Blind Ambition tries turf sprint in Quick Call Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The connections of Blind Ambition hope the 3-year-old colt takes after his mother when he tries sprinting on turf in Wednesday’s $100,000 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga.

Blind Ambition is by Tapit, the sire of three of the last four Belmont Stakes winners, but is out of the dam Starfish Bay, a four-time stakes-winning sprinter on turf. Blind Ambition won a maiden race sprinting on dirt at Gulfstream Park in April and then won a two-turn turf race there in May.

Following a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Carry Back on dirt, Blind Ambition will try sprinting on turf for the first time.

“We had his mom, Starfish Bay, and that’s what her game was, sprinting on the turf,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Blind Ambition, a $400,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in training, for Gainesway Stable. “We tried stretching him out on the dirt, we just wanted to run him on the turf to see where he was, and he handled 7 1/2 [furlongs] fine. But he’s fast, and 5 1/2 suits him.”

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Blind Ambition will break from the rail under Javier Castellano.

Malraux, a son of Speightstown, ships in from Chicago for trainer and co-owner Ignacio Correas IV. Malraux finished second in his career debut, going five furlongs on turf at Tampa Bay Downs, but has won his last two in off-the-turf races run over Arlington Park’s synthetic surface.

Expedited Vision won both of his starts – one on dirt, one on turf – in a span of 16 days in June for trainer Phil Schoenthal.

Mongo Nation won twice at five furlongs in Florida. He showed speed and faded in the seven-furlong Paradise Creek at Belmont, then finished third in an off-the-turf allowance at Monmouth.

The Money Monster, who won the William Walker Stakes on dirt at Churchill, and Indy Hill complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Blind Ambition, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 69-87-80

◗ His dam won a stakes race here in 2009.

◗ Took over early on the backside in a two-turn turf race at Gulfstream Park that he won by 3 3/4 lengths on May 28.

Malraux, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 88-91-74

◗ Malraux lost his debut on turf after running opening splits of 21.87 seconds and 44.96 while equipped with blinkers. He has won his last two starts since having the blinkers removed.

“I still don’t know how he lost the first time he ran,” Correas said. “But I think it was the blinkers. He ran 21 and change. I think he’s sitting on a very good race. This is the first time he’s going to run against 3-year-olds. He’s always run against older. I hope that’s an advantage.”

Mongo Nation, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 62-75-82

◗ Won twice going five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream.

◗ Finished third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in his career debut here last summer.

◗ Fired a bullet work, the fastest of 29 moves at the distance, over the Oklahoma turf course here July 28.