American Gal back for more in Test Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – American Gal was an instant success in her first trip to New York, overcoming a ton of adversity to register an impressive victory in Belmont Park’s Grade 3 Victory Ride.

On Saturday, American Gal can prove she’s not just a one-hit wonder here when she returns from California to face nine other 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga. The seven-furlong Test is the co-feature on the outstanding 11-race Whitney Stakes program.

The weather and track condition could go a long way in determining the outcome of the Test, with rain in the local forecast beginning late Friday night and continuing into Saturday morning.

In the Victory Ride, American Gal stumbled at the start, rushed up into an early speed duel, and still was good enough to draw away to a 4 3/4-length triumph going 6 1/2 furlongs. American Gal was making her first start since closing out her 2-year-old campaign by finishing second behind Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos. The 92 Beyer Speed Figure she received in the Victory Ride was a career best.

“She came out of her last race great and has not missed a beat training,” said Simon Callaghan, who trains the homebred American Gal for Kaleem Shah. “We’ve been really pleased with her two breezes since the Victory Ride. Stumbling that bad leaving the gate, rushing up into those fractions, and then drawing off like that was really more than we could have expected in her first start this year. Seven furlongs is a real good distance for her, and she should be able to navigate a pretty good trip from the outside post.”

American Gal is one of three West Coast invaders in the Test, along with Chalon and Faypien, and they may vie for favoritism. Chalon pulled away to a 6 1/2-length victory in the six-furlong Jersey Girl at Belmont on June 11. She has been pointed for this race ever since by trainer Peter Miller.

Faypien turns back in distance off a head decision going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert, who is seeking his third Test win.

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Your Love has won her first two starts, both against older horses, with the most recent an allowance tally over a sloppy track at Belmont on June 18.

“She’s training very well,” said trainer Chad Brown. “She’s 2 for 2, her numbers are real fast, and I think the distance of the race is perfect for her. It’s a big step from an allowance to a Grade 1, but she’ll be running against her own age group after competing against some seasoned, proven older horses in the first two starts, and my feeling is she’s up to the task.”

Minnie Blip figures to be part of the early pace, and so could Victory Ride runner-up Vertical Oak. Tequilita won the Grade 2 Forward Gal at seven furlongs last winter at Gulfstream Park but has not started since finishing seventh over a sloppy track in the Kentucky Oaks. Chanel’s Legacy is a three-time stakes winner who will make her first start since being moved to the barn of trainer Chad Summers. The allowance winner Cursor and Divine Miss Grey, a winner of her last three starts, complete the field.

Key Contenders

American Gal, by Concord Point

Last 3 Beyers: 92-83-72

◗ Callaghan said he’s not too concerned about the prospect of an off track. “She’s never really encountered much of a wet track, but I consider it more of an unknown than something that really worries us since we’ve seen no signs that she won’t handle it,” said Callaghan.

Your Love, by Flatter

Beyers: 86-84

◗ “There’s a lot of speed in the race,” said Brown. “I think it should set up nice for her.”