Talk Therapy, claimed as a 6-year-old last summer for $7,500, became a stakes winner Saturday when he drew clear in the stretch and held off a bid by heavily favored Fox Rules to win the $50,000 Genesee Valley Breeders’ Handicap for New York-breds at Finger Lakes.
The hot streak for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Mike Maker is not limited to Kentucky or New York. The dominant owners were represented by another winner Saturday when Prissy held off a race-long challenge from Soft Whisper to capture the $100,000 West Virginia Senate President’s Cup, part of an all-stakes, nine-race card at Mountaineer Park.
On Rainbow Bridge ($5.50) notched her consecutive second stakes Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,400 Nandi, a six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.
The ten finalists are set for the lucrative Hambletonian Final.
Trainer Jeremiah Englehart knows taking on Wise Dan is a tall task, but he also knows that his New York-bred King Kreesa deserves the opportunity to run in next weekend’s Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga.
Piquant and Escrow Kid, one moving up in class and the other taking a steep drop, clash for the first time in Tuesday’s $53,000 feature at Parx Racing.
Saratoga trifecta play by Marty McGee for Sunday, August 4.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Saturday that REal Good Deal winner U’narack is likely to make his next start around two turns, with the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes over a mile on Aug. 30 a strong consideration.
Beijoca is more than just a sentimental choice in what looks to be a wide-open renewal of the Waya, scheduled for 1 1/2 miles over the inner turf course Monday at Saratoga.
Sunday’s five-horse, Grade, 1 $400K Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap shapes up as a rematch of the five-horse ungraded $122K Iowa Sprint Handicap June 28. Gentlemen’s Bet upset 3-10 Delaunay that day, but I like Delaunay to turn the tables here.
