Appleby staying the course in Saratoga Derby
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Of all the weather-related variables associated with this weekend’s racing programs at Saratoga there is one constant. Trainer Charlie Appleby has a top-flight contender in a graded turf stakes.
Appleby, who has already won three graded turf stakes this meet, sends out Legend of Time in the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles. The Saratoga Derby was originally scheduled for Aug. 3, but the Saratoga turf courses were not deemed suitable for use. The Saratoga Derby was rescheduled for Saturday’s card, but was postponed yet again due to expected heavy rain on Friday and will be run as the last race of 11 on Sunday's program. The Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap was also moved from the Saturday card to Sunday and will be run as the 10th race.
The connections of Legend of Time aren’t as concerned when the race will be run as they are on what surface.
“I don’t think he’ll mind cut in the ground at all,” Chris Connett, an assistant to Appleby said. “Just wouldn’t want to run on the dirt.”
Legend of Time has made three starts in the U.S. He raced too close to the pace in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs when he finished fifth on May 4. He came back three weeks later in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge, where he overcame a slow start to beat White Palomino by a head. In the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, Legend of Time found himself boxed in under William Buick and by the time he got out it was too late and he finished third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Trikari.
“From the draw we had and the way things panned out he kind of got locked away,” Connett said. “When William wanted to move on him, he was hemmed in. That was [race riding], it happens sometimes. Hopefully, he’ll get a smoother trip this time.”
In the re-draw of the Saratoga Derby, Legend of Time drew the rail after initially having post 3.
The field for the Saratoga Derby changed when it was re-drawn and will change again. Diego Velazquez and White Palomino, part of the original field for the Saratoga Derby, did not enter back. Trikari, Fulmineo, and First World War were all cross-entered in this race and the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes, a one-mile race at Colonial Downs, that has been moved from Saturday to Sunday.
Trikari will run at Colonial Downs, according to trainer Graham Motion. First World War will not run in either spot, with trainer Brendan Walsh citing less than firm ground. Fulmineo, winner of listed stakes at Pimlico and Colonial in his last two starts, is expected to come to Saratoga, according to trainer Arnaud Delacour.
Deterministic and Carson’s Run are both entered back in the Saratoga Derby by trainer Christophe Clement. Deterministic, who won the Grade 3 Gotham on dirt in March, finished second to Neat in the Grade 3 Manila at Aqueduct in his turf debut. Clement was happy enough with that performance to give Deterministic another try on turf, but he was hoping that it would be on firmer footing.
“Deterministic is such a beautiful, efficient mover I would prefer to run him on faster ground than softer ground,” Clement said. “I’ve always thought Gio Ponti” – the multiple Grade 1 winner trained by Clement – “was better on firmer ground. He actually ran very good races on softer ground. When they’re that good they can overcome things. It’s first time stretching out, so you don’t like the idea of stretching them plus softer turf; it’s not a good combination.”
Carson’s Run is also stretching out after winning the Tale of the Cat Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Monmouth Park on June 23. He won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine last fall.
“Is he good enough?” Clement said. “We’ll find out.”
Royal Majesty finished a half-length behind Legend of Time when fourth in the Belmont Derby. He was also a close third in the Pennine Ridge, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Legend of Time. He was a two-length winner of an allowance race on good ground at Keeneland in April.
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