Appleby preps Godolphin runners ahead of big week at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A set of seven horses trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin Racing put in workouts in rapid fire succession Saturday morning over the Oklahoma turf course in preparation for upcoming stakes engagements at next week’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

Mischief Magic, a 4-year-old gelding, began the proceedings working a half-mile in 48.44 seconds, per Daily Racing Form, getting his final quarter in 22.50 . He was followed by Star of Mystery, a 3-year-old filly who went a half-mile in 48.81 , getting her final quarter in 22.43. Both horses are targeting Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“They worked nicely, they’re slightly more speedy types than the rest of the horses we’re breezing today, so they’re bound to show a little more zip,” said Chris Connett, assistant to Appleby.

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Star of Mystery beat males in the Group 2 Blue Point on Jan. 26 at Meydan, before finishing second in both the Group 3 Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint on March 2 and the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, also at Meydan, the latter on March 30.

Mischief Magic has already run twice in the United States this year, finishing second in the Shakertown at Keeneland on April 6 and third in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Measured Time and Nations Pride, Appleby’s pair for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan worked next with Nation’s Pride going five furlongs in 1:00, the last quarter in 23.17 seconds while being pushed on. Measured Time, meanwhile, went five furlongs in 1:01, but got his last quarter in 22.88 seconds while striding out nicely.

Measured Time, a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance, won a Group 1 in Dubai in January before finishing fourth, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on March 30.

“The older he gets the more mature he’s gotten,” Connett said. “He’s taken his traveling really well. His rider, Michael Metcalf, has been happy with him since he settled in.”

Nations Pride, who won the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby here in 2022, is trying to rebound form a third-place finish behind stablemate Silver Knott in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Aqueduct on May 11.

“He’d been off the track [awhile] before his last time at Aqueduct,” Connett said. “He’s come forward fitness-wise.”

Siskany, who is seeking a repeat victory in Thursday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup, was credited with a five-furlong move in 1:03.

English Rose, second to Beaute Cachee in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland, will stretch out to 1 3/16 miles in Friday’s Grade 1, $750,000 New York.

Connett said in the Jenny Wiley English Rose “was a little bit keen. New place, new track, new running style. Hopefully, she’s settled into American ways and we’ll see her relax and really be able to finish.”

Mysterious Knight, a Group 2 winner going seven furlongs in Dubai in February, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds in preparation for a start in Saturday’s Grade 3 Poker.

With Ottoman Fleet winning Saturday’s Grade 3 Arlington Stakes at Churchill Downs, Appleby runners this year have won five graded turf stakes in North America from 13 in which he’s had runners.

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