” trainer Mike Miceli said. “He ran a mile and a sixteenth at Finger Lakes, it wasn’t like he was stopping or anything. He was running steady and Pandagate just wore him down.”
Miceli hinted he may change tactics on Saturday but said he would leave that up to jockey Javier Castellano.
B D Saints, third to Pandagate in the Gander Stakes, will return to dirt after two tries on turf for Mike Maker. Liberty Central will stretch out from 6 1/2 furlongs in this spot.
The Albany goes as race 5.
Fleet Indian
With morning-line favorite My Mane Squeeze going to scratch after she was scheduled to race in Friday night’s Charles Town Oaks, Landed figures to become the horse to beat in Sunday’s $250,000 Fleet Indian Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles.
Landed, a daughter of Omaha Beach and a half-sister to route stakes winner Venti Valentine, is coming off a 1 1/4-length victory in the Bouwerie Stakes going seven furlongs here on June 9. Trainer Wesley Ward said he has been pointing to this race since then and is confident the filly can handle the 1 1/8 miles, a distance she will attempt for the first time.
“She can get a mile and a half,” Ward said. “She’s a big, rangy filly that wants to run all day. I’ve been waiting for this race since her last race. I give her plenty of time between her starts because I want to see her go as a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old.”
Ward said that Landed is a filly who should be running in open-company races, “which is something she may do next at Keeneland,” depending what happens on Sunday.
John Velazquez rides Landed from post 2.
Dolomite, trained by Chad Brown, will try 1 1/8 miles for the second time in her career. Last year, she came off a win going seven furlongs to finish third behind Life Talk and Shimmering Angel in the Grade 2 Demoiselle. In her lone start this year, Dolomite won a six-furlong allowance race here on July 25 by 3 1/4 lengths.
Caldwell Luvs Gold comes off a 3 1/4-length victory as the 2-5 favorite in New York Oaks going 1 1/16 miles at Finger Lakes on July 15. She finished fifth in last year’s Demoiselle.
My Shea D Lady, a two-time Stallion Stakes winner around one turn, will try two turns for the first time in the Fleet Indian. Bernietakescharge, Call Her Bluff, Maggy’s Palace, and Sweet Brown Sugar complete the field.
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